THURSDAY, JUNE 13 2013 >>>
1. Lauded as the greatest performer of all time, Michael Jackson was a dancing, singing, performing phenomenon, and we are not likely to see another performer of his caliber ever again. The life of Michael Jackson is being retold at 7:30 p.m. when Kenny Wizz, considered the world's best Michael Jackson impersonator, takes th Pantages Theater audience on a musical Jackson journey from the Jackson 5 era to the current decade. What to wear to the show? One white glove.
2. Upon first listen to Memory Boys, one gets the impression that they are practitioners of this sort of trendy, depressive songwriting, cloaked in darkness and murky with reverb. This is certainly the case, to an extent, but repeated exposure reveals a nifty knack for interesting twists and turns - unexpected bursts of sunshine that cast a relief over the rest of the proceedings. Catch them with Humble Cub, Slushy and Half Shadow at 8 p.m. in Metronome Coffee.
3. Comedian Caroline Rhea will perform at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Comedy Club. Rhea began her career in comedy in 1989, taking the trek from her native Montreal to the mecca of stand-up comedy, New York City. She studied performance at The New School and trained at the Catch a Rising Star comedy club before breaking out in stand-up, both with live comedy performances and appearances on MTV's Half-Hour Comedy Hour and Comic Strip Live. Rhea's talent in comedy has led to roles on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Drew Carey Show, the movie Man on the Moon, and as the host of the talk show The Caroline Rhea Show and The Biggest Loser. Her trademark upbeat perkiness can mask a routine just as vulgar as anyone.
4. A Leaf has the honest qualities of '60s psychedelia and harmonic folk with a splash of this generation's shoe-gazey pop rock. The band's songs range from groovy instrumental to Beatlesesque love songs. The stories told are catchy and engaging; something listeners can relate to, and dream with, such as, "See the world inside a seed. Feel the ocean moving through me. Fell asleep on a trembling leaf, woke up in a cloud and I heard them sing, "Wherever we go, wherever we go... we're alright". I'm a caterpillar you're a butterfly." There's a motivation behind the music that seems to work itself out in every riff and harmony, allowing a sense of movement and grounding at the same time. A Leaf performs at 8 p.m. with Owl Parliament and A Breakthrough In Field Studies in The New Frontier Lounge.
5. The Engine House No. 9 is housed in a firehouse built in 1907 and still retains some of original firefighting artifacts. Purchased by the X Group, the force behind Asado and Masa, there's new excitement with better food, a whiskey bar, more craft beer from head brewer Shane Johns and a shuffleboard in the sideroom. Rev. Colin hosts karaoke at 9 p.m. He possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."
LINK: Thursday, June 13 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area
