THURSDAY, AUG. 21 2014 >>>

1. We love "Closer to Fine" as much as the next dirt-kicker, but only ridiculous amounts of cash would have persuaded us to label the Indigo Girls as hard rockers. Which is why Amy Ray's solo albums are such a mind-blower - they pit one half of the pleasant-harmony duo against her previous hold-hands template, opting for more aggressive guitars and cutthroat lyrics. Ray performs at the Capitol Theater at 8 p.m. Come get your folk punk on.

2. The Tacoma Post office Building ART WALK! unleashes marauding gangs of craftspeople, artisans and their multitudinous admirers on the genteel people of Tacoma and the surrounding city under one, very old but bitchin' roof. In June, 300 to 400 people walked through the halls, discussing art, sipping beer and wine and wiggling a little to DJ music. Expect the same vibe from 5-9 p.m., with DJ Schematik in the Office, artwork by Mod Curio, Just Two Guys Creative, Perry Porter, Kristin Giordano, Alex Schelhammer, Abby Kok and Katlyn Hubner, just to name a few. Isaac Olsen and Nick Bulter will screen their films. Willow Eskridge, Kate Monthy and Daniel Martin present the "Ballerina Project Tacoma." Run for your art!

3. The ParkWay Tavern hosts Get Rowdy For Rhinos fundraiser benefiting Drinking For Conservation and Point Defiance AAZK. All you have to do is show up between 6 and 10 p.m. and pour alcoholic beverages down your throat. Fifty cents from each drink will be donated to the cause. There'll also be a donation bucket available, and contributions can be made online.

4. Dustin Lynch grew up listening to neo-traditional country singers Alan Jackson and Clint Black. Although born in Nashville, Lynch was raised in the small town Tullahoma, 70 miles to the southeast. In 2003, he returned to the city of his birth to make it as a country singer. At 7 p.m. Lynch will perform songs off his new album, followed by a Q&A with the audience, at Steel Creek American Whiskey Company. The all-ages show is free.

5. The lo-fi indie rock of San Diego trio Buddy Banter is the kind of laidback pop that comes across as utterly effortless. Elastic guitars call to mind the slacker goof-off rock of Mac Demarco. Much like many other artists in this era of Nostalgia, Buddy Banter make music that could've easily dominated the college radio charts in the early '90s, even as songs like "Little Devil (Come Kick It)" and its bouncy guitars almost sound like the dusty rock of the '70s. What really makes Buddy Banter shine, though, is the purely sunny air that permeates their music. Catch the band with Hot Rush, Lures and Soccer Babes at 8 p.m. in Northern.

LINK: Thursday, Aug. 21 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, AUG. 17 2014 >>>

1. Head to downtown Sumner for its 15th annual Classy Chassis car, rod and truck show from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It's the best place to scope out new and old muscle cars, or show off your own. Expect a "used car lot" this year as well as a "junk yard" sale location where you can find car parts for your classic cars. Wally and the Beaves will rock the block.

2. Since 2010, The Grand Cinema has been taking advantage of the simultaneously obvious and genius concept of taking Filmmaker Magazine's yearly list and turning it into a film festival celebrating rising talent. Actors, writers, directors, animators and other facets of filmmaking are honored by the magazine, and then in turn are celebrated during the five-day festival at The Grand Cinema. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the 25 New Faces in Independent Film in the music and Culture section, then catch Manos Sucias, a collection of shorts, Afronauts and Pauline Alone beginning at 2 p.m. 

3. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and guest DJs B-Boy Peanut, Blueyedsoul and PhoSho spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

4. Gabe Dixon has recently been diagnosed with a cancer. His sister is throwing a rockin' benefit show featuring Mr. Von, Speakerbox, Vividal and Ayron Jones and The Way from 3-7 p.m. at Jazzbones. There will be raffles and a silent auction for Seahawks tickets, custom built guitar and more. The all-ages show has a suggested $10 cover.  

5. St. Patrick's Day celebrations aren't easy. You must practice to prepare yourself for the zaniness that goes down every March 17. Doyle's Public House knows this. That's why they host monthly St. Practice Day parties, of which happens again Sunday. The party begins with Doyle's Guinness Club toast at 5:17 p.m. All the members gather before Grand Poobah Russ Heaton, who recognizes members who have hit milestones, such as 500 pints of Guinness, while the other members tear up. After the announcement, Heaton raises a glass of the Irish Mother's Milk and toasts the members. At 7 p.m., musical genius Ethan Tucker gives everyone another reason to raise a glass.

LINK: Sunday, Aug. 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, AUG. 15 2014 >>>

1. Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist's fifth annual Signed Book and Wine Auction will be held at 5 p.m. inside King's Books. New York Times bestselling author Garth Stein will attend. His new novel, A Sudden Light, will be available for auction six weeks before it appears in bookstores. Other signed books on the auction list include bestsellers by Ann Rule, Maria Semple, and Bret Easton Ellis. For music fans, Peter Buck of R.E.M. and actress/singer Molly Ringwald have donated signed CDs. Lindquist, after being elected by a landslide in 2010, is up for election again this year, although he lacks an opponent. Thankfully, this tall, handsome novelist/prosecutor with cool friends is throwing a party anyway. It's our one chance a year to feel like an A-lister.

2. Since 2010, The Grand Cinema has been taking advantage of the simultaneously obvious and genius concept of taking Filmmaker Magazine's yearly list and turning it into a film festival celebrating rising talent. Actors, writers, directors, animators and other facets of filmmaking are honored by the magazine, and then in turn are celebrated during the five-day festival at The Grand Cinema. Frequently, the honorees in question show up to introduce their films and participate in Q & A's. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the 25 New Faces in Independent Film in the music and Culture section, then attend the opening films today at The Grand Cinema, including a mixer with DJs at 9:30 p.m.

3. "Awesome coffee on a farm in the middle of pretty much nowhere, group photo on the haystacks every year ... swimming in the river, eating food that was grown on the land, standing in the back field late at night, watching the bands play (really loud), or watching from the hay bales under the stars." These are musings from Mariella Luz, K Records general manager, as she reflects on some of her favorite things about Helsing Junction Sleepover. In its 10th year, the Helsing Junction Sleepover is bigger than ever, with plenty of room to grow. The three-day party takes place on a 30-acre-farm. Tonight kicks off with eight performances, including Spider and the Webs, Arrington De Dionysio and Tender Forever. For more info and a complete list of bands, visit www.krecs.com/helsingjunction.

4. If the music of Voxxy Vallejo were the soundtrack for your life, you'd be guaranteed a good time and a crazy ride. Heavy blues laced southern rock and roll that is perfect for sweaty summer nights and back yard barbecues. Hot and sticky ... Voxxy's vocals entice and forbid while Gene's guitar licks interplay with her voice, both teasing and encouraging the song right out of her. It's Gene's Vellejo's birthday so the back will tear it up at 7:30 p.m. in Jazzbones.

5. As you know the CannaCon cannabis convention is going down at the Tacoma Dome. Those with CannaCon credentials or tickets can get into see local, original bands Mighty High and Ethan Tucker at 9 p.m. in The Swiss Restaurant and Pub at a discount, which of course is probably the entire city.

LINK: Friday, Aug. 15 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, AUG. 10 2014 >>>

1. For those who haven't caught the buzz, Ten Tiny Dances is a stripped down format where 10 dance artists demonstrate astonishing inventiveness and variety on a 4-foot-by-4-foot stage - or about the size of a coffee table. Based out of Portland, the contemporary dance series has been adopted by many Northwest production companies, including Tacoma's MLKBallet. Ignoring the in-the-round, up-close theater experience and the fact it's held in a bar (Jazzbones), the coolest aspect of Ten Tiny Dances is the spatial constraint serves as a catalyst for creativity. Expect to see silly to serious improvised and rehearsed movement beginning at 6 p.m. Remember: heckling and betting will not be allowed. All proceeds benefit MLK Ballet's tuition-free dance training.

2. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

3. OHC: Olympia Hardcore Fest continues today from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Bike N Bike and 7-10:30 p.m. at Northern. Hardcore punk bands Snob, Bone Sickness, Burial Suit, Bricklayer, Big Zit and others will rock the joints.

4. Friends of musician Glenn Harrell's are holding a benefit in his honor to assist with his current medical bills. Harrell is facing his biggest challenge ever. A live auction, raffle and music by Lady Carter and the Gents, James Coates, Steve Stefanowicz, Junkyard Jane and the Linda Myers Band will fill The Swiss Restaurant and Pub from 3-8 p.m.

5. Blues Redemption - Doug Skoog, Billy Barner, Joe Hendershot and Doug Kearney - will perform at The Spar's Sunday Night Blues series at 7 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Aug. 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, AUG. 3 2014 >>>

1. Little Bill Engelhart grew up on Hilltop Tacoma and learned rock 'n' roll by playing rhythm and blues with the black musicians downtown, which was unusual for a young white kid at the time. He formed a band with some of his teenage friends and had a national hit when he was 19 titled "I'm in Love with an Angel." The Washington Blues Society has awarded him numerous awards, including best band; best bass player, best blues writer and lifetime achievement award. He is a legendary Northwest blues musician and perhaps the Godfather of rock 'n' roll in Tacoma. He and his band, the Bluenotes, will perform on Johnny's Dock Restaurant's deck at 5 p.m.

2. The first annual Destiny City Film Festival ends today at the Blue Mouse Theatre in Tacoma's Proctor District. "Closing night is Copenhagen (7 p.m.), and I just loved watching that movie," says DCFF founder Emily Alm. "It's one of the best I've reviewed this year. That won Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance, earlier this year." For today's films, click here.

3. The Lakewood Asian Film Fest ends today with two films as well as a performance by the Okinawa Taiko Drummers at 2 p.m. inside the Lakewood Playhouse. At 2:30 p.m. is a short documentary titled All We Could Carry, which tells the story of several Japanese-Americans who lived in the Heart Mountain relocation camp during World War II, a time when more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps with literally only what they could hold in their arms. At 3 p.m., The Front Line will follow, which is a Korean film following a South Korean army unit ordered to capture one last bit of land before the Korean War ceasefire goes into place. The film won best film, best director and several other awards.

4. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

5. Tacoma Comedy Club presents "Five Comic Showcase" with Jonas Barnes, Mike Coletta, Andrew Rivers, Brian Moote and MC Luke Severid beginning at 8 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, Aug. 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, AUG. 1 2014 >>>

1. From Aug. 1-3, the Lakewood Asian Film Fest will screen inside the Lakewood Playhouse. This year, there will be four films, each complete with the requisite movie popcorn and other refreshments, as well as a special live performance before each film that will set the stage and bring an extra edge of arts to each evening. Read Kristin Kendle's full feature on the Lakewood Asian Film Fest in the Music and Culture section, then catch tonight's film, Kahaani, an Indian murder mystery abouta London woman's journey to Calcutta in search of her missing husband. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., but show up early and catch the Chang Hee Sook Women Drummers at 7 p.m. as well as a display in the lobby by the Philippine Scouts Historical Society.

2. Spaceworks Tacoma is proud to announce the grand opening of four new businesses at the corner of South 10th and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.  The celebration of Concrete Market, The Tshirt Men Company, SPUN Clay Arts Studio & Gallery and DubCity Studios will be from 5-9 p.m. Each business will host an open house and offer a variety of awesomeness for customers.

3. The Blues Power Revue - "Jake and Elwood" and a seven-piece band - will play a dynamite show at Port Plaza in downtown Olympia from 7-8:30 p.m. The seasoned musicians and impersonators offer all the hits and humor that made the American cultural icons.

4. Yonatan Gat was recently voted "Best Guitarist of 2013" by the Village Voice. There. Now go to the show. More? Formerly of the Israeli garage rock powerhouses, Monotonix, Gat has turned his eyes to the far corners of musical expression. Incorporating a dizzying variety of cultural influences - tropicalia, Middle Eastern music, psych rock, blistering punk, African pop - Gat has emerged as a chameleonic interpreter of rock 'n' roll in its many shifting forms. Catch him with Arrington de Dionyso and Calvin Johnson at 8 p.m. in Northern.

5. Just as turntablism - the art of playing records - has made an instrument out of a medium, the movement's DJs have made the transition from enablers to performers. Tonight's "Smart People" event, organized by Tacoma's Mr. Melanin, seeks to put a little stress on that assumption by presenting DJs in an improvised setting, touching on R&B and electronica, bringing in indie rock, house and disco. Dancing is awesome, but you'll catch yourself gazing at the turntable skills of Mr. Melanin and theMAYOR. It's OK. It really begins at 9:55 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Friday, Aug. 1 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JULY 27 2014 >>>

1. Born Warren Anderson Mathis, Bubba Sparxxx grew up in Georgia, where a black friend turned him on to New York mail-order mix tapes. His introduction to rap was dominated by the booty-shaking grooves of 2 Live Crew and the brutal truths spit by N.W.A. Later, when he discovered ATL pioneers OutKast, Sparxxx was inspired to write his own rhymes and started battling at school. Sparxxx made a major bang with solo-debut Dark Days, Bright Nights, which featured the single "Ugly" and went gold with the help of Shannon Houchins, a staff producer for Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. Sparxxx's "Ugly" video put him in overalls and created some frustration for the Southern white rapper when the public pegged the video as satire. Sparxxx responded that the video depicted his Southern roots. Touring behind his 2014 release, Made on McCosh Mill Road, Sparxxx will rap about living in the country, loving women, cars and booze with Mike Drastic, Mr. Von, A King Also x The Royal Coat at 8 p.m. in Jazzbones.

2. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

3. The great irony of the original Gong Show was that the program itself would have gotten gonged. And to its credit, it - and its creator, Chuck Barris - wore that fact like a badge of (dis)honor, creating a space in television where it could be proud of showcasing the misplaced pride of the American populous. At 3 p.m. in The Swiss, the Music and Art in Wright Park folks will host a Gong Show to raise funds for their August concert. It will match the zaniness of the original show. Bands Speakerbox and The Jilly Rizzo will warm up the crowd for when the "talent" hits the stage at 5:30 p.m. The master of ceremonies will be local comedian Eric Puddin Lorentzen, which will be worth the price of admission alone. After the $100 prize is awarded, The Nitrogen Lion Society will rock.

4. Friends and talented musicians will hold a benefit concert for Christopher Brant Anderson at the Antique Sandwich Co. at 7 p.m. Anderson was diagnosed with asbestosis in 2004, which is a progressive condition and leads to heart-related complications along with other symptoms. Scheduled to perform are Steve Beck, Steff Kayser, Larry Murante, Kevin Jones, Mark Filler, Jim Moore, Bill Glover and Rob Kneisler.

5. Remember that time in high school when your parents went away? You know, plot line of every teenage movie ever made - except this time, you blew up the house. Standing in the ashes as your parents roll up, what do you do? Say it with us now -iiiiiimprovise. Take notes at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Comedy Club when male and female comedians battle with improve and sketch skills. 

LINK: Sunday, July 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

ADAM: Well, Nicky, I think it's fair to say that our visit to Jazzbones was an unequivocal failure. Turns out there's learning curve to this whole "macking on ladies" business. In an effort to crank this thing up a notch, we decided to jump into the deep end of the pool and go to the one place where we were sure to stick out like a pair of painfully awkward sore thumbs: the Encore Boutique Nightclub in downtown Tacoma. We walked in looking like a couple of substitute history teachers, and we were ready to get our flirt on. How did it feel paying a $10 cover charge to be a wallflower on a fog machine and black light dance floor?

NICKY: The cover wasn't exactly a shock, so I didn't mind it. The $9 vodka and Red Bull did grab me a bit. After we obtained our drinks, we attempted to find a comfortable spot to sit, while still giving us a good view of the joint. Adam picked out a prime spot upstairs; unfortunately it also just happened to be Sabrina's VIP section. With that, we retreated to a spot we knew well to devise a new plan: the bar. It was around this time we began to notice how empty it was. Had we arrived too early? What were your first impressions, Adam?

ADAM: My first impression was that this club must have gone nuts at the velvet rope depot. Every nook and cranny was cordoned off, complete with buff dudes in suits to glare at us. Sabrina's VIP lounge was safe from our polite presence. Right inside the door, there were two people on a couch aggressively making out, so at least somebody was getting lucky that night. Oh, and thanks for that vodka and Red Bull, Nicky. We were doing our best to hyphy, so that jolt was appreciated. As for being too early, we did arrive right on time, just after 10 p.m., which is when they open. Is that not the way this works? Anyway, right around the time a chopped and screwed version of "Royals" came on, people were filling up the dance floor. What do you think our chances of meeting a couple nice ladies were?

NICKY: I wasn't so sure of our chances of meeting ladies in general, let alone "nice" ones. If memory serves correct, about the time Lorde came on was probably the same time the lights went in to full "Flashy-Japanamation" mode. At that moment, I was less concerned with pretty girls twerkin' and more worried about not becoming ill. Maybe this is a good time to mention I suffer from the ol' PTSD, and flashing lights, crowds off strangers and loud music can put me in a less than comfortable state. There was one thing that helped me keep my mind off the visually intrusive strobe light: Mr. Vesty. That kid had moves. While Adam was in the little boys room, I tried to take tips from Vesty. He was there before we arrived, already on the dance floor. It was now about 45 mins later and he was dancing with two girls. Adam returned from the lavatory and we discussed talking to some ladies in the different VIP sections. But which one would we choose? Adam, what was your choice?

ADAM: I wanted to talk to what was clearly a bachelorette party across the dance floor from us, partitioned by a velvet rope. However, the bouncer we talked to (who also apparently works for Microsoft?) seemed to think that might not be the best idea - although, getting thrown out of Encore might have been the best way for this thing to wrap up. Instead, we ended up getting our picture taken with a remarkably forgiving girl. One of our friends recently proposed the idea that we're not so much wingman-ing each other as we are cockblocking each other. She might have a point. Encore proved to be unsuccessful, but I feel like we're getting closer. When we hit 502 Downtown, next time, I'm just gonna go ahead and predict we'll be bringing mad skills. Or, you know, not.

SUNDAY, JULY 20 2014 >>>

1. If you think you've been hot the past two weeks, think about how hot those guys in the food trucks must be. The high temp should only reach 70 today so no one should complain about the heat at the Food Truck Festival from noon to 5 p.m. at Wright Park. Metro Parks called out to food trucks, and they've answered en masse. Today will mark the one-day, free event featuring trucks and mobile businesses and live entertainment. Schedule businesses driving trucks to the park include Masa, Asado, It's Greek To Me, Lizzie Lou's Comfort Food, Celebrity Cake Studio, Lumpia World, Josefina's Taco Truck Pampeana empanadas, Budha Bear Bagels and others.

2. If you've got a girlfriend, you probably know what season it is: the free outdoor festival season. You've probably hit just about every free music-in-the-park event, free drum circle and free farmers market since April. Well, this weekend prepare for a trip over the bridge, for the annual Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival, where 122 artists (plus the obligatory vendors), live music and family activities will take over Judson Street in downtown Gig Harbor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go ahead, get your face painted.

3. The sun is hiding today after what felt like a 10-year summer. Head inside today to catch some local theater today. 

4. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

5. What might have come across as a bit of cheeky, gimmickry with the Cave Singers, has coalesced into an easy and natural product. Combining members of punk bands such as Pretty Girls Make Graves and Murder City Devils into a folk-rock band (right at the apex of Seattle's neo-folk inundation, mind you) surely must have struck some as a stunt, but the band's seventh year on the scene shows them settling into a welcome groove. Their tour finds them breezing through The New Frontier with No Grave for a rare Sunday 8 p.m. show, so it'd behoove you to catch them.

LINK: Sunday, July 20 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JULY 13 2014 >>>

1. If you're accustomed to thinking of art as esoteric - or, for that matter, if you regard it as material to enliven the walls over sofas - then prepare to have your mind ba-lown. Tacoma's Art on the Ave community celebration includes Live bands, Grub Crawl, carnival rides, art projects, giant puzzles, local beer and wine lounge, tons of art and more from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tacoma's sixth Avenue. Read Christian Carvajal's full feature on Art on the Ave in our Music and Culture section.

2. At the Best of the Northwest Free Community Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to the Tacoma Art Museum will get to see up close and personal just what it takes to make a bronze sculpture and take part in a hands-on sculpture project making your own three-dimensional art. At noon the bronze World War II Marine memorial sculpture "Soul of the Forward and Faithful" by Mardie Rees will debut in an unveiling. It will be on view at TAM until July 27 when it will travel to its new permanent home at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. The festival will feature artists, fabricators and curators talking about the process of creating bronze sculpture. "Rarely do you witness sculptures taking shape," said museum director Stephanie A. Stebich. "We're giving visitors a close-up look into the sculpture process that most people don't get to see." Admission to the museum will be free all day. 

3. The Social Bar and Grill's patio is a lovely spot to while away a weekend afternoon, sipping cocktails and old world red wine and watching condo residents walk their dogs. Come Sunday afternoon, resident DJ Mr. Melanin and rotating guests spin an eclectic and extremely tasteful selection of lounge, bossa nova and electro soul music 2-6 p.m. This triple threat of delicious happy hour specials, sun and hip tunes is known as Tacoma's only daytime summer party, "Dayclub."

4. The Riffbrokers' Nick Millward has a voice that resembles a more nimble version of Elvis Costello's nasal croon, draws you in, sonically, before you have a chance to really appreciate the beauty of his lyrics. With the rest of the band consisting of Nick's wife Heather Millward (bass), as well as Chris Cline (guitar) and Ryan Maxwell (drums), the Riffbrokers like to refer to themselves as "powerpop twang," which works just as well as anything else. They sound like what would happen if Tom Petty earned his stripes in the indie punk underground. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on the Riffbrokers in the Music & Culture section, then catch the band with the Dignitaries and the Oly Electric at 5 p.m. in The Swiss Restaurant and Pub.

5. For some of us, karaoke is all about either watching or being drink-sodden disasters - specifically the kind poorly belting out ballads to a hooting crowd of strangers. For the non-voyeurs and the non-exhibitionists, the song's the thing, and Harlequin Productions "Forbidden 12 Night" karaoke party should be a song-centric affair. Harlequin's A Rock ‘n' Roll Twelfth Night cast and crew will be singing each other's songs from the show karaoke style, with the live band, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The $40 ticket is good for a catered buffet dinner and a cocktail as the cast, crew, and band from the musical present an evening of unscripted musical mayhem.

LINK: Sunday, July 13 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area