5 Things To Do Today: Bill W. film, Jerry Miller, Rockaraoke and more ...

By Volcano Staff on June 10, 2013

MONDAY, JUNE 10 2013 >>>

1. It's appropriate Bill W. - a documentary that recalls the life of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder William G. Wilson - skips the eight gazillion dollars special effects and 3-D action of modern-day films. Wilson's story - one of heartbreak, recovery and heroism - is a serious one, and the never-before-seen photographs, diary entries and speeches speak for themselves, revealing how Wilson, a hopeless drunk near death from his alcoholism, found a way out of his own addiction and then forged a path for countless others to follow through A.A., a deed that landed him in TIME Magazine's 100 Persons of the 20th Century. Filmmakers Kevin Hanlon and Dan Carracino don't pull any punches in the film that screens at 6:45 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. We see Wilson cheat on his fiercely dedicated wife, experiment with LSD and request alcohol as he suffered on his deathbed from emphysema.

2. Trombonist Marc Smason has performed throughout the world with such luminaries as the Funk Brothers, Baby Gramps, Big Joe Turner, Andy Statman Perry Robinson, Sam Shepard, Julian Priester, Sonny Simmons and Jeff Johnson. His playing encompasses many styles including jazz, Latin, klezmer and R&B. Catch him and his band, A Better World, at 8 p.m. in The Royal Lounge.

3. Monday is typically a black hole for nightlife. Sure, if you run a sports bar, you'll do well during the World Series or football season, but for most eating and drinking establishments, it's just dead, dead, dead. There's a darn good reason why so many bars are empty on Mondays. So how do those that remain open find ways to fill barstools on this, the most dreadful evening of the workweek? The folks at The Swiss seem to have found a solution and, oddly enough, it's one that has been the bane of many other venues: live music. Since the beginning of time, The Swiss has hosted live blues every Monday at 8 p.m. Tonight, guitar legend Jerry Miller will be in the house.

4. Hey! Guess what? Rafael Tranquilino hosts an experimental jam at Stonegate Pizza every Monday night! Get in on the rockin' action tonight.

5. Beginning at 9 p.m. every Monday Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

LINK: Monday, June 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area