LOTS OF SHOWS >>>

The weekends come and go! It seems like every other day I'm sitting down at my computer and telling ya'll what to go do on the weekend. I like it when they come more than they go. Here are your instructions for the first weekend of 2013.

Tonight will have ya at The Loch's. The downtown Tacoma venue is fully up and running. Do not let the lack of a new sign out front deter you. The cheap drinks and quality sound system that you enjoyed when the spot housed Hell's Kitchen still exist. For $5, which is a steal on a Friday night, you can catch W.O.L.F. Gang (MC Coo Beanz and Joey Moody), J.U.I., Sic Ill, Gho$t Kapone, Cauze-n-Efekt, 36uh0! with D.J. Reign on the wheels and hosted by myself.

Tonight's show at The Loch's is an off-the-beaten-path sort of line up - full of top quality hip-hop, but not necessarily artists ya get to see on bills every weekend. J.U.I. is a veteran M.C. from Tacoma who could have put out the sleeper best album of the year in 2012. He has an intelligent, wordy, nerdy, stiff yet fonky-flow. There is no one else that even sounds remotely like J.U.I. in the rap game.

Cauze-n-Efekt and 36uh0! are two of the more promising and popular crews from Olympia. I believe this is their first Tacoma show, so come show some neighborly support for your down south brethren. It is a good chance to see some of the best that Olympia has to offer.

Also, many consider DJ Reign to be the best hip-hop D.J. in Tacoma. He is running things down at The Loch's. I know he has some good things ready for us in 2013. Come get reacquainted with Reign and acquainted with the new spot, Loch's. If this show goes well, there will be plenty of more hip-hop on Friday nights there. Perhaps in 2013, Tacoma hip-hop can move out of the Thursday realm and into the prime weekend spot for shows.

Saturday, also at The Loch's, is the young upstart outfit P.M.E. - Power Moves Entertainment - album-release party. The young, motivated Tom Hutch heads P.M.E. The album features Luni Coleone among others, so maybe the $10 entry fee will be worth it. Expect to see Controversy the Misfit, Gazmo the Gr8 and Abom. Controversy is one of the most hyped, animated performers Tacoma has to offer. Gazmo the Gr8 is a polished local M.C. who has ties to California. He puts out some of the better music in Tacoma. He is also big in the blogosphere. He has the potential to be one of the top M.C.'s in T-town.

Who was the first host of B.E.T.'s Rap City? If ya say Chris Thomas, then I know you are old school. He was the first host of the show, followed by Prince Dejour, Joe Clair, Big Lez, Big Tigger and the list goes on. Well, the first mayor of Rap City, Thomas is performing stand-up at the Temple Theatre Saturday night. Ticket information is at Ticketmaster or call 800.745.3000.

Sunday is actually the busiest day of the weekend for hip-hop. There is the Graffiti Garage cipher at 1 p.m. Then, that night at The Loch's is the MusiKKast Records and Entertainment Industry Showcase and Mixer. This consists of an artist showcase competition, model showcase and all-around networking extravaganza. Young Jay Weed is on the bill. The night is hosted by the statesmen-like 6-Deep the Messenger. There are all kinds of good prizes to be won, like free beats, mastering, promotional material and airplay. Go to http://musikkast.com/pnw-industry-mixer-competition/ to register.

LINK: What's The Word? hip-hop column

THURSDAY, JAN. 3 2013 >>>

1. Victoria B.C.'s Compassion Gorilla floats through its own little universe, a cultural synthesis held forcefully aloft by full-bodied vocals and a unique concoction of world beat, Latin folk, dub and psychedelic music rhythms. The band wraps audiences in a spell of dance, magic and melody with racy horn lines, brazen guitar harmonies, driving hand-percussion rhythms, and thick bass lines. However, it's always been about those incredible voices caught in the interplay of music and rhythm. Catch Compassion Gorilla with the Artesian Rumble Arkestra at 9 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge in Olympia.

2. Bundle up, pinch your cheeks until they glow and strap on a pair of silver skates, Hans Brinker, for a glide across the frozen expanse at Tollefson Plaza. The Franciscan Polar Plaza, located on the corner of Pacific Avenue and South 17th Street, from 4-9 p.m.

3. Think running and drinking don't mix unless there's a K-9 unit involved? Not true. For two years the Tacoma Runners - a group of T-town pavement pounders - have gathered at Tacoma watering holes at 6:30 p.m. to jog a 3-mile loop, followed by multiple drinks at the launch point. It's been a smashing success. This week's run starts and ends at Meconi's Pub in downtown Tacoma.

4. If it's laughs you're looking for find comedian Duane Goad at the Tacoma Comedy Club at 8 p.m. He's sarcastic.

5. If you're like most people, there's part of you that really enjoys shaking your ass without regret. Luckily, Masa hosts T-Town Thursday with Deejay Sessions. Sure there are $2 wells and $5 Jagers until midnight. And the ladies get in free. But, you don't care. You want to shake you ass to some Top 40 and hip-hop. It's cool.

LINK: Thursday, Jan. 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater TAcoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, DEC. 30 2012 >>>

1. The Weekly Volcano has a humble mission. We only want to be your conscience; we only want to influence everything you do. To entertain yourself, that is. Now, we have been talking among ourselves, and we have reached a decision about what you should do Sunday night. Every week we watch you tell lies around town. You don't just love it. You won't start working on it ASAP. You didn't send the email. So we have decided you need to know what's true and what's not. At 8 p.m. the Tacoma Comedy Club hosts Jay Hollingsworth's True Comedy Show. Immediately following each comedian's act, Hollingsworth will probe the comics with questions to reveal what's true and what's fiction in their material. We suggest you attend.

2. The Model Train Festival - downtown Tacoma's biggest model railroad exposition (taking into account, of course, the relatively small size of the subjects at hand because they are, of course, models) - runs through Jan. 1. Every floor of the Washington State History Museum will be filled with operating modular layouts. 

3. Harlequin Productions brings A Christmas Survival Guide to the stage one last time at 2 p.m. It plays to Harlequin's principal strengths: live pop music, technical design and intelligence (in no particular order). It also introduces diminutive spitfire Amy Shephard, newly returned from grad school at Exeter, to the Harlequin stage, where she joins revue regulars Antonía Darlene and Christian Doyle. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of A Christmas Survival Guide in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

4. You're sick and tired of driving through the neighborhood looking at the homes of people who think they deserve an award for their light displays. You deserve to take a night to go see ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Billed as the region's biggest walk-through light show, ZooLights includes animated light sculptures, live entertainment, snacks, animal encounters and the Paul Titus Carousel. While enjoying your stroll, be thankful you're not in charge of this holiday light display. The lights flip on at 5 p.m.

5. The poster for LyonPride Music's 13th Annual Holiday Bash shows a topless woman in a Santa hat riding another topless woman dress as a reindeer. Exactly what goes down tonight at The Backstage Bar and Grill is unknown. What is certain is the Mentor, Coven and The Dead Hookers will rock it, World Champion Pole Dancer Pantera Blacksmith with work it and there will be prizes for tattoos and raffles. Something will happen beginning at 7 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Dec. 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, DEC. 27, 2011 >>>

1. Raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Comedian Marc Ryan feeds his rambunctious stand-up performances with Southern stereotypes and anecdotal snippets from his own upbringing, packing his bits with quips about Walmart, family woes and drunken follies. Catch Ryan at 8 p.m. inside the Tacoma Comedy Club.

2. Abracadabra! Hocus-pocus! Rama-lama-ding-dong! Local magician Jeff Evans will teach kids important lessons at 2 p.m. inside the Olympia Timberland Library. We're not going to guarantee you scantily clad assistants, but audience participation is enforced, so keep an eye on your watch - there's a fine line between David Copperfield and a pickpocket.

3. You're sick and tired of driving through the neighborhood looking at the homes of people who think they deserve an award for their light displays. You deserve to take a night to go see ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Billed as the region's biggest walk-through light show, ZooLights includes animated light sculptures, live entertainment, snacks, animal encounters and the Paul Titus Carousel. While enjoying your stroll, be thankful you're not in charge of this holiday light display. The lights flip on at 5 p.m.

4. The always entertaining Billy Stoops hosts an open jam at Stonegate Pizza tonight. Start your weekend a wee-bit early with a trip down to South Tacoma Way.

5. Unless you're some kind of stiff, you like to laugh. And people in Tacoma who like to laugh seem to enjoy Nate Jackson's Super Funny Comedy Show, which happens every Thursday at the Varsity Grill on Broadway.

LINK: Thursday, Dec. 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater TAcoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, DEC. 23 2012 >>>

1. From 4-9 p.m. at The Swiss, seven bands come together at a benefit show for a local woman, Nicole Skoog, a 31-year-old who suffers from a debilitating condition called occipital neuralgia. Blues Redemption, Crazy Texas Gypsies, Dean Reichert, Raphael Tranqilino, James King and the Southsiders, Rod Cook (Vicci Martinez Band) and Paul Green will rock the blues to help offset the costs of surgery and recovery that are not covered by insurance. Doug Skoog is Nicole's father, and is also a member of Blues Redemption and Crazy Texas Gypsies. He writes an explanation of Nicole's condition, "It is a rare congenital abnormality that causes numerous occipital and cranial nerves to run though the muscles below her scalp.  Several car accidents many years ago and a worker's comp injury has triggered severe muscle spasms that have limited the blood supply to these nerves, triggering the inflammatory process and producing scar tissue that further enhances her pain.  She suffers from chronic daily migraines every waking moment.  Her life the past 12 months has been taken away from her and she has been unable to do what she loves, which is working as an ER Trauma RN helping others." Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on this benefit in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

2. The Lonely Night: Luminous Solo Dance Works presents four solo dance artists — Myrionymos Marionette, Mirror Milk, Douglas Ridings with Stephen Fadrich on piano and Bridget Scott with live musical accompaniment White Gourd at 6 p.m. inside the Midnight Sun Performance Space in downtown Olympia.

3. The Redroom in Tacoma hosts an all-ages rap show featuring Endgame, Knowthead, 100 Proof, J wise and Shane Mackinnon at 7 p.m.

4. Local comedians who have taken their shows to other states have returned home to make their families' holidays a littl ebit funnier. The Tacoma Comedy Club has convinced the comedians to drop by at 8 p.m. for a "Home For The Holidays" comedy show. Brilliant!

5. It has been 10 years since The Brotherhood morphed from the dank, labor bar into one of Olympia's beloved hotspots; 10 years of soul nights, dance parties and more bands than you can ever want to count. To celebrate that auspicious occasion The Brotherhood is throwing a 10-year bash featuring the highlights of the 2012 "Night of the Living Tribute Bands": The Cure and The Scorpions. Tying the event together will be the ever-raucous R&B tunes slapped down by the bar's longtime resident madman, DJ Wildman James. The cover charge benefits the Thurston County Food Bank. It all goes down at 9 p.m.

PLUS: Holiday stage performances in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Sunday, Dec. 23 arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SUNDAY, DEC. 16 2012 >>>

1. The Sound of Music closes today at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse with a 2 p.m. performance. Marissa Ryder, a TMP regular, makes and sings a lovely Maria. Karen Early Evans provides operatic chops in the role of Mother Abbess. Jonathan Bill's an imposing Captain Georg and has a resonant baritone. Director Jon Douglas Rake's choreography is often straight from the movie, which is fine in this context. Will Abrahamse and John Chenault offer yeoman work on the set and lights, respectively. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of The Sound of Music in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

2. Now through Christmas Eve, the Harmon Tap Room is serving one of its seasonal beers - past and present - daily for the next 12 days. Participants who complete the difficult challenge of finishing the select beer a day will be handsomely rewarded with an engraved mug as proof of their brew dedication. So far, Harmon's One Hop Wonder, Vanilla Porter and Stryker Stout have been checked off. One of the days will include Harmon's Sour Cherry ESB that has been conditioned in a 21 Cellars barrel. Is today the day?

3. So the tree and the fairy lights are up, you have enough booze and unhealthy snacks to sink the Titanic, and your television is about to explode in a flurry of consumerism and romantic schmaltz. But there's something missing. That's right, folks: it just wouldn't be a happy holiday without some singing about God. And for that, there's no beating Handel's "Messiah," a piece for choir, orchestra and soloists that has delighted audiences worldwide for more than 250 years. As 18th-century music historian Charles Burney once said, "Messiah" has fed the hungry and clothed the naked, fostered the orphan, and enriched succeeding managers of Oratories more than any single musical production in this or any other country." We aren't totally sure what that means, so check out the 2nd annual "Messiah" sing along accompanied by the Peninsula Civic Orchestra at 4 p.m. inside the Fox Island United Church of Christ.

4. Matt Coughlin and the Growlers have labeled their style as "funktry" - a combination of funk and country, natch. Coughlin grew up in Montana, raised by a couple of hippies. "They're folkies from back in the day," says Coughlin. "They got me playing piano and playing the guitar and singing and whatnot. I carried that through high school, and found out that girls like it when you play guitar and sing." At 7 p.m., Matt Coughlin and the Growlers will help Doyle's Public House celebrate St. Practice Day, joined by another band Coughlin sometimes jams with - Phunkatron and the Double Deuce Horns, as well as the Buckshot Brass Band. It should be epic.

5. The Grit City Comedy club showcases Northwest comedians every Sunday night. Tonight at 8 p.m., Derek Sheen will over-share his personal failures and the most intimate details of his secret thoughts.

PLUS: Yes Yes No No Holiday Show and Rare Exports in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Sunday, Dec. 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 2012 >>>

1. Tacoma's Third Thursday Artwalk is awesome ... the only trouble is it's completely unwalkable. Thankfully, for the last two-plus 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's Art Bus celebrity host Sen. Jeannie Darneille will help guide you through such stops as Poppy & Co., 253 Collective, Creative Forces/Hotel Murano, Nine Lives Vintage, Anew Thyme, Merlino Arts Center and The Social. Tickets are $10 regular admission and $20 for VIPs. VIPs get gift bags with items from lots of local businesses and participate in a raffle. The Bus pushes off from the Tacoma Art Museum at 6 p.m.

2. The Tacoma Historical Society hosts its 6th Annual Membership Meeting & Reception at 7 p.m. inside the Old Post Office at 1102 A St. in downtown Tacoma. Yes, the organization will discuss business and it's plans for the coming year, but it will also include architectural and historical chats about the Old Post Office. Believe us, no one will mail in this talk. Arrive early for at 6:30 p.m. tour of the joint.

3. Olympia Coffee Roasting Company is one of Olympia's Godsends. The roasting house helps state workers crank through Excel files, it adds bounce to college students' steps and it puts a smile on everyone's face that comes through its front door. OCR will celebrate its major awards, and second year in business, tonight with a bash featuring Olympia indie garage band duo, The Maxines.

4. It's semi-finals week of the 33rd annual Seattle International Comedy Competition, and the field has been narrowed. Producers officially announced the 10 comics from Week 1 who will be going on to the semi-finals that takes over the Washington Center's Comedy In A Box slot at 7:30 p.m. Nate Abshire (Minneapolis), Ryan Clauson (Hanover), Ricarlo Flanagan (Detroit), Solomon Georgio (Seattle), Joe Klocek (San Francisco), Landry (Atlanta), Justin Leon (Kansas City), Michael Malone (Los Angeles) Elliot Maxx (Seattle) and Tacoma's Tyrone Hawkins will bust out 10 minutes of their best bits in hopes of grabbing some sweet prize money.

5. The Java Jive Appreciation Society hosts a Jive Turkey Disco karaoke night beginning at 8 p.m. at, you guessed it, the Java Jive. Dress in your favorite duds from the '70s.

LINK: Thursday, Nov. 15 arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

FRIDAY, NOV. 9, 2012 >>>

1. Who really knows jack about Zen? Apparently the Second City Chamber does. Tonight it presents "Zen Pathways," a concert featuring meditative musical landscapes by Claude Debussy, Sophia Gubaidulina, Alan Hovhaness and Michio Miyagi at the Tacoma Art Museum. Some have scoffed at Zen. But don't be fooled! There's something going on here, something powerful and clandestine. You must infiltrate the center and report back with all Second City Chamber's secrets. You must tell us of all its inner machinations. We are trusting you with this reconnaissance mission - just you. 7:30 p.m., $10-$27, Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.TUNE

2. Mozart's The Magic Flute is a perennial favorite that lacks the depth of Mozart's collaborations with librettist da Ponte, but it is hard to resist the broadly drawn characters and brilliant writing. A great beginner opera, especially for mature children. Check it out tonight inside Lagerquist Concert Hall. 8 p.m., 8 p.m., $5-$15, Pacific Lutheran University, Parkland, 253.535.7411

3. Shakespeare was totally punk rock. Almost four centuries before rock and roll was invented, he was writing about sex and drugs. He messed around with gender roles long before David Bowie and Iggy Pop; he didn't shy away from discussing how horrible and violent society could be; he thumbed his nose at the establishment by weaving coded messages about the rebel Catholic underground and making fun of the upper class. Tonight, the Lakewood Playhouse presents Shakespeare's tale of love, lies, gender-bending bouts of mistaken identity and mustaches that is Twelfth Night. The Playhouse warns there will be audience participation, romance and occurrences of bawdiness. Yes! 8 p.m., $18-$24, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. SW, Lakewood, 253.588.0042

4. Former Saturday Night Live funnyman Tim Meadows has stayed busy lately on Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office and The Daily Show and brings his standup act to the Tacoma Comedy Club tonight. 8 and 10:30 p.m., $20, 933 Market St., Tacoma, 253.282.7203

5. The Kim Archer Band will fill Jazzbones with R&B and blues beginning at 7:30 p.m. $7-$10, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169

LINK: Friday, Nov. 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

1. The Pine Hearts, with their mandolin and banjo and guitar are super easy to listen to. Bluegrassy with some earth tones and a little nod towards simpler times, The Pine Hearts go great with beer, BBQ and friends. 9 p.m., free, The Pig Bar (South Bay BBQ,) 619 Legion Way, Olympia, (360) 943-6900.

2. Join in the laughs at the 2nd Annual Grit City Comedy Contest! You will see 8-10 comics go head to head with their best 10 minutes for your votes. The audience will vote for their top three comics to move forward for the finals on Saturday. Make plans now to come for two great nights packed with comedy! To help you with that, those that come to tonight’s show will be given a chance to purchase discounted tickets on site for the Saturday show for $10. 9 p.m. $13.70 Grit City Comedy Club, 445 Tacoma Ave. South, Tacoma, (253) 961-4262, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/275084.

3. “8” is the new play by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar, Big Love.) The play chronicles the historic trial in the Prop 8 federal case for marriage equality in California. Come hear exactly what the court transcript says – hear both sides! Each performance features great actors from every stage in the South Sound. Following each performance, there will be a Q&A with Washington State Representative Chris Reykdal and other marriage equality advocates. 7:30 p.m., $10, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St SE, Olympia, (360) 753-8585.

4. This musical vaudeville is set in roaring twenties Chicago - chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap...until he finds out he's been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another "Merry Murderess" Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the "American Dream": fame, fortune and acquittal. This sharp edged satire features a dazzling score that sparked immortal staging by Bob Fosse. 8 p.m., $20 - $29, Tacoma Musical Playhouse Narrows Theater, 7116 6th Avenue, (253) 565-6867.

5. Grindhouse Theater Presents, on rare, glorious 35 mm film, The Return of the Living Dead. When a bumbling pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to re-animate as they go on a rampage through Louisville, Kentucky seeking their favorite food - brains. 9 p.m., $9, The Grand Cinema, 606 South Fawcett Avenue, Tacoma, (253) 593-4474.

John Keister from the Seattle comedy Almost Live! will be at the Royal Lounge this Saturday in Olympia.

Keister, a native of Seattle, wrote for The Rocket and initially joined KING-TV as a music reviewer on a program called REV in 1984. Keister joined Almost Live! from 1988 - 1999 and won 12 Emmy Awards for his work with the show.

Many of us grew up with Keister's quirky comedy and lean toward local celebrities, hot issues and home-town flair.

"He's got a lot of history for the Seattle area," says Baurice Nelson, who's bringing Keister to town. "He's such a household name that it'll be like you've got a buddy in the room telling interesting stories."

With the election coming up, Nelson thought Keister would be a perfect fit since he's also known for his political angle.

Nelson, who has been the go-to for comedy in the Olympia area since the 90's is also bringing in Duane Goad to perform with Keister.

"He's seasoned and he could be a headliner," says Nelson of Goad. "If you come to the show, you'll remember that Duane was great."

Special guest Monica Nevi will also perform.

The Royal Lounge, 311 Capitol Way N., doors 7:30, show 8:30, tickets $12 in advance www.Baurice.com