SATURDAY, MARCH 22: FIRST ROUND BURGER ACTION >>>

Even in this era of kohlrabi salads, Haute Mexicanand Chinese-Peruvian, the hamburger remains America's favorite food, and burger fans - of which you are undoubtedly one - are insanely opinionated about what the consummate burger should look and taste like. Tear into the Tournament of Burgers, make a mess and dribble 'til the cows come home.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Duke's Chowder House vs. Chalk Talk Bistro

Duke's Chowder House has fancy newsletters, kick ass chowder and a gorgeous view of Commencement Bay. Chalk Talk Bistro has chalk ... oh, and delicious burgers. Formerly Mary's Burger Bistro, the sportsified Chalk Talk put the dispsy-doo double-a-roo on Duke's, and grabbed 56 percent of the votes from way at the end of the grill, BANG!

Game 2: Pick-Quick Drive-In vs. The Schooner Pub & Galley

The Schooner Pub is a dark place. It's truly one of the darker watering holes in the South Sound. Obviously, there are advantages to drinking in dimly lit joints. For one, squinting isn't attractive. Anyway, yesterday was the Lakewood bar's worst possible cave scenario. We haven't had many sunny days since early autumn. The Schooner's competitor, Pick-Quick Drive-in, offers a nice park-like outdoor eating area (albeit, with a view of I-5). The walk-up burger joint was packed with questionable open shirts and giddiness. Sunshine grabbed 75 percent of the votes and Pick-Quick moves into the next round to take on Chalk Talk Bistro March 28.

Game 3: Loose Wheel Bar & Grill vs. The Westside Tavern

If there's one thing our food tournaments has seen over the years; you don't mess with West Olympia. The community huddles around their own - more often than not with sleeves rolled up and a chew in place. The Westside Tavern grabbed a respectable 62 percent of the votes yesterday in its win over the tough Loose Wheel Bar & Grill. That's impressive. That's the Westside.

Game 4: Pacific Grill vs. South Bay Pub & Eatery

If there's a trend developing it's that elegance or unique toppings don't wow Tournament of Burgers voters. Sure, a fancy burger can get you somewhere in the Tournament of Burgers, but it doesn't guarantee anything - your burger foundation has to be sound before voters will get behind some of the fancier stuff. While Pacific Grill gushes sophistication and class, it had a tough day on the burger court. It beat Olympia's scrappy South Bay Pub & Eatery by one vote. One. Pacific Grill will need to reanalyze its game plan, as it will take on another scrappy Olympia burger flipper in the Second Round - Westside Tavern.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• Chalk Talk Bistro
• Pick-Quick Drive-In
• Westside Tavern
• Pacific Grill

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Charlie's Restaurant Puyallup. Elbow County Rough Riders. 9 pm. $5, Ladies NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Rusty Cleavers, Ethan Tucker Band. 8 pm. NC.

Eagle's Hall Olympia - Downtown. KOWA-FM "Ides Of March" Benefit, with Yogoman Burning Band, Fabulous Downey Brothers, Oh Rose, Old Growth Poetry Collective, DJ Selector Dub Narcotic. All Ages. 7 pm. $8-$20 sliding scale.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. St. Patrick's Weekend, with Grand Royale (Beastie Boys tribute), The Boomin Grannies, DJ Pedro, Joey Roxville. 9 pm. $7.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Ol Dirty Crackers. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. The Adarna, Van Eps, Amadon, Stolen Society. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Restaurant + Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. The Kareem Kandi Band. Aall ages. 8-11 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Argonaut, Deadkill, Levels. 9 pm. $5.

• If the band name doesn't tip it off enough to you, I don't know what to say. They're called Deadkill. What do you think they play? Chillwave? (On a side note, I would love it if there was an explosion of dream-pop acts with misleadingly aggressive names. "Have you heard Satan Dick? Their latest opus is like laying in a sunbeam while a butterfly tickles your nose.") Deadkill make hardcore punk with little dashes of shredding metal - nothing fussy or complicated. Their objective is clear: whatever they can do to expedite the deterioration of your eardrums, they will do it. Even though fist-pumping punk is their business (and business is good), there's still more melodicism than you'd expect. Far from cranking up their guitars and calling it a day, Deadkill are subtly savvy as songwriters. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Northern Olympia - Downtown. White Gourd, Corum, Arrington De Dionyso, Danield Buscher, China Star. All Ages. 8 pm.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. The Olsen Brothers. 8 pm.

Theatre on the Square Tacoma - Downtown. 9th Annual KRUNK Fusion Hip Hop Dance Showcase. All Ages. 7 pm. $15.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. The Makedonians. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Metal Nite, with Fueling The Heathen, Skinwalker, Zorokaser. 9 pm.

Westside Tavern Olympia - Westside. The Oly Mountain Boys. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music Saturday, March 15 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. Lark vs. Owl, Back From Hiatus, the Past Impending, Photon Pharaoh. 8 pm. $5.

• Lark vs. Owl refer to their music as "the new hard rock," which is the sort of self-aggrandizing statement that I can totally get behind. While a duo of multi-instrumentalists utilizing ukulele, glockenspiel and loop pedals - not to mention the very name of the band - may not smack of hard rock, there's a certain fiery energy that lurks at the heart of Lark vs. Owl. Look no further than their blistering cover of Suicide's "Rocket USA" for proof that this band means business. With their feet planted firmly in the alt-rock fatalism of the '90s, Lark vs. Owl may not be the type of band to soundtrack your house party, but there is a certain downer conviction to their music that might've convinced you to write some lyrics on your sneakers, back in the day. - Rev. Adam McKinney

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FRIDAY, MARCH 7 2014 >>>

1. From Bach to Bird to Biggie, Black Violin executes a unique and often brilliant juxtaposition of urban and classical styles. The two-man violin/viola hip-hop outfit of Wil B and Kev Marcus mix classical music with hip-hop beats, and then toss in some rap and freestyle to keep it interesting. Yes, violins. Yes, hip-hop. With the addition of a hip-hop DJ, this talented trio fuses funk, hip-hop and classical music to create a sound and style that very nearly defies traditional genre categorization. Some might call it revolutionary. Check it out at 7:30 p.m. in the Pantages Theater.

2. Sure, Tacoma celebrates its status as an arts community.  Sure, Tacoma loves to band together for a good cause.  With the YWCA RAGS wearable Art Sale and Gallery, continuing for its 20th year, it does both. RAGS started as a fun way to raise money for the YWCA, whose mission statement is all about honoring diversity and creating opportunities for women’s growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. RAGS offers guests an opportunity to view and acquire fabulous handmade clothing, jewelry and accessories created by artisans from across the country. Check out RAGS from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma new showroom at 1701 Alexander Ave. East in Fife.

3. The Tacoma Community College Symphonic Band concert and trombone soloists Sara Mayo present a variety of contemporary wind band music, exploring ideas around tradition, conversation, spirits and dance at 7:30 p.m. in TCC Building 2 Auditorium, which is close to South 12th and Mildred.

4. The genial satire of contemporary feminism Angry Housewives ran for ages in Seattle centering on Jetti, Bev, Wendi and Carol — good friends, but angry over the lack of respect from their men. So, they form a punk rock band, Angry Housewives, and take their local club scene by storm gaining new self-respect and renewed respect from their men. The play opens at Paradise Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

5. Near as we can tell from what little music is available of Coma Figura, one might describe them as a sort of Foxygen or Titus Andronicus for the bedroom pop set. These are bands that mash together influences and jumble them up into something that surges past imitation and into a kind of fervent homage. Whereas Foxygen and Titus Andronicus reinterpret pastoral psych rock and boozy Springsteen-isms, respectively, Coma Figura take stabs at the idiosyncratic singer-songwriter. Catch the band with BA the Scribe, FLORIDA, Mad Youth at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Friday, March 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY, MARCH 1 IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. Death By Stars, Elbow Coulee, French Letters, TBASA. 9 pm.

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LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY, FEB. 22 IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Speakerbox, Mr. Von, Bishop Bishop, D-Logic. 9 pm. $5.

B Sharp Coffee House Tacoma - Downtown. The Kareem Kandi Band. All Ages. 8pm to 11pm. free.

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. Blackstone Rangers, Midday Veil, People Under The Sun. 9 pm.

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LIVE MUSIC TONIGH TIN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Amocat Cafe Tacoma - Triangle District. Amocat Live! featuring the Amocat House Band. All Ages. 7 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. A Valentine's Evening With Leroy Bell & His Only Friends. 8 pm. $15.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. The Paralytics. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Michael Anthony Pratt Band. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Restaurant + Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. Lance Buller Combo. 7 pm.

Metronome Coffee Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Hunnywell w/ Dames and Ricky Reyes. 8-11 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Valentine's Day Party, with The Pecos, MILK, Roller Derby Weddings Benefit. 9 pm.

Red Bicycle Bistro and Sushi Bar Vashon. Love Duets II, hosted by Pete & Allison, with Shane Jewell & Kim Thal, RISK, Allison Shirk & Joe Panzetta and more. All proceeds will go to the RISK scholarship fund. All Ages. 8 pm. $5 suggested donation.

Rock the Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. Anti-Valentine Party. Featuring Accidental Heroes, scavenger hunt, Man Purse Game, Who's Your Daddy game, prizes and more. 8 pm. NC.

The Swiss Tacoma - Downtown. Mr. Pink. 9 pm.

The Triad Theater Yelm. Valentine Cabaret, featuring Crooners & Spooners. 8 pm. $10-$15.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Hot Death, Conjurer. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music Friday, Feb. 14 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

B Sharp Coffee House Tacoma - Opera Alley Downtown. Barleywine Revue. 8 pm. NC.

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. La Luz, Pony Time, The Fucking Eagles, The Tom Price Desert Club. 8 pm. $5. 

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Naive Melodies (Talking Heads tribute). 9:30 pm. NC.

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