SATURDAY, FEB. 8 2014 >>>
1. Last November, La Luz were driving along in their tour van when they hit a patch of black ice that sent them skidding into a concrete block. While waiting for AAA to come, a semi-truck came barreling into their van. It was a terrifying and destructive blip in the middle of their continued rise in prominence. Though they're still a relatively young band, 2013 found them blowing up, their ultra-cool brand of woozy surf-rock landing them a gig opening for Of Montreal on a nation-wide tour - In fact, they were heading home for an Of Montreal show at Neumo's when the accident happened. Luckily, none of the band were seriously injured, and La Luz have resumed performing and solidifying their stature as not only one of Seattle's most exciting up-and-coming bands, but an indestructible one at that. Catch the band with Pony Time, the Fucking Eagles and the Tom Price Desert Club at 8 p.m. in Bob's Java Jive.
2. B Sharp Coffee House serves up delightful concoctions of the roasted bean and encourages enlightened coffee consumption with its coffee tasting events. At 10 a.m., B Sharp will demonstrate what happens to single-origin beans along their journey to perfection. Increase your bean knowledge.
3. Tacoma Brewing Co. - known for their compelling and unique craft brews - hosts the first annual Wood Aged Beer Fest at 2 p.m. Try stouts, IPAs and ales aged in barrels of all sorts such oak, birch, sugar maple and more.
4. While the Key Peninsula Civic Center can't promise all of the gratuitous nudity and open liquor laws of New Orleans, the folks running the joint can guarantee good music and a good time. If you haven't spent much time in Louisiana, you may not be too versed in Mardi gras. While the March 4 holiday is as far away as paved Tacoma streets, first annual Key Peninsula Mardi Gras Music Festival is on the books for 6 p.m. at the KPCC.
5. Hailing from Lake Tahoe, the Dead Winter Carpenters are on tour promoting their new EP, Dirt Nap, a look into the rooted Americana and fun-loving antics of a band that understands their genre. CMT Edge recently praised the band's "influences ranging from 1960s country to Del McCoury to Ryan Adams." Foot-stompin', hand-clappin' and whiskey-chuggin' is what comes to mind listening to Dead Winter Carpenters. Join in with Danny Barnes & The Barnyard Electronics at 8:30 p.m. in The Olympia Ballroom.
LINK: Saturday, Feb. 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area
