VOTE NOW >>>

You remember Joshua Adams. The Atlanta resident arrived in Tacoma courtesy of the U.S. Navy, worked on subs in Bremerton. He spent his free time performing at the Mocha Moo, Shakabrah, Rhapsody in Bloom and Panamonica's, often with best buds Jerin Falkner and Victor Prinson. Adams, in his trademark baseball cap and puka shells, captured attention with his amazing percussive guitar work and looping skills in the mid-2000s.

Remember? Awesome guy. It was sad when he high-tailed it back to Atlanta.

Adams is a top 10 finalist in the search for a new theme song for HLN's "Morning Express" show with Robin Meade.

Let's vote for him here. He'd do the same for you. Oh, you could win a prize.

MONDAY, AUG. 15, 2011 >>>

1. Few things are more blue than a Monday. Luckily, Hipbone will be doling out the blues tonight at the Swiss. It's very appropriate.

2. Get your devil horns and exclamation points ready!!! It's Metal Monday at the New Frontier!! As McKibbin would say, "Support the scene!!"

3. Let's tally up the score for Jazzbones Rockaraoke, shall we? A chance to sing on stage with a live band? Yes. Cheap Miller High Life? Yes. A valid excuse to drink on a Monday (repeat, Monday) night? Yes, yes and, oh God, yes.

4. Not only is it a good night for rockaraoke at Jazzbones - it's a good night for karaoake throughout the South Sound. Lady Luck's Cowgirl Up Steakhouse hosts "Toxic Karaoke," Jake's on Fourth Avenue in Olympia hosts gay-friendly karaoke, the Play Pen in Lacey busts out a karaoke contest and the Bull Market Bar and Grill offers karaoke in a bowling alley. The possibilities are endless.

5. Saddle up to some "Bar Bingo," at Willoughby's Restaurant and Lounge in Yelm.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight!

TACOMA REPRESENT >>>

Twenty Americans from across the country have nailed the chance to be crowned the "handiest of them all" in the new HGTV series, All American Handyman. One of the contestants is Tacoma artist, filmmaker, music promoter and apparently handyman Larry Huffines.

Through Oct. 12, America may vote for the best All American Handyman. C'mon South Sound, let's vote for Larry! Click here to vote.

From HGTV's website:

The goal of the series: to find America's best handyman (or handywoman), the one with real skill, integrity and the right stuff to impress the judges. To avoid elimination, contestants must showcase their abilities under the watchful gaze of HGTV's celebrity judges Mike Holmes, Holmes on Homes and Scott McGillivray, Income Property plus a secret weekly judge. All 20 contestants have proven they've got what it takes but only one will walk away with the coveted title of "All American Handyman," and a significant prize package.

PHOTO HOT SPOT >>>

Doyle's Public House in Tacoma's Stadium District mixes it up Wednesday nights. First, if the Sounder's game is on, the place is packed. Then the info geeks arrive for the Knowledge Night trivia games. Toss in the regulars, and thrill seekers trying to nab the last shot of a Jameson bottle in hopes of winning a trip for two to Ireland - and the crowd is complete.

Last Wednesday photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped by Doyle's. A few of his shots are posted below.

Knowledge Night

Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m.
Doyle's Public House
208 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma
253.272.7468

LINK: More photos from the night

2011 PROCTOR ARTS FEST JURIED ART SHOW WINNERS >>>

The 15th annual Proctor Arts Fest featured sidewalk sales, more than 100 arts vendors, live music and family fun galore on a partly sunny Aug. 6 day in Tacoma's Proctor District. Also included as part of the festivities was a juried art show. Here are the winners of said event:

Photograhy
First - "Shrooms" Lenny Zimmerman
Second - "Hot Day" E. D. Schroll
Third - "Sunrise - Mono Lake" Ronald W Knievel
Honorable Mention - "Keys" Jennifer Chushcoff; "Approaching Storm" Damon Cargol

Watercolor
First - "Wandering Woods" Kim Shuckhart Gunns
Second - "Sunlight on Water" Bonnie Cargol
Third -  "Yosemite Night" Nancy McLaughlin
Honorable Mention - "Abundance" Sandra Olson

Oil and Acrylic
First - "Old Hip" Karen Williams
Second - "Koi-la-la" Sharon Carr
Third  - "R and R" David Miner
Honorable Mention - California Poppies" Phyllis Larson

Drawing and Prints
First - "Ridgefield After the Rain" Nan Feagan
Second - "Orange Bison" Mark Lubich
Third - "Heirloom" Frances Tanner

Three Dimension
First - "Southwest Fetish Bowl" Cheryl Gunderson
Second - "El Oxicado Caballo" David Erue
Third - "Ceremonial Eagle Dancing Mask" Enrique R Leon
Honorable Mention - "Equest Rhiann" Janice Karrall

People's Choice
First  - "El Oxicado Caballo" David Erue
Second - "What Now?" Susan Strohm
Third - "Time to Reflect" Tim Clifton
Honorable Mention - "Southwest Fetish Bowl" Cheryl Gunderson; "Koi-La-La"  Sharon Carr

JURORS: Kit Evans, Becky Frehse, Rick Semple

LINK: We sanpped photos at the festival

CONGRATULATIONS! >>>

The time has finally arrived. The Weekly Volcano's annual Best of issue is on the street. And once again it stands alone as the definitive user's guide – for urban explorers and bar stool wise-asses alike - to Grit City and Pierce County.

Maybe you filled out the Weekly Volcano's Super Best Of Tacoma survey and maybe you didn't. But either way the super-sized, all-powerful Weekly Volcano Super Best of edition is now spread out on tables or the bottom of birdcages.

If you did vote, then probably you're anxious to discover if you won the random drawing for a $200 Pacific Grill gift certificate AND overnight stay at the Hotel Murano.

Drum roll please ...

Congratulations to Justin Leighton – he of the Save Our Buses campaign and Central Neighborhood Council – for winning the Super Best of Tacoma random drawing. Leighton was the third person to vote.

Hope to see Leighton and everyone else at the Super Best of Tacoma Party tonight at the Varsity Grill.

CHECK THEM OUT >>>

The Grand Cinema received around 60 submissions during the Tacoma Film Festival poster competition. While most of the entries were from the Tacoma area a few came from outside the city - including past TFF poster winner and Paris resident David Mackey (the Godzilla poster below). This year's theme/tagline was "CATCH IT FIRST".

You can check out the submitted posters - which are hanging in The Grand's lobby - during regular hours.
 
A panel of Tacoma Film Festival staff and volunteers will chose the winning poster soon. We hear The Grand folks have grown tired of posters that include Mount Rainier and the Narrows Bridge.

Here are a few submitted posters hanging on The Grand's walls:

LINK: Go see a movie at The Grand

WE'RE A BIG BOY NOW >>>

The Weekly Volcano's "personal" Facebook page is closing in on FB's 5,000 friends limit. Holy wow is right. We've started a "fan" page, which will allow us to compile as many friends/fans as technologically possible. If you're on FB and dig the Volcano's posts, quips, discoveries and news breaks – as well as content that doesn't appear either online or in print – go to facebook.com/weeklyvolcanofanpage and please "like" us.

Bonus: To make you really "like" us, we will enter those who "like" us before 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 into a random drawing for a free one night stay for two in a King Deluxe Room at the Hotel Murano. You will need to redeem the room before June 30, 2011.

The new Weekly Volcano Facebook page will also be your guide to exclusive Weekly Volcano events, promotions, blogs and photos.

Thank you!

LINK: Like us

HALL SCORES A HORN >>>

Last Saturday the Weekly Volcano reported that a bunch of kids refused to leave Ted Brown Music in Tacoma until they were given a free instrument. For the report, click here.

We're happy to report all the kids eventually did leave, but not until Amelia Hall of Tacoma's Mason Middle School scored a Yamaha trumpet.

After 30 hours and 17 minutes Hall was declared the winner of Ted Brown Music's 5th annual "Hands on Contest."  Hall's father and brother were there to give her hugs and high fives. Exhausted and happy she couldn't wait to go home and sleep.

As this year's first place winner, she selected a trumpet valued at $2100. Hall grabbed third place at last years Hands on Contest. The top 10 finalists received a gift certificates good for future purchases at Ted Brown Music, and all participants received "I Survived the Ted Brown Music's Hands on Contest" T-shirts.

WHAT KIDS WILL DO TO ROCK OUT >>>

Ted Brown Music 5th annual "Hands on Contest" began yesterday at 6 p.m. at its Tacoma store just off Interstate 5 at Tacoma Mall Boulevard. Fifty-six kids showed up for the contest. The rules: Keep both hands on a trumpet case. The person that keeps his hands on the case the longest wins a band instrument of his choice.  

After 22 hours, six kids remain - hands on a case, dreaming of rocking someone's face off at The Gorge. The store will remain open until we have a winner. You should drop by and check the awesomeness out.

Studies show that students that take band in school have higher test scores and work better in groups. Read this press release for proof.