LIVE MUSIC TONIGH TIN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Cryptatropa Bar Olympia - Downtown. Badger Acid, Crepusculum, Port Of The Sun. 9:30 pm.

Harbor Greens/Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Jennifer Lind Christmas Concert. 7 pm. NC.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma Stadium District. Myles Crew. 9 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Pioneers West, C.F.A., Smooth Sailing, Tallest Tree. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Maia Santell & House Blend. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $8.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Dies Drear, Highlight Bomb, James Hunnicutt, Amanda Hardy. All Ages. 7 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Partie Animale Part 2, featuring Death By Stars, DJ Babycham. 9 pm. NC.

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. City Hall, Don't Talk To The Cops, Bruce Leroy, Noony, OC Notes. 9 pm. $3 or can of food.

The Red Room Tacoma. Red Room Christmas Show, featuring Navigator, Days Of Ivory, How We Fall. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

The Spar Olympia. James Coates. 8 pm. NC.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Spazmatics. 9 pm.

Waterstreet Cafe Olympia. Solstice Party, with Ocho Pies. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Highrollers. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Infernal Legion CD Release, with Ceremonial Castings, Churchburner, Bloodhunger, Terra Morta, Sok & The Faggots. 6 pm. $5.

• The 253 has more metal bands than I have room to mention, but one band has been bashing out the most evil, blackest metal longer than the rest - Infernal Legion. Tonight the band will release its newest full-length record on Moribund Records. The Spear of Longinus features nine songs and 45 minutes of the most Satanic tunes ever - plus the debut of new bassist and local celeb Josh Dombeck. Recorded right here in Tacoma by Jesse O'Donnell at the Autopsy Room, the first thing that jumped out and throttled me about this CD was the production and sinister tones blaring out of my speakers. A heavier release than expected, I was pleasantly surprised by the songwriting throughout. For my song-by-song rundown of the album, click here. – Jason McKibbin
  

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Five Alarm Funk. 8:30 pm. $10.

Kings Books Tacoma - Stadium District. Bryan John Appleby entertains the Beautiful Angle Holiday Party. 7 pm. NC

LakeBridge Forza Lakewood. Kim Archer. All Ages. 7-9 pm. $10.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Polly Darton, Hot Fruit, Z'Dar. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Erotic City (Prince tribute). All Ages. 9 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. White Orange, Argonaut. 9 pm.

• "I've been into psychedelic and heavy music for a long time," says White Orange lead singer Dustin Hill. "I studied it, and was very much into early '60s underground psychedelic high school bands, and was also very influenced by - for lack of a better word, the whole doom/stoner movement, which starts in the '60s with Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath. It's not a new thing. So, with the early movement of this heavier music, plus the early movement of (psychedelia), and especially as it progressed into the desert of America with Kyuss - I mean, all of that is a heavy influence for me." To read up on White orange, click here. _ Rev. Adam McKinney

The Red Room Tacoma. SOTA Showcase, with Rooftop Warrior, Roswell, Whitney Miller, Jillian Kelley, Riley O'Boyle. All Ages. 7 pm. $5.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tim Hall Band. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Sea Of Misinformation. 9 pm. NC.

Tacoma Community College Auditorium Tacoma - Westside. A Big Band Christmas, featuring Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra. All Ages. 7:30 pm. $10.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Baby Gramps. All Ages. 8 pm.

• Baby Gramps looks just like he sounds. His appearance is a more or less spot-on indication of the noises that soon follow when he picks up an old gee-tar and starts a-singing. A long, scraggly white beard, some spectacles, a low-brimmed hat, and when he opens his mouth, the strangest sounds fall out. Throat-singing, it's called, this kind of guttural croak - and it's Baby Gramps' most effective tool in transforming these old folk songs, labor songs and sea shanties into something that feels real. Twee anachronism fades, and all that remains is the pungent punch of that voice. Knowing about how long Baby Gramps has been busking on Seattle streets - somewhere close to 50 years - it's hard to really question the sights that beard has seen. - Volcano Staff

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Devils Of Loudun, Decibal Point, DA27 Ether. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

LINK: Saturday Night It List

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Big Whisky Saloon Tacoma - Downtown. Sammy Steele Band CD Release Party. Release of their debut full-length record "Songs From The Third Cactus". 8 pm. $20.

Harbor Greens/Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. The Kari Ehli Band. 7 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Charlie Drown, Serous, Haunting The Disconnect, Days Armor. 7 pm. $5.

• The goth is strong in this one. Charlie Drown is the kind of group/artist/performer/whatever that's totally comfortable throwing around lyrics about beds made of skin and "48 dead in my head," all while drum machines and synths pulse in the background. Lead vocals are not so much singing as they are various vacillations between sultry coos and snarls. The name Charlie Drown is hilarious on its surface, but thinking more about what exactly the band might be getting at by naming itself this is kind of like a cat chasing its tail (is it still funny if maybe they take the name seriously?). Best, I think, to approach Charlie Drown as something that'll get you to dance madly and get all dark and stuff. Nothing wrong with that. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Big Wheel Stunt Show, with Gavin Guss. 8 pm. $7.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Hot Rush, Memory Boys, Skrill Meadow. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Benefit Concert For Veterans, National Guard, Reserve & Family Members, with The Randy Oxford Band. All Ages. 7 pm. $10 & donate a new toy at the door.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Blue Creepers. All Ages. 6 pm. Seastar. All Ages. 8 pm.

Morso Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Jaime Wyatt, Ted Wulfers. 8 pm. $25.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Countdown to Christmas Show, with Girl Trouble, The Fucking Eagles, The Dignitaries. 8:30 pm.

• Christmas in Tacoma is synonymous with a number of things. Half-racks of Pabst adorned with bows. Eternal darkness. Mediocre gift exchanges. Heavy drinking. Loneliness. Depression. They all have their place on the Tacoma holiday mantle. Luckily, T-Town also has the annual (or somewhat annual) Girl Trouble Countdown to Christmas show, which this year will again be held at The New Frontier Lounge, and - along with its garage rocking namesake - will bring Grit City staples the Fucking Eagles and the Dignitaries to the stage. It will be a Tacoma-centric celebration of the holidays that's easy to get behind, and won't leave you a sobbing mess of tears all alone in front of the TV watching Holiday claymation. Or does that just happen to me? - Matt Driscoll

The Spar Olympia. Paul Mauer. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. J-Mac, Tie One On. 9 pm. NC

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Hamell On Trial. 7 pm. $10.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

The Weekly Volcano and Spew would like to wish you a Happy Turkey Day! We hope you and a few others huddle around what little warmth there is in a increasingly cold and uncaring universe, sipping, supping, and supporting one another - because there is nothing else worth doing.

Love each other.

Then go find some karaoke.

Thing: Emily's Chocolates

Manufactured in: Fife

Product is: A little on the pricey side

When: Shopping at local retailers

Like: Metropolitan Market

Although: You can save a buck

By: Shopping at the factory's outlet

Listen: And learn, folks

Until recently, I would only treat myself on the rare and very special occasion to a small bag of Emily's chocolate covered cashews or chocolate covered cherries - both of which would roughly cost me an upward of $7 each. Do you know what a girl like me can do with $7? Read my column here for the sweet details.

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Cryptatropa Bar Olympia - Downtown. Port Of The Sun, Crepusculum, DJ Badger Acid. 9 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. High On Fire, Indian, Unhailoed, Bloodhunger. All Ages. 6 pm. $12-$15.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Dirt Nasty, with special guest The Breaklites. 9 pm. $10.

• First it was Mickey Avalon. Tonight, Jazzbones welcomes "rapper" Dirty Nasty to Tacoma, founder of the Dyslexic Speedreaders (of which Avalon and Andre Legacy were also a part of), and - more importantly - Simon fucking Rex from former MTV fame. That's right. Dirty Nasty is Simon Rex, and these days his gig revolves around producing ridiculously funny hip-hop tracks pertaining to drugs, the '80s, cocaine, sex, even more drugs and the inability to dance ... not necessarily in that order. According to the show's billing, Dirty Nasty will come to T-town prepared to bust out his "hits," including "1980." Cue the hook in your head: "I got a gold chain ... I'm on co-caine ..." Honestly, there's no way this show won't be entertaining. The Breaklites and DJ Pedro are also on the bill. - Matt Driscoll

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Catatone, High Noon Horizon, Dread Effect. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Rick & Russ. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Speakeasy Tacoma. Lance Buller Trio. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Monarchies, The Grizzled Mighty. 9 pm.

The Spar Olympia. James Coates. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Doxology. 9 pm.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Space Band. 9 pm.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Licken Ribs & Chicken Tacoma Jazz Series. 8-11 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

I didn't expect to talk jazz last night during the Harmon's Pray For Snow Party. Sitting under snowflake decorations, jazz enthusiast Jerry and I discussed the jazz scenes of New York and San Francisco during the '50s. As we were jostled by hordes donning ski jackets and goggles, I asked Jerry if he's seen any recent jazz that blew him away.

"I recently saw this big band right here at the Harmon," he said pointing to the front of the room. "There must have been twenty guys, and a trumpeter was leading them. They worked this joint. It was cool."

Instantly, I knew he was speaking of Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra. Wetzel and his big band have been popping up in local bars and restaurants, introducing folks to jazz of years gone by, as well as a few current numbers. Saturday, Wetzel and co. will blow away the kids at the all-ages Louie G's Pizzeria.

I caught up to Wetzel before his Saturday gig.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: When did you realize the music game would be your life?

RICH WETZEL: By junior high I knew. I was hooked. All through high school I had no doubt, this was what I would do. I listened to jazz constantly, attended live shows, played in every band I possibly could. I loved it ever since.

VOLCANO:  On stage you look as if your mind is going hundred miles an hour - directing traffic, counting beats, etc. Do you ever just fall into a musical trance onstage?

WETZEL: I never fall into a trance other than a few moments when I'm having a particularly good night, playing on another level, and in the moment enjoying the experience. Otherwise, I am having fun - but also directing traffic for solos, open sections and thinking of the show; making it entertaining.

VOLCANO: Do you have a special set scheduled for Saturday night?

WETZEL: Yes we do, a bit more emphasis on the jazz-rock fusion, some hot Latin jazz and some big band rock tunes from CHASE, Chuck Berry and James Brown.

VOLCANO: What's your go-to pizza?

WETZEL: Anything with lots of meat. I never go for those veggie pizzas (laughing).

VOLCANO: If you could have anyone, dead or alive, play next to you Saturday night, who would it be?

WETZEL: There are two people. I have been lucky enough to have the incredible Arturo Sandoval play with us and I got to play in his band in LA. The other, who has passed on - also a major inspiration to me - would have been the great Maynard Ferguson. He and his playing is what really lit my fire, got me passionate about playing.

[Louie G's Pizzeria, Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra, Saturday, Nov. 5, 8-011 p.m., all ages, $5, 5219 Pacific Hwy. E., Tacoma, 253.926.9700]

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Halloween Costume Contest, featuring No Living Witness, Lenore, This Is Treason. 9 pm.

Capitol Theater Olympia - Downtown. Night Of The Living Tribute Band, featuring tributes to Dolly Parton, TRex, Bauhaus, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, and KISS, hosted by Morgan Picton as "Dangerfield's Monster". All Ages. 8:30 pm. $5-$8.

• For the past 11 years, in honor of Halloween, the Olympia Film Society has hosted an event simply known as Night of the Living Tribute Bands. These shows are rare windows into the musical lives of local performers whom we may know from seeing around town, but haven't yet learned of their inner devotions. Frequently, the tribute bands that perform at Night of the Living Tribute Bands are one-offs, assembled specifically for the event and made up of jumbled about musicians from various local bands. "Everyone just comes together for one night," says the Olympia Film Society's Audrey Henley, organizer of Night of the Living Tribute Bands. "We're really fortunate that we have so many great musicians in our town." To read Rev. Adam McKinney's full story, click here. – Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Tim Hall Band. 9 pm.

Dorky's Barcade Tacoma - Downtown. Dorky's Halloween Show, featuring Death By Stars, The Hyper-Space Sludge Junkies, The Autonomics, The Dirty Words. 8 pm. NC.

• The string of words that make up the name Death by Stars sounds at once full of portent and utterly frivolous. This dichotomy seems to seep into and help define the band's music as well. Combining the biggest, most direct qualities of punk, electronica and psych-rock, the band has cooked up a cutting, immediately hooky sound. There's an invigorating quality to Death by Stars that seems to transcend their basic formula of spacey, psychedelia-informed vocals encased in programmed beats, exploding into life-sized dance-punk refrains. In a live setting, Death by Stars veers into performance art territory, with light shows and costumes. It's a delirious soup - all surface, really. But what a surface it is. To read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature, click here. - Rev. AM

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Unearth The Dead CD Release, with Unhailoed, Onset The Shores, Deathbed Confessions, Burn The Harbor, He Whose Ox Is Gored. 6 pm. $5.

The Hub Tacoma - Stadium District. James Coates. 9 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Halloween Costume Party, featuring Current Swell, Mighty High, Violet Isle, Kaya Flyte. 8 pm. $10.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Palooka, Cody Foster Army, The Rikk Beatty Band. All Ages. 8 pm.

• There's a reason Tacoma's C.F.A. (Cody Foster Army) is a T-Town music scene staple, and it's only partly due to the band's breakneck thrashing or topnotch facial hair. These dudes (guitarist Dave Takata, drummer Reno Dave Marseillan and Foster) have been there, done that in Tacoma, and they've got the scars and welts to prove it. In the past the Volcano has referred to C.F.A. as a "dynamic," and "powerful," band packing a "heavy old-school hardcore attitude and an uncompromising DIY approach." It's all still true. Saturday, in the band's typical fashion, C.F.A. will lead a pre-Halloween Halloween party at Louie G's Pizzeria in Fife, with Palooka and the Rikk Beatty Band also on the sure-to-be-rocking bill. As with all throwdowns at Louie G's, the show is all ages. Foster tells me kids will "shit themselves" when they see the movie-quality costumed Darth Vader and Chewbacca scheduled to attend. - Matt Driscoll

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Nick Sandy. All Ages. 6 pm. Robert Boyd. All

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Justin, Amber & Tryg's Birthday Halloween Bash, with Fall From Grace, Cadillac Radio, Alabaster, Anchor The Tide, True Holland, The Tempting Tarts Burlesque. All Ages. 6 pm.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Halloween Party featuring Kry. 9 pm.

Theatre on the Square Tacoma - Downtown. 3 Glorias Flamenco En Vivo, featuring Saray Munoz, Pedro Cortes, Savannah Fuentes. All Ages. 8 pm. $12-$25.

• For the uninitiated, there are apparently three main components of flamenco: cante (voice), toque (guitar) and baile (dance). From what we understand it takes all three to make flamenco magic, and that's just what 3 Glorias Flamenco en Vivo should offer up Saturday at the Broadway Center in Tacoma. Bringing singer Saray Muñoz (all the way from Spain) to the stage, along with accompaniment from renowned guitarist Pedro Cortes, 3 Glorias Flamenco en Vivo should entertain and provide a bit of culture - which is way better than anything another Saturday night in front of the boob tube was going to do for you. – Weekly Volcano
  

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Vince Brown, Paul Anastasio, Dan Tyack, Cary Black. All Ages. 8 pm. $12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Tacoma ABATE Halloween Bash, with Reloaded. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Johnathon in response to our Bar & Club listing for The Right Spot in Fife.

Johnathon writes,

This a great bar..happy hour 3pm to 7pm and again starts back up at 9pm to close..7days a week..great sports bar.

FRIDAY, OCT. 7, 2011 >>>

1. Olympia's Arts Walk happens twice a year, but the fall edition has always been the little sister, bundled up and toting her umbrella, not as glamorous as spring's costumed, sandaled walk. This time around, though, the autumn version of Arts Walk has grown to two days. Waterproof gear is still a good precaution, but there's twice as much time to see the art. There are also more businesses participating (106 compared to last fall's 101) and performances happening both days. Besides visual art, music, dance and street performance, Arts Walk, which runs today and tomorrow, offers the chance to see and be seen. And many participating businesses offer snacks, desserts and even wine. (That's not listed in the guide, though; think of it as a scavenger hunt of sorts.) Click here to discover some of the outrageous offerings.

2. When you hear Charlie Musselwhite is a "harmonic master," as the promotional material for Friday's show at the Broadway Center in Tacoma suggests, it's no lie. Dude is that good. He's a blues legend. With a career that's spanned nearly five decades, and with more notches on his accomplishment belt than could possible be noted in this small space, Musselwhite has done just about all there is to do in the blues music business. Tonight, as part of a show co-presented by the Immanuel Presbyterian Blues Vespers, Musselwhite plays the Rialto Theater.

3. It's Friday, and it's time for another awesome Downtown on the Go walking tour, this one featuring fantastic Tacoman, architect, and City Councilman David Boe leading a group through the Brewery District and south downtown. The walk runs from noon - 1 p.m. and starts in front of the Swiss. Find all the Downtown on the Go walking tour info you could possibly desire here.

4. Flowmotion will throw down the genre-bending rock at the 4th Ave Ale House in downtown Olympia. Take a break from gazing at visual art during Art Walk to take in some sonic art.

5. Tin Man and the Moss Brothers Band will be in Fife tonight, doing it right at Louie G's Pizzeria. If you're looking for something to do with the tweens, this might fit the bill --- as the action at Louie G's is all ages, and ears young and old can usually dig on Rusty Parrish's Tin Man.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight