FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012 >>>

1. Peter motherfucking Frampton and his talk box are headed to Tacoma tonight, bringing the 35^th anniversary tour for Frampton Comes Alive to the Pantages Theater and delighting a whole generation of mid-70s kinda-sorta rockers in the process. As part of the celebratory vibe for the 35^th anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive, the Grammy award-winning guitarist will bust out the entire album. Boom! It's talk box time.

2. Cut. It. Out. Former Full House semi-star Dave Coulier continues his weekend run at the Tacoma Comedy Club tonight.

3. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe set to be holed up in Tacoma tonight at the Rialto and  offering a show that promises to, "cover every sport from every continent ever played in 90 minutes." Pretty bold stuff, we know, but that's pretty much what you'd expect from an outfit like the Reduced Shakespeare Company - which touts on its resume, "seven stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots, and numerous radio pieces."  

4. Dancer-turned-comedic-filmmaker Mitchell Rose has plenty of notches on his belt. He's been awarded five fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, for example, and has seen his work grace the gigantic screen in Times Square. Dude's accomplished, in other words. Tonight, Rose hits Olympia's Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts with The Mitch Show, billed as, "a fast-paced evening of comic films and audience-participation pieces," and "maniacally funny, often poignant, and always surprising." We'll get behind anything that's maniacally funny.

5. The Lance Buller Trio will class up Maxwell's on St. Helens Avenue tonight, busting out tunes starting at 7 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

LINK: The Weekend Hustle

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 >>>

1. 100th Monkey is set to invade Tacoma Art Museum tonight, offering a chance to mingle and bear witness to the Hide/Seek exhibit at TAM. Described as and, "ongoing artists' schmoozefest," 100th Monkey events are always a good time. Even better, according to hype, "Claudia Riedener, Lynn Di Nino and Di Morgan-Graves are creating a limited edition of tiles on the theme of "gender identity and sexual orientation" to be available for $5 each the night of the ape fest."

2. Catch jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi, who recently composed and recorded the new CD, See What I'm Saying, tonight at the SOTA Theater.

3. It's OlyBlues Dance Night at the Eagles Hall! Head to the third floor and be ready to have some fun. Find more info here.

4. For the all-ages crowd, Lo' There Do I See My Brother, Code Red, Drag Me Under, Merciless and Blunt Force will play Tacoma's Red Room this evening, plugging in at 7 p.m. There's an $8 cover charge.

5. The Ram Restaurant and Brewery on Ruston Way hosts the Geeks Who Drink pub quiz, which consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner. Oh, and there's drinking involved, too. The fun begins at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 >>>

1. Shrouded Strangers is a garage-pop band that stays true to the tropes and sounds of a band labeled garage-pop, while also incorporating deliriously psychedelic elements. Nominally, the band draws influences from the more experimental side of the Beatles, among other British invasion acts. When they get weird, there's always an undercurrent of pop that keeps the lunacy grounded. Tonight the band plays The New Frontier in Tacoma with Apache Chief, Solomon and Tummler.

2. If it's classic rock you're looking for, Tatoosh will be holed up at Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way - playing good ol' fashioned rock starting at 9 p.m. It's all part of what's now known as the Tatoosh Hump Day Jam at Stonegate. That's hot.

3. Wednesday night is always good for getting quizzical in the South Sound. The Harmon Brewery hosts Trivia Night with Gordon Adams, Doyle's Public House offers Knowledge Night team trivia with awesome prizes, and out at the Steilacoom Pub and Grill Steilacoom catch "Trivia with Dave." Find all the info you need right here.

4. The newly musical Harmon Tap Room on Tacoma's St. Helens Avenue welcomes local-favorite Kim Archer tonight, along with the open mic she's hosting. Should be awesome sauce.

5.There may be no better venue in Olympia to belt out the hits as the China Clipper on Fourth Avenue, which hosts Late Night Karaoke every Wednesday for the hard-drinking, hard-singing crowd. You should see this spectacle.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012 >>>

1. There's a rare yet very worthy Tuesday-night indie rock show at the New Frontier this evening featuring everyone's favorite T-Town boys Makeup Monsters along with up-and-comers Learning Team. We've gushed over both bands (here and here).

2. Tuesday night means it's time again for Barstool Bingo at the Westgate Bar and Grill in Tacoma's North End.

3. At the Mandolin Café, a special all-ages evening of "In the Round" is in store, starting at 6 p.m. and featuring Geoffery Klok, Nick Sandy and Nick Deonigi.

4. Get your swing dance on tonight at the Eagles Club in Olympia. Every Tuesday night OlySwing holds a rollicking swing dance, and you're invited. Even better - there's a quick beginning swing class prior to the dance hosted by Christine Corey. The beginners class kicks off at 7 p.m., and the dance runs from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

5. Get your groove on tonight in Parkland. DJ Adam Ant spins during "Twisted Tuesday" at Lady Luck Cowgirl Up, offering Top 40 action and karaoke. The good times start at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012 >>>

1. Comedian Alysia Wood remembers getting her start at the house emcee at Tacoma's Comedy Underground. While these days Wood lives in L.A. and is prepping for the release of her debut comedy album on Standup! Records, Princess, she returns to the Northwest tonight for a celebratory (and sure to be laugh-filled) show at Stonegate Pizza. Produced by Grammy award-winning producer Dan Schlissel, Princess may well be the start of even bigger and better things for Wood.

2. As a popular poet once noted, "Makin' your way / in the world today / takes everything you've got." Yes, it's back to the coal mines, tired already from late partying at the BroHo. You need something to soak up that beer, and an artist with mad flow to screw your head on straight. We float you home, Gentle Reader, on the soothing cadences of Poetry Night at al Forno Ferruzza. That's right, it's a full-on poetry slam, slathered in delicious mozzarella. Your lingering hangover demands this. An offshoot of a beloved Portland pizzeria, al Forno offers hearty calzones and pies, a range of wines at $7 a half-carafe, and now, THE KNOWLEDGE. Preach it.

3. Catch rising Tacoma band Death By Stars tonight at Magoo's as part of Showcase Monday. DJ Pocket Square will also be in the house, with the action kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

4. Tonight at the Swiss drink beer and behold Dakota Bob & The Businessman Band, starting at 8 p.m. and featuring absolutely no cover charge.

5. Drop in on Tap Room Trivia tonight at the Harmon Tap Room on St. Helens Avenue. Look for a $50 cash prize for the winner of each round and too much fun to contain - running from 6 - 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2012 >>>

1. The Northwest Sinfonietta bills itself as, "an orchestra to be reckoned with," not to mention an orchestra of, "passion, vision, thrill, and creation." Anyone who has seen it in action would have trouble arguing with these statements, as the musical body routinely wows audiences in Tacoma, Puyallup and Seattle. At 2 p.m. in the Pioneer Park Pavilion, the Northwest Sinfonietta will be joined by violinist Marié Rossano for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, followed by Schubert's 4th Symphony, named "Tragic." Be ready for plenty of pathos.

2. Speaking of the Northwest Sinfonietta, after its 2 p.m. concert at the Pioneer Park Pavilion, the musicians will walk over to Gallery Three for a post-concert discussion from 4-6 p.m. After the discussion, Gallery Three will bust out the wine and chocolates. Oh, almost forgot, Gallery Three hosts three of its new artists - Joan Nicholson, pastels; Jerome Petteys, illustration; and Anette Lusher, acrylics - for a 2:30 p.m. reception.

3. Entertainer and storyteller extraordinaire Elizabeth Lord returns to the stage at 2 and 4 p.m. the next two Sundays in support of the venue she's been such a huge part of over the years - the Midnight Sun. Designed as an interactive variety show geared toward young audiences featuring the wit of Lord and the musical contributions of local favorites Scuff & Al, "Tall Tales and Silly Songs" is part of the "Save The Sun" benefit series, with proceeds going to Prodigal Sun Productions, the managing non-profit organization for The Midnight Sun Performance Space.

4. Puget Sound Music For Youth Association hosts a jam session featuring PSMFYA bands at 2 p.m. inside The Swiss. No, this will rock.

5. Mambo musician Tito Puente Jr., following in his father's footsteps and drawing from his musical catalogue, will hit Tacoma and the Rilato Theater at 3 p.m. According to hype, Puente, "brings the sounds of Latin jazz bursting with energetic rhythms and contagious melodies for a new generation." In addition to the music, Puente and KCTS 9 educator Antonio Gomez will take part in a pre-event lecture.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 >>>

1. The internationally-acclaimed exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture caused a ruckus when it debuted at The Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery in 2010. David Wojnarowicz's unfinished film, A Fire in My Belly, was removed from the exhibition, sparking a national controversy, demonstrations and renewed discussions about censorship and artists' rights. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) called the exhibition "an outrageous use of taxpayer money," and a spokesperson for House Speaker John Boehner told The Hill newspaper "Smithsonian officials should either acknowledge the mistake or be prepared to face tough scrutiny beginning in January." Tacoma Art Museum - which celebrates the opening of Hide/Seek today - will proudly include A Fire in My Belly along with photographs and paintings by a slew of famous American artists with an eye toward issues of gender and sexual identity for nearly 150 years of American art. Yes, this is the queer show. And despite outrage by a few people such as Cantor and Boehner, it has been a stupendous success with audiences across the country. Read Alec Clayton full feature on Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in the Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.

2. The Women's League of University of Puget Sound Flea Market will be awesome. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Fieldhouse, expect more than 50 booths of antiques, not to mention: collectible dolls, oversized calculators, his and hers chocolate mummies, little plastic models of 747 airplanes, a griffin's toe, three rectangular-block-shaped wooden Santa Clauses, bouncing ice cubes, a copy of Rubber World magazine, four condiment trays, lots of walnuts - and more.

3. With its language-related title and collection of seemingly disparate sections that slowly merge into one larger story, Kinyarwanda - its name taken from the official dialect of Rwanda - is the latest docudrama on the 1994 slaughter of some 100 million Tutsis by Hutu militia. The Grand Cinema screens this extremely moving film at 1 p.m. followed by a Skype discussion with the film's producer, Darren Dean. After the 5:55 p.m. screening, The Grand will Skype the film's director, Alrick Brown.

4. Scottish fiddle, Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, funky bass lines and a
healthy dose of jazz harmony and improvisation come together when Neil
Pearlman brings his new band to the Mandolin Café at 8 p.m. according to around 46 news agencies, Pearlman and crew will blow you off Mandolin's comfy couch.

5. There is a rumor that people do something on St. Patrick's Day besides watch Leprechaun 4: In Space on the Sci-Fi Channel (oops - Syfy). We can't imagine what that would be, unless it involves these South Sound joints.

MORE THINGS TO DO: The Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012 >>>

1. Every traveler has had that Moment. The Moment you know you will look back on six months (or a year, or 10 years) from now and laugh. Laugh and laugh and laugh, just laugh hysterically that you could be so wrong about a flight time, or that performing street monkeys could have such light fingers. If you'd like to remember that Moment when the young French fella stole all your cash while you were kissing along the Seine, and laugh to yourself, the Second City Chamber Series continues its "Hallowed Halls" season of exploration in regards to music with a program entitled "Paris Conservatoire" featuring works for wind instruments from the French tradition. At 7:30 p.m. inside The Great Hall of Annie Wright School, the Principal Winds of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra (Mary Jensen, flute; Selena Greso, oboe; and John Ruze, bassoon) join pianist Oksana Ezhokina for compositions by French composers Jules Demersserman, Marin Marais, Francis Poulenc, and Alexandre Tansman, as well as by the Canadian/American composer, Bill Douglas. Go to expedite your transition to the laughing place. Just go.

2. Who serves the best Cloud Chowder in Tacoma? Tonight, the Mandolin Café does. The recently formed rockin' blues improv trio will explore the space at 6 p.m.

3. Metrosexual: (noun) "Of or pertaining to a straight, urban male who is eager to embrace and even show off his feminine side, especially when it comes to expensive haircuts, designer suits, and $40 face cream." At 7:30 p.m. inside Orca Books, poet Bill Kelly will sing the praises of th emetrosexual when he reads from Kindness Is In Me: Poems in Praise of Men. The poems in this book, and the photos accompanying them, offer a much needed corrective to the masculine images so prevalent in the media. All proceeds from the sale of the book at the event will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.

4. Jazzbones hosts the VetsMeetVets Military Appreciation Fundraiser with Cee Cee James, Voxxy Vallejo and Stacy Jones beginning at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit VetsMeetVets.org, with 20 percent off bar and food tabs for those with military ID.

5. The Harmon Tap Room Underground continues to hone its new music room with an Automatic Theory and Bodybox show at 9 p.m.

MORE THINGS TO DO: The Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 >>>

1. Tacoma's Third Thursday Artwalk is awesome ... the only trouble is it's completely unwalkable. Thankfully, for the last two years Tacoma has had the Art Bus to rely on - the creation of T-Town's own Angela Jossy, and pretty much the bestest idea there ever was. Each Third Thursday the Art Bus shuttles riders from gallery to gallery, and from museum to museum, accomplishing more than any one person could ever dream of on foot, and at the same time building a communal vibe that's worth its weight in gold. Tonight from 5:45-9 p.m., in celebration of two years of Art Bus - there'll be TWO BUSES and TWO ROUTES! Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson and former Washington State Rep turned stand-up comic Dennis Flannigan will act as the celebrity guides, ensuring all involved experience maximum artistic enjoyment. Find more Art Bus information at TacomaArtBus.com.

2. Speaking of Tacoma's Third Thursday Artwalk, there are many worthy exhibits to check out tonight, such as Lynn Di Nino's Survivor show at flow, Creatures of Habit at Fulcrum Gallery, Lisa Mereddy at 253 Collective, pop-up book artist Shawn Sheehy at Pacific Lutheran University and others. Click here for a preview of these shows and more.

3. Think running and drinking don't mix unless there's a K-9 unit involved? Not true. The Tacoma Runners - a group of T-Town pavement pounders - held meet every Thursday for a 3-mile loop at a "social pace" at one of Tacoma's favorite watering holes. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. is appropriately the Runners' St. Patrick Day outing - based at Doyle's Public House. Wear green and make a damn fool of yourself.

4. Portland (and the world's) most fearsome and slovenly Pogues tribute band K.M.R.I.A. will hold court at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Club Hotel and Theater in Centralia. This, my friends, will be a party.

5. Composer Claude Debussy loved a good party. Yes, he would perform his multilayered harmonic "tone poems" in European concert halls. However, he really loved to mix it up with the party animals, playing his piano in the crowded cafes of Montmartre and the famous Chat Noir cabaret. So, after the Pacific Lutheran University pianists celebrate Debussy's 150^th birthday in grand fashion inside Lagerquist Hall beginning at 8 p.m., grab them outside the front door and whisk them off to the Java Jive. Debussy and PBR will bring life to that old piano.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 >>>

1. The Puget Sound is on the mat starring up at Climate Change in tights, mask and cape on the top turnbuckle and its going to receive a hard elbow. Then Over Population will raise Puget Sound above its head and throw it into a metal chair. In a full sprint from the dressing room Pollution will toss Puget Sound back onto the mat, then stomp, gouge and pin it. The Puget Sound is gonna go, well, there you are, I'm finished, sorry, and walk out. Today, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Puget Sound Science Panel will meet in the City of Tacoma's TAGRO office to review and discuss the scientific aspects of a regional plan to prevent Puget Sound from leaving. The meeting is open to the public. Bring your knee pads.

2. America's ineffectual government, led by an unpopular president, is helpless to combat meteorological catastrophe; meanwhile, avaricious bankers rape the working class. The insulated elite barricades itself behind gilded walls, while haggard masses wander aimlessly, scavenging the ravaged landscape. This isn't an allegory for The Walking Dead. It's the story of this country's Great Depression. The Washington State History Museum examines the era through The exhibit, Hope in Hard Times, and how ordinary people worked for change in their communities, pulling together to find ways to deal with the crisis. A billy club used during the 1934 "Battle of Smith Cove," WPA artifacts, and everyday items are among some of the objects showcased in this exhibition. The paintings and sketches of Ronald Debs Ginther, also featured in the exhibition, comprise one of the most complete visual records of the Great Depression. Take a walk through from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Despite the philosophic passages, introspective musings, pageantry, and Russian geography of Leo Tolstoy's supreme achievement in novel form, Anna Karenina is also a whopping good story whose characters are so finely drawn that one comes to love them as friends. So it's no wonder Tacoma's Classic Book Club - which has been meeting since 1994! - will tackle the novel at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

4. The Harmon Tap Room Underground hosts an open mic from 7-9 p.m. It's a good opportunity to check out the remodeled music room.

5. There was a time when the Big Friction Jam at Jazzbones was THE place to be for Sunday night maxin', relaxin' and jammin'. Powered by the groove-heavy leanings of saxophonist Brett "Big Friction" Cummings, and aptly backed by a rhythm section the South Sound knows well - drummer Darin Watkins and bassist Jeff Leonard, of Vicci Martinez Band fame - the Big Friction house band took the stage, laid down the funk and groove, and magic ensued, with a cast of talented locals streaming through to take the stage and get down. At 8:30 p.m., under the increasingly-cool "Wednesday Sessions" header, Jazzbones welcomes back the Big Friction Jam for an evening that's sure to blow your usual Hump Day plans out of the proverbial water.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the region

LINK: South Sound happy hour food and drinks