FRIDAY, JAN. 18 2013 >>>

1. At 8 p.m., the Backstage Bar and Grill and Puddin' Pie Productions will combine rock music and comedy into one Rockin' Comedy Extravaganza package featuring two bands and five comedians. A line-up of comedians - including Travis Simmons "The Big Funny," Justin Hayes, Greg Baldonado, Jeremy Whitman and Eric "Puddin" Lorentzen - start off the night followed by Hookerfist, a Tool tribute band, and local rockers C.F.A. The event is a NWCZ Radio sponsored listener's party, with on-air host Darrell Fortune playing emcee. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

2. Bates Technical College will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic march on Washington D.C. and "I Have a Dream" speech with an 11:30 a.m. program that will remember the past and celebrate the future. Spoken word poet Lucas Smiraldo, also known as Vanilla Soul, and local activist and leader from the Civil Rights era Dr. Moses Harris will join Master of Ceremonies and former Bates President Lyle Quasim for the event, which will also feature speeches from Commander Sergeant Major Sherman Fox and Dr. Harris' daughter, Frances Lizette Renée Harris.

3. Members of the Saint Martin's University community will gather at 6 p.m. inside the Worthington Center for its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration honoring the legacy of the prominent human rights activist. Featuring a Southern-style dinner, the evening will include remarks by Tyler Calvi, the University's student body president, and University President Roy F. Heynderickx, Ph.D. A powerful performance by spoken word poet Chas Jackson will round out the evening.

4. The Social Bar and Grill hosts local creative writing publication Wrist Magazine's launch party Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. Beats provided by DJ Mr. Melanin while you can meet the staff and local authors and nosh on culinary treats and sip on some of the best craft cocktails in town. Tacoma winery 21 Cellars will be in the house too.

5. Talented Tacoma photographers command the Madera Architectural Elements Showroom once a month, illuminating their work and creativity with the visually aided enhancement implied by the name of the series, TRIPOD Slide Shows. Created by Tacoma artist Lynn Di Nino, the night of digital slides features three local photographers and one creative theme.  The next TRIPOD Slide Show slides into Madera from 7-8:30 p.m. featuring 15-minute slide shows by photographers Becky Frehse, Ann Darling and L. Lisa Lawrence under the theme "Footloose and Fancy Free, all over the World."

LINK: Friday, Jan. 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, JAN. 12 2013 >>>

1. The Future Bass DJs - Mr. Melanin, BROAM and Bobby Galaxy - have been a mainstay of the Tacoma alternative club/nightscene since 2009, blending cultures and genres by mixing the cutting edge of hip-hop, heavy electro dance music and indy electroclash remixes. It's a night of infectious, soulful beats backed by lush visuals and classic breakdancing videos. It's awesome. Get into the groove beginning at 9 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

2. Man's best friend comes in many shapes and sizes. There are small dogs, big dogs, hairy dogs and dogs that shit and piss all over the place. There are cute dogs, ugly dogs, stinky dogs, and, well, dogs that shit and piss all over the place. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Puyallup Fairgrounds (specifically, the Puyallup Fair & events Center) the Western Washington All Breed Dog Show Cluster will end its weekend run in epic fashion - pitting the most privileged and pampered yappers you'll ever seen in a battle royal for canine supremacy.

3. The waves of shock reverberated throughout Tacoma. Mouths fell agape. Eyes stared in bewilderment. Dogs paced nervously. On April 14, 2011 the beloved and historic pagoda at Point Defiance Park was set ablaze by a 15-year-old boy. The nearly 100-year-old building - built in 1914 and a replica of a 17th century Japanese lodge - that went from streetcar station in May 1914 to home to a lot of weddings up to 21 months ago, was destroyed. Seven million dollars later, The Pagoda opens today at  2 p.m. with self-guide tours, history lectures, speeches and hugs until 5 p.m.

Even if you don't quite understand the complicated politics behind the bitter intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, you'll have a visceral reaction to 5 Broken Cameras, a documentary that captures five years of protests via the amateur lenses of Emad Burnat, a Palestinian farmer whose hometown of Bil'in on the West Bank was overtaken by Israeli settlements just as his youngest son, Gibreel, was born. The documentary will be screened at 5 p.m. inside the First United Methodist Church. Emad Burnat's brother, Iyad Burnat - a nonviolent activist from Bil'in - will host the film, then discuss his life in the West Bank under Israeli military occupation.

5. "When you eat pancakes out of a bag in a semi-public place, there are rules," says comedian Kyle Kinane midway through an eight-minute story about watching a man on an airplane eat pancakes out of a grocery bag. You or I might see such a sight and, upon reporting it to our friends later, the extent of our story might be just, "Pretty weird, right?" But that's not how Kyle Kinane operates. On his first album, Death of the Party, and his second, Whiskey Icarus, Kinane tells stories both large and small, but they are never short of epic in the telling. Whether it's a story about the terror of using a bathroom in a sketchy bar, or about what it means to receive a blank fortune cookie, or about the rules of speeding tickets for bicyclists, Kinane wrings short stories out of even the most mundane things, and it's always hilarious. Catch him at 8 and 10:30 p.m. tonight at the Tacoma Comedy Club. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's interview with comedian Kyle Kinane in the Weekly Volcano's Arts acetion.

LINK: Saturday, Jan. 12 arts and entertainment events in the greter Tacoma and Olympia area

GOOD REASON TO PARTY >>>

The year was 1973. Music was in it's arguable hey-day: Elvis Presley performed in Hawaii as the first worldwide telecast and was watched by more people than watched the Apollo moon landings, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon was released and Rainy Day Records opened in Olympia, Wash.

That's reason to party.

Celebrate 40 years of records, skateboards, rock shirts and nag champa at Rainy Day's birthday celebration Sunday, Jan. 20 at The Brotherhood Lounge. The next day is a holiday, students and state workers, so no excuses to not come down and boogie.

Former and present Rainy Day employees will be spinning tunes. DJ Action Slacks will take a break from her regular gig, Sugar Town, at The Spare Room club in Portland, to give the soul people of Olympia some good tunes. Wildman James Maeda and Chris Sutton will also spin the jams.

Maeda reflects on what he loves about working at Rainy Day, "I'm always excited about helping people in their quest for music."

Maeda says the store will have other celebrations throughout the year, including an all-ages event.

Another notable event that celebrates 40 years is Roe v. Wade - the landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that overturned state bans on abortion. In celebration, 100 percent of the proceeds from the $3 cover will benefit Planned Parenthood.

BROTHERHOOD LOUNGE, SUNDAY, JAN 20, 9 P.M., $3, 119 CAPITOL WAY, OLYMPIA, 360.352.4153.

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

DANCING, YEAH >>>

Tacoma Art Museum is going all out to ring in 2013 the right way - with some art, some food, some drinks and a whole lot of party. You want to do New Year's all glitzy and ritzy? Tacoma Art Museum's Studio 54 New Year's Eve Bash is the place.

"Unleash your inner celebrity," tempts Tacoma Art Museum's website. "Be glamorous. Be free. Be you."

The Andy Warhol exhibit will be open for the wandering. Once you're done hobnobbing amongst the art, proceed with wild abandon to the dance floor. Upon said dance floor, enjoy spiffy dance beats by DJ Marc Sense of Integral DJ. If the dance floor is where you shine, join in the dance contests to strut your stuff. Other perks of the evening include dance performances by Studio 6 Ballroom, drinks by The Mix, a photo booth by 1000 Words, and food and snacks at the café.

Wear your finest or dress in costume - from Venetian masks to quirky creations, Studio 54 welcomes your costumes. Come up with the best costume in the land and there may be a prize in it for you.

There are three levels of tickets: the Party Pass at $50, Gold Level VIP Pass at $100, and Platinum Level VIP Pass at $150. VIP access gets you into special areas, a private no host bar, and other private areas. Platinum Level allows you to dance the night away on an illuminated dance floor.

TACOMA ART MUSEUM, MONDAY, DEC. 31, 9 P.M., $50-$150, 1701 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.4258

LINK: New Year's Eve parties in the South Sound

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

SATURDAY, DEC. 22, 2012 >>>

1. Scoff if you will, but there was a time when the ukulele was the electric guitar of the musical world. Far more dangerous than the mandolin, and sexier than your great-grandmother's bob haircut, it was the instrument of choice for rowdy college party kids - at least the rowdy party kids that could afford raccoon coats. Fast forward 90 years, and you'll find a ukulele revival brewing in the South Sound. Leading the charge is the Monday Ukulele Ohana - a group of uke enthusiasts that meet every Monday night at the Asian Pacific Culture Center to jam. Tonight, 7-9 p.m., the MUO will perform holiday music on the Electric Salchow Stage at the Franciscan Polar Plaza ice rink. It's beginning to look a lot like Don Ho baby!

2. To prepare yourself for tired artichoke dip and meatballs in mystery sauce - which defy beer to begin with, plus the fact that few people serve decent beer at parties - always follow one rule of thumb. BYOB. One to give, one to drink. If you practice safe beer, you'll be much happier. Wingman Brewers will be pouring winter beers Peppermint Milk Stout, Rye Barleywine, Maple scotch Ale and Belgian sour Blend - beginning at 6 p.m. The Tacoma brewer will also be selling 22-ounce filled bottles of White Betty (Tripel with Semillion wine grapes) and Black Widow (Dubbel with Tempranillo wine grapes). The best news, all the beers are available for growler fills to make the holiday party that much better.

3. There are many upsetting things about the Christmas and New Year's season - increased credit card debt, unresolved decades-long family pain, the spiritual vacuum at the core of our culture, trying to get into the spirit of things. ... At 7 p.m. the Redroom - Tacoma's all-ages club at 23^rd and Tacoma Avenue South - hosts a free Xmas Party featuring hardcore bands Oblivion, Cowardice, Sojourner, Crooks To Kings, Earth Mother and Safe & Sound. Todd "Snack Pants" Davis will be Skinhead Santa Claus and there will be a photo booth.

4. Ethan Tucker may only be in his early 20s, but he has already made a big name for himself in musical circles throughout the U.S. The Olympia singer-songwriter has been performing regularly since the age of 16 incorporates multiple genres such as jazz, blues, folk, and reggae in his sound. Catch Tucker at 9 p.m. inside Doyle's Public House.

5. Tonight at 9 p.m. inside Bob's Java Jive, DJs dAb, Chris Savenetti, The Suga Plum Fairy and Ninja Kat will spins '80s tunes including New Wave, electro and soul jams. What to wear? Wear lacey socks and a custom leather jacket. 

PLUS: Proctor Farmers Market, holiday stage shows and more in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, Dec. 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

DOOMSDAY, DEC. 21 2012 >>>

1. As the Weekly Volcano mentioned last month, Tacoma's Wingman Brewers and Tacoma's 21 Cellars teamed up to produce beers with unique flavors distinct to Tacoma - specifically making beer with wine must - the quite flavorful and useful "leftover" grape skin, seeds and stems from wine mashing. At 2 p.m. the beers - White Betty and Black Widow - will be released inside the Wingman tasting room.

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), opens this morning and runs through Jan. 1. Every floor of the Washington State History Museum will be filled with operating modular layouts.  New this year is the Polar Plaza Express - a ride-on train that will travel between the Washington State History Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum. Remember to look both ways before crossing, and keep your pennies to yourself.

3. The Approach, a local band that blends reggae, metal and hip-hop, will shot a video at 8 p.m. inside Medi's Pizza & Pasta on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. The Buddy System will open.

4. The McTuff Trio - comprised of Joe Doria, Andy Coe and Byron Vannoy - grab world-renowned saxophonist Skerik for an 8 p.m. performance at The Olympia Ballroom. Dubbed the "soulstice," the party will be packed with McTuff fans who aren't afraid to get their dance on. Expect long jams that cross the barriers of jazz with powerful keyboards, rhythmic drums, screaming sax and sometimes fuzz-distorted guitar. Also expect a trippy light show.

5. Ocean Grooves hosts homeboy DJ Donald Glaude for his annual Christmastime show in Tacoma, this time at Jazzbones beginning at 8 p.m.. Joining the world-renown DJ will be Tommie Sunshine and Mr. Clean.

LINK: Friday, Dec. 21 arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SATURDAY, DEC. 15 2012 >>>

1. Champagne Sunday is an interesting breed. Performing a little bit Broadway, a little bit contemporary, a little bit punk and a little bit blues, this indie duo has a lot of energy and talent that makes for an engaging, powerful listen. Tonight, from 7-9 p.m. you may ice skate to Champagne Sunday when it performs at the Weekly Volcano's Electric Salchow Stage inside the ice rink at the Franciscan Polar Plaza. They'll be dancing on the ice tonight. Read Nikki McCoy's interview with Champagne Sunday in the Weekly Volcano's Music section.

2. The Christmas Revels is a show, a Puget Sound tradition, a high-spirited, silly and serious, variety show that takes on Christmas in a way unique to other holiday performances.  The Revels combine folk traditions and a bit of historical appeal with choirs and community performances, dance and drama. It's run opens tdoat at 2 and 7:30 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater in Tacoma.

3. Tacoma Performing Dance Company invites you to its annual take on The Nutcracker Ballet today and tomorrow at Stadium High School's Performing Arts Center. Catch the show at 2 and 7:30 p.m. today, and 1 and 6 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets will be available at the door and run $18-$22.

4. According to Wikipedia, "There is debate over the origin of the auto-harp. A German immigrant in Philadelphia by the name of Charles F. Zimmermann was awarded US 257808 in 1882 for a design for a musical instrument that included mechanisms for muting certain strings during play. He named his invention the ‘autoharp.' .... Karl August Gütter of Markneukirchen, Germany, built a model that he called a "Volkszither," which most resembles the autoharp played today. Gütter obtained a British patent for his instrument circa 1883-1884. Zimmermann, after returning from a visit to Germany, began production of the Gütter design in 1885 but with his own design patent number and catchy name. Gütter's instrument design became very popular, and Zimmermann has often been mistaken as the inventor." Now, will you need to know any of this to appreciate autoharp master Bryan Bowers's performance at the Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch when he busts out a free holiday concert at 2 p.m. sure to delight the masses (or handfuls)? Of course not. But it won't hurt. And it just might make Bowers' mastery of the autoharp all the more impressive, as the singer songwriter is often credited as having redefined the instrument.

5. DJs Broam, Bobby Galaxy and Mr. Melanin bring people together with their Future Bass night of Electroclash, EDM, hip-hop, disco, exclusive remixes and throwbacks, which they'll do again at 10 p.m. isnide The New Frontier Lounge. The trio is also bringing in DJ Jalen from Chicago. Raised on Parliament and WAR in Olympia, before honing her skills in the Big Apple, Jalen returns to the South Sound to be together ... with you.

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

LINK: Saturday, Dec. 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, DEC. 3 2012 >>>

1. FlowerHouse Tacoma, an installation by Duncan Price in the Hilltop neighborhood a few blocks west of downtown, lights up the dark days of winter with an unexpected glow. Made possible through a grant from the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP), Price has transformed his home into a colorful urban conservatory. While a traditional hothouse reveres cultivated blooms, FlowerHouse illuminates invasive species with 28 photographic panels featuring resilient brambles, dandelions and thistles depicted on a heroic scale. It's up through Dec. 31 at South 15th and South G Street.

2. The Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra will perform classical favorites such as Bizet's "Prelude to Carmen" and Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien," as well as selections from "The Polar Express" and longtime holiday favorite "Sleigh Ride" in a 7:30 p.m. free concert inside the Centralia College Corbet Theater in Centralia.

3. Jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi will be joined by Rob Hutchinson on bass and Andre Thomas on drums at 8 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge in Olympia.

4. It's Monday, which means Dj Melodica brings his Monday Showcase show to Magoo's Annex in Tacoma's North End neighborhood. Joining Melodica tonight behind the decks will be DJ Continental Breakfast and the band Green Tea out of Olympia. It should be a funky, groovy time beginning at 9 p.m.

5. It's karaoke with a live band. Earn your rockstar status tonight during Rockaraoke at Jazzbones beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Monday, Dec. 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area