TONIGHT! >>>

Two girls sidle up to the bar inside Magoo's Annex in Tacoma's northend. Ordering a round of PBRs, they knock the bottoms of the cans together and loudly toast each other for surviving the first day of the workweek. Behind them, a cascade of Monday night revelers washes past the bar and into the back area, where DJ Melodica holds court. The two working girls wiggle and jiggle on their bar stools to the rapid tempo, cautiously lifting their PBR pounders to take an unsteady sip of beer.

The whole joint bustles with spasmodic Tacomans shooting stick, playing foosball, drinking and chatting up a storm.

It's Micro Monday at Magoo's, which the producer, John A. Hodgson, aka DJ Melodica, has transformed the weekly event from his five-hour post behind the turntables into what he calls Monday Showcase at Magoo's - a night of guests DJs and live bands.

The Weekly Volcano caught up with DJ Melodica before his show tonight.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Explain the changes you've made to Monday nights at Magoo's Annex.

DJ MELODICA: Well, it has evolved from Micro Monday, which started as only myself deejaying for five hours straight, which was fun but exhausting. During the summer I started incorporating guest deejays. My goal being to: 1) increase the number of interesting deejays in Tacoma (not just your beat beat scratch scratch kind) and 2) give myself a break and a chance to mingle with the crowd.

It was tremendously successful. The Deejays ranged from established spinners such as Aaron Mack and Darren Selector to local musicians - Trevor Dickson, Eric Raider, Nate Markiewicz - to friends who wanted to share their music collections - Najamoniq Todd, Del Brown and Craig Egan. Many have gone on to deejay at other events and establish a name for themselves.

Since the start of the New Year, I have been incorporating local bands and thus the Showcase was born. Bands that have appeared in recent months have included Si Si Si, Humble Cub, Rusty Cleavers and Battersea.

VOLCANO: What music do the DJs typically spin?

MELODICA: Music I spin between bands ranges all over the musical spectrum. I play a lot of new wave and post punk, but also funk, garage, early electronica, early hip-hop, psychadelia, shoegaze, cold wave, proto punk, glam, prog, and Krautrock. Sometimes I try to weave a theme into my sets. I did a night of songs about drugs. I did another night of murder ballads. And another night was nothing but space songs. Some nights I dedicate to a genre.

VOLCANO: What band is playing tonight?

MELODICA: I try to have a band and a guest every week. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to schedule one for tonight so I have a triple deejay assault with Aaron Mack and DJ Hogwood. Rev. Adam McKinney, aka DJ Pocket Square, returns on March 19 with the band Death By Stars. DJ Pocket square plays primarily Britpop.

I have some exciting shows coming in the next two months:

March 5 - I Low (Colin Reynolds) with guest DJ Adam (not the reverend).
March 12 - Rusty Cleavers with guest DJ Das Prompt
March 19 - Death By Stars with guest DJ Pocket Square
March 26 - Watch Them Sparkle with Guest DJ Darren Selector
April 2 - Apricot and The Beginners with guest DJ Hobostab
April 9 - Bandolier, playing and guest deejaying
April 16 - TBA
April 23 - Umber Sleeping with guest DJ Darren Selector
April 30 - The Dignitaries, playing and guest deejaying
As you can read, two of the bands are playing AND guest deejaying. This is something new as well and we'll see how this works. Might be a fun thing regularly.

VOLCANO: What does Magoo's offer Monday nights in terms of food and drink specials?

MELODICA: Magoo's still runs it Micro Monday specials, which are $3 any beer and $2 mondo hot dogs. Also, I run a "Guess the TV Theme Songs" contest in which people guess the songs to win either a Jell-o shot or a mix disc compiled by me. There are folks who show up just for this little game.

VOLCANO: Do you think the Monday Showcase at Magoo's saves lives?

MELODICA: The Showcase has saved my life. Before deejaying at Magoo's I had been out of the local music scene for give or take 10 years. My wife, Char, and I ran the second incarnation of The Usual Coffee and News. When that closed I took a corporate job but was laid off a year ago - while I was on family leave awaiting the birth of my son. Nice, eh? Being an avid record collector and mix disc gifter I decided deejaying was my passion and it has been incredible since. Giving away the mix discs as prizes is, in a way, programming my audience so that they become more familiar with my material as I deejay some very rare and obscure bands and tracks. I would get annoyed by requests for the same old mundane songs every DJ plays, but instead of offending my audience I decided that if I made the music more accessible and familiar then I might get requests for things I had. Sure enough this has worked and I have even heard my mixes being played at local coffee shops around town.

Being voted by the Weekly Volcano as "Best DJ To Learn From" was a big boost as well. Record geeks have sought me out based on this and I have fielded many a music question from folks, which is something I encourage.

My goal with all of this is selfish. I want people to like what I like - to share my enthusiasm and excitement for music. If anything, it has given people something to do on an otherwise dead night of the week.

VOLCANO: Now that kind of inspiration deserves a PBR.

[Magoo's Annex, 8:30 p.m. Mondays, no cover, 2710 N/ 21st St., Tacoma, 253.759.0467]

FRIDAY, FEB. 17, 2012 >>>

1. Riding the success of its last major all-ages rave night, Hell's Kitchen will host another similar event titled "Rapture" featuring DJs Antarctica, DePriest, Basscraze, Contagious, UrMajesty, The Sauce and Chaos spinning around 8 p.m. The MyTurn GoGo dancers will be in the house, too. RGW and Wizard Promoting are the folks behind this event.

2. Blues rockers Junkyard Jane has been rockin' Jazzbones since the club opened in the late 1800s. Billy and the crew are back with a 7:30 p.m. show. It's always a fun time.

3. The musical Hair is much like a jam band concert: it's multi-sensual, it elicits an emotional ride, and it's probably about 15 minutes too long. That said, director Heidi Fredericks shakes every last nugget from Hair's theatrical dime bag at Capital Playhouse, with a curtain time at 7:30 p.m. Read Christian Carvajal's review of the show here.

4. You've heard it many times: Practice makes perfect. Doyle's Public House in Tacoma's Stadium District lives by this adage. Every 17th of the month, the watering hole hosts St. Practice Day, a trail run at it's annual, massive St. Patrick's Day party. It's a warm-up, if you will. Naturally, traditional Irish music makers Shillelagh Jack will provide the soundtrack. Practice starts at 8 p.m. Don't be late or the coach will yell at you.

5. Suffergauge, American Wrecking Company and Psychonaut Deathtrip will go off at 9 p.m. inside the Backstage Bar and Grill in Tacoma.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound happy hours

THURSDAY, FEB. 16, 2012 >>>

1. The Weekly Volcano Best of Olympia 2012 issue is on the street. Now it's time to party. We feel more than comfortable saying tonight's Best of Olympia 2012 Party at the 4th Avenue Tavern is going to be, for all intents and purposes, "off da hook." Music from Scott Taylor and the Fond Farewells and headliners Glass Elevator, $2 Oly draft all night long, a huge raffle, Olympia trivia, a large percentage of the Volcano's esteemed staff in one spot (and available for mass ridicule), and the debut of the Volcano's Best of Olympia 2012. What else could you want? Probably nothing we can deliver. What we can deliver is all the aforementioned goodness for free beginning at 6 p.m.

2. When The Second City, scheduled to hit Tacoma tonight as part of its "Laugh Out Loud" tour, bills itself as the "world's premier comedy club and school of improvisation," it's a no shit statement. The Second City REALLY IS the world's premiere comedy troupe and school of improvisation, with 50-plus years of service since its 1959 inception in Chicago, and an alumni roster that includes the likes of John Belushi, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner. That's hard to top. At 7:30 p.m., the Second City returns to the Pantages Theater. According to promotion the show is "by popular demand." That's also a no shit statement.

3. Half the Hapa Hillbillies - steel guitar master Ben Bonham, mandolinist Kerry Williams and uke and guitar specialist Rick Hulett -will join vocalist/violinist Jessica Blinn and jazz guitarist Vince Brown for an impromptu swing jam from 9-11 p.m. at Adesso, 109 Legion Way SW in Olympia.

4. Here at the Volcano we absolutely love anything described as "an entirely indie horror/cheese fest." Since that's just such the description event organizers for tonight's 9 p.m. debut of the locally made horror flick Unsound chose for the film, we feel entirely comfortable recommending it. Worst-case scenario you'll just find yourself at The New Frontier forced to enjoy the tunes of Sleepy Pilot and Smoking Bill - which is no sad fate. With raffle prizes and drink specials also planned, as well as other shorts from Greater Wealth Productions - the local movie crafters behind Unsound - this is likely one of the more entertaining options tonight in Grit City.

5. The Deltan Club's Thursday night Beat Fetish! bass music explosion will be a special "Wright Night" birthday bash featuring DJs Omarvelous, DJ Flave, Jess E Bomb, Cyphers and guests, beginning at 10 p.m. We have no idea what that means, but exciting!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15, 2012 >>>

1. If you've got a wicked sensation right now in your music nerve, there's good reason for that: The Sammy Steele Band, SweetKiss Momma, Black Top Demon and Psycho 78 will take the stage at Jazzbones around 8 p.m. to crank it for Bill Rachal, who's battling cancer. Besides awesome music, your (suggested) $10 donation will score you an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner plus the opportunity to win raffle prizes. Do it.

2. Park enthusiasts will gather at 1 and 5:30 p.m. inside the Tacoma Nature Center and go off on how much they love Point Defiance Park. At some point someone will funnel the happiness into a discussion about the anxiously awaited pedestrian connection between the Ruston Way promenade and Point Defiance Park. Then, like clockwork, someone will mention Never Never Land and the whole crowd will faint. A must see.

3. Community arts activist Bill Cleveland argues that in times of violence, upheaval, and cultural dislocation, art is a key tool for confronting darkness and eventually rebuilding communities. Do you dig? Drop by the University of Washington Tacoma's Joy Building at 5 p.m. and hear Cleveland explain himself.

4. An reception for Tacoma artist Mark Hoppmann's show Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crows: The Art of Mark Hoppmann will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Collins Library on the University of Puget Sound campus. At 7 p.m. Hoppmann will most likely discuss how The Book of Kells inspired him to create his awesome illustrations.

5. Beginning at 7 p.m., DJ Sc fires up his laptop and mixer stocked with old school soul ballads and new school pop during ladies night at the Tempest Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound happy hours

HERE WE GO AGAIN >>>

A facelift and another name change are scheduled for the revolving door at 728 Pacific Ave. Currently Club Kokonut operates out of the space, which sits across the street from The Office Bar and Grill in downtown Tacoma. Club In General Manager Suzie Gaultier reports under building owner Thomas O'Connor's LLC Good Old Dog, Club Kokonut will become Club In - not INNightclub as its Facebook reads.

"The name on Facebook is wrong. I had to spell it differently to get a page," explains Gaultier regarding the name confusion.

As you may recall, the gay-friendly club On the Rocks operated out of the space before it briefly became Club Kokonut in the summer of 2008, followed by the Surreal Ultra Lounge in April 2010. At the end of last year, Club Kokonut re-opened in the space.

"There was too much drama," says Gaultier of Surreal.

A liquor license has been applied for under Good Old Dog LLC. The business is currently open and will see an interior overhaul up until the grand opening party Saturday, March 3 when it will officially launch as Club In.

"We are changing everything. We'll have a very basic menu, it'll be happy hour food - sliders, honey hot wings, simple foods we all enjoy," says Gaultier. "Most clubs do a lot of shots. I want to do more martinis and special cocktails - more classy stuff."

As for the music, anticipate DJs and maybe a few surprises.

"I'm pretty open to music, you never know what I might have," explains Gaultier. "It will be a mix of everything: Top 40 mash-ups on the weekends, dubstep and electro during the week, as well as live hip-hop shows."

A dress code will be enforced on Friday and Saturday.

Gaultier says she wants to bring the missing piece to Tacoma.

"People from Tacoma drive to Seattle, get drunk and party then drive home. You want your community to keep their money, not spend it in Seattle."

She admits she's still trying to figure out just what Tacoma needs in order to stay put.

She also vows she'll connect with the community by "throwing events and helping neighboring businesses to discover each other."

Above all she wants patrons to "be happy and comfortable" at Club In.

Good call.

[Club Kokonut, 728 Pacific Ave., Tacoma]

THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 2012 >>>

1. Tacoma figurative painter and editorial cartoonist Jeremy Gregory has taken his dark sense of humor to the world of puppetry. We don't need to tell you that since you recognized his talent on the Halloween and Christmas covers of the Weekly Volcano. Gregory will showcase his original puppets made from repurposed materials from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the artist reception of his Tiny Circles show at Brooks Dental Studio at 732 Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

2. Bluegrass music was born in the '40s from the fast fingers of mandolin player Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, and from there quickly took its place as a cornerstone of American music. As an offshoot of country, it's often associated with the South, but Tacomans who love the twang of the banjo or tight climb of the mandolin need look no further than the next three days at the Mandolin Cafe. The neighborhood gathering spot will host the Rhythm and Roots Weekend kicking off with a good ol' fashion bluegrass jam tonight from 6-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights are loaded with local talent; click here for details.

3. The 10th anniversary of the Sister Cities International Film Festival opens at 6:15 p.m. at Tacoma's Blue Mouse Theater with 200 Pound Beauty from Gunsan, South Korea - a sister city of Tacoma since 1978. According to promotion for 200 Pound Beauty, Hanna is a famous Korean pop singer who also suffers from poor self-esteem. In the film, Hanna "makes the decision of a lifetime to have full-body plastic surgery." More information on the Sister Cities International Film Fest can be found at sistercityfilmfest.org.

4. Ah, Ricky J's in Puyallup. It's a nice family restaurant. They have a bunch of karaoke nights. And they serve coconut shrimp. But on Thursday nights Alan Smith brings in national-touring comics for big shows at 8 p.m. We're talking $15 at the door big shows. Tonight, Gabriel Rutledge and friends will be in the house.

5. Oh, the plight of the fashionable Tacoma basshead. All dolled up with a $125 Soma record bag and no place to go. No record shop counter to trade esoteric labels by, no listening booths to thoughtfully nod bleached heads at. Boo hoo - nowhere to share your chic catalogue number trivia. Well, at least you have tonight at the new Deltan Club. DJs Omarvelous, Bada$$ Paul Wheeler, Jess E Bomb, Electro and guests will spin at "Beat Fetish!" beginning at 10 p.m. Ah, just a techstep away.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: Local happy hours

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1, 2012 >>>

1. The good news is that ladies' night is no longer the sole domain of cheesy bronzed-and-bleached venues - it has infiltrated every corner of the South Sound and you can now sip discounted highballs and wine almost every night of the week. However, not all ladies' nights are created equal. At the Tempest Lounge, ladies are treated very well - thanks to bartender Larry. The friendly chap tags happy hour prices on drinks for the ladies, beginning at 7 p.m. At the other end of this hip bar, DJ Sc works his laptop and mixer stocked with old school soul ballads and new school pop.

2. Tacoma artist Mark Hoppmann's show Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crows: The Art of Mark Hoppmann opens today at the Collins Library on the University of Puget Sound campus. Inspired, (albeit) loosely by the borders and motifs found in The Book of Kells, The Madness of Crows also uses elaborate border motifs and random bits in addition to the main illustrations. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

3. Ready to trip out today? The Chemical Brothers: Don't Think - considered to be one of the most mind-bendingly psychedelic live shows ever seen - was caught on film and screens at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital Mall 14 in Olympia.

4. Midwest reggae rockers Jon Wayne and The Pain join Live Wyya, Mighty High and Stay Grounded for the Bob Marley Fest at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

5. Hell's Kitchen hosts a 9 p.m. rap show featuring  Philthy Rich, Rydah J Klyde, Meezilini, I-Rocc, Smigg Dirtee, Conceit and Two Against Critics.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: Local happy hours

WE'RE NOT GOING TO MENTION "HUMP DAY" THIS TIME (BUT IT SO IS) >>>

MET VET HOSPITAL: Hell yes Met Vet hangs local artwork on its walls. Tonight from 5-7 p.m. artist Linda Hummel will discuss her works on the walls as you sip light refreshments. 401 Fawcett Ave, Suite 100, downtown Tacoma, 253.274.022

THE RED HOT: Swagmaster Eric from Snoqualmie Falls Brewing will drop by at 6 p.m. with crates full of Plant 1 Powerhouse IPA, 14th Anniversary Imperial Stout Kouis Quatorze and Copperheade pale. Between sips, he'll answer your questions. 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229

MANDOLIN CAFÉ: It's College Night at the Mandolin, which means happy hour prices on beer and wine with school ID. If you're tired of studying for your American Molds of the Midwest test tomorrow, kick back on Mandolin's couch with singer-songwriter Luke Walstead from 6-8 p.m. 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482

TEMPEST LOUNGE: Larry is behind the bar offering happy hour discounts to the ladies beginning at 7 p.m. DJ Sc will spin old school and new school. There isn't a cover charge. 913 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904

LINK: South Sound happy hours

MONDAY, JAN. 16, 2012 >>>

1. Morning, all! For those of you who are off and wondering what to do with yourselves, We have the rundown on some of today's local MLK Day events, which includes the big celebration at the Tacoma Dome. Let us know what you're getting up to today down in the comments.

2. Meet the adorable new southern sea otter, Libby, and the rest of the crew at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium from from9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

3. Something about the driving guitars and the rough female vocals make Big Eyes something more than just a run of the mill, good garage rock act. Elements of the Breeders and even the Ramones run through the music of Big Eyes, but the band somehow manages to sound quintessentially like itself. Catch the band with Si Si Si, Up All Night and the Wild Ones at 7 p.m. inside Tahoma Tea and Co., where The Den @ urbanXchnage use to sit.

4. Before the Greta Jane Quartet begins its Monday jazz nights next week at The 4th Avenue Tavern it will help The Brotherhood Lounge in downtown Olympia celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's life at 8 p.m.

POSTPONED! 5. Magoo's Annex's Micro Mondays with DJ Melodica has become a habit for many, specifically those who enjoy punk, post punk, New Wave, early electronica and garage tunes while waiting for that one damn pool table. Tonight at 8:30 p.m. the "Micro" is shelved for something Melodica calls "Showcase Monday." DJ Darren Selector will be in the house, as well as the band Battersea and a TV theme trivia contest with prizes.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Here comes another Friday the 13th, and you need something perfectly thematic to do. But not unlucky, please, because there's enough disappointment circling the planet.

There area couple of "Friday the 13th" events going down in Tacoma.

First, The Hub will host a Press Your Luck party, which is basically an excuse to pound booze. The Hub will be pouring $3 Harmon pint and premium wells, $4 Jager Bombs, $5 Jameson shots and a $4 shot special every hour, beginning at 6 p.m. when the party starts.

Second, Encore nightclub will discount its VIP tables to $13 Friday. To reserve the tables, contact Rick at 253.335.9139. And ladies, you're in luck. Friday is also ladies night at Encore, which means free admission.

Where will you be Friday? Hiding?