The budding cabaret scene in the South Sound will likely never be compared with post-World War I Paris or Berlin in its Weimar Republic heyday. No matter, we're simply happy that there is something different. Over the years, the Weekly Volcano has learned that blatant sexuality doesn't have the staying power of intelligent sensuality, which is what Portland resident Storm Large promises at the Theater on ther Square Sept. 4.

During the mid-2000s, Large and her band, The Balls, brought their "Loungecore" act - a hybrid of lounge, jazz and rock - to the South Sound.  The Balls mashed popular songs - such as ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me" and "Dancing Queen" with Iron Butterfly's  "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" or Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" with Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" - then run them through the Jazzomatic. The beautiful, full-bodied six-foot blonde exuded sexuality; pole dancing on the mic stand, her red dress toyed like Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct," until you can hear the jealous slaps across men's faces. Gyrating in a crouched position she rattled with a full-tilt banshee metal screech, then oozed jazz and undulated up. The Weekly Volcano knew chanteuse's talent - vocal strength and stage presence - could take the nation by storm. 

And she did.

She shot to national prominence in 2006 as a finalist on the CBS show, Rock Star: Supernova.

The following year she took a career departure and starred in Portland Center Stage's production of Cabaret with Wade McCollum. The show was a smash hit, earning Large glowing reviews. As was her next show, Crazy Enough, which ran 21 straight weeks to sold out shows in Portland. Crazy Enough appeared Off-Broadway in spring 2012 and Simon & Schuster published a book version of her autobiography in November 2012.

Large made her debut as guest vocalist with the band Pink Martini in April 2011, singing four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She continues to perform with the band, touring nationally and internationally.

Large will return to Tacoma, performing at Tacoma's Theatre on the Square on Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18-$48, and on sale now.