AN ENTIRELY A CAPPELLA EVENING IN A TACOMA CHURCH >>>

Perhaps when you think of a cappella you think of Sweet Adelines and old men wearing bashers.

This is not the case when it comes to BARE Tacoma - Holiday, an a cappella performance Friday night at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Instead, you will hear 12 performers ranging from Tacoma School of Arts students to Northwest indie favorites such as Shenandoah Davis, Noah Gunderson, Sean Nelson (of Harvey Danger), Luke Stevens, Goldfinch, Colin Reynolds, Elk & Boar, Hannalee, Eternal Fair and others. Each artist will bust out a holiday song or two, as well as share their own songs and covers.

"There's a whole different set of nerves when you use only your voice and no instruments," says Aaron Stevens, programming manager at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, the organization producing the musical event.

Stevens is also the lead singer and songwriter in the band Goldfinch. He's also performed in the original BARE series at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center in Seattle.

"These shows always sell out in Seattle," says Stevens, who borrowed the concept from developers Kevin Barrans and Fremont Abbey.

"I've been to all the BARE shows at Fremont Abbey and I love seeing what the artists do with their songs without instruments," says Kenny Coble, marketing manager for the event. "It is beautiful, vulnerable and special. And this show will include holiday songs, which I love."

You won't see a microphone or instrument on Immanuel's stage. The ambiance of the show will be heightened by the church's glorious acoustics and the glow of candles.

"I'm trying to bring different and unique ideas to Tacoma," says Stevens. "I thought it would be a really interesting show."

Stevens and band mate Emily Ann Peterson will be performing a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet. But, Stevens won't disclose which song.

"It's a secret," says Stevens, a smile in his voice. 

Stevens says he's also looking forward to Noah Gunderson. "He's one of the most phenomenal performers in the Northwest right now.

"I'm also looking forward to Sean Nelson of Harvey Danger. I saw him perform a cappella once before," Stevens grasps to find words, then continues. "I was startled by his performance. I didn't know what to expect - but he's an amazing performer."

Stevens goes on to say that each performance has a completely different kind of feel and style, there may be groups of three or four, or they may be solo and the final song will be an entire group performance.

Tickets cost $16 and are available on the Broadway Center's ticket hub.

IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BARE TACOMA - HOLIDAY, FRIDAY, DEC. 7, 8 P.M., DOOR AT 7:30 P.M., $16, 901 N. J ST., TACOMA, 253.591.5894

LINK: BARE Facebook event page

LINK: Meet Aaron Stevens

THE INSIDE SCOOP >>

It is always a good idea to plan your weekend activities - map it out in your mind. If so, you can do as much as possible with the little free time we get. For example, before you get too crazy with your Friday night it in some early evening entertainment. Go to the Colored Women's Club from 6-9 p.m. for Antonio Edwards' farewell show. The spoken-word/poetry O.G. god is moving to California. Get some deep thinking in before the debauchery begins.

Then, you can quickly, but not speeding, drive-up to Seattle to catch the Zulu Jam Hip-Hop History Month Edition. The event, like all Zulu Jams, is at the historic Washington Hall. Why would I tell you to go to a Seattle show? The Weekly Volcano is a 253-area rag/site. It's because some 253-area artists are getting recognized: E-Dawg and General Wojack!

Maybe you want to keep it local and not drive. I understand that. Then go to The New Frontier Lounge and see Tacoma's own Eliot Lipp with openers Killerz with Kindness. Lipp might be the most well known electronic-musician to ever emerge from our city. It is $10 to get in, which really is not that bad to see Lipp on a Friday night.

It does not slow down Saturday. Start off by checking out an Alliance Battle League event.  This is a daytime, all-ages event at the Backstage Bar & Grill. The battles start at 1 p.m. The league is accepting nonperishable food items for the holiday season. Way to go A.B.L.!

Then that night, make a short trip to Fife where at Louie G's you can catch Mr. Von's Slice of Hip-Hop 3. These are hip-hop nights Mr. Von curates. It is only $5 to get in and there is a pizza-buffet (#winning)!  Show starts at 8 p.m. and it is all-ages.

If you are trying to stay away from the all-ages thing - fine. Go to Jazzbones and see Mickey Avalon, The Chicharones, Sky Pilot and others. Sky Pilot is having a huge freshman year. The Chicharones consist of Josh Martinez from Vancouver, B.C. and Sleep from Seattle/Portland of Oldominion fame. It is a dope group. Mickey Avalon will provide you with as much punk-rock hip-hop swagger as you could want. The show starts at 8 p.m. and it is $20 tickets.

Sunday, you might need to rest after all that. So, go to the Apex Apartments in Tacoma. That is where Fred Diezel lives. At 7 p.m. he debuts his new video "Good Time" on his personal movie theater. I do not know if it is in his personal apartment, or if his complex has a communal theater movie-screening room. Go and find out. It is a $20 event, but that $20 gets you a bottle of champagne.

LINK: Josh Rizeberg talks "digging" with Todd Sykes

LINK: More live music this weekend in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SLOW FOOD OLYMPIA EVENT >>>

Hot tea has played an intricate part in our lives for generations. Teas have been intertwined with spiritual experiences. They've been used as tinctures of health and wellness. And for some they are simply a part of our daily routine.

Slow Food Greater Olympia has a mission to "advocate sustainability and bio-diversity... and promote the appreciation and consumption of seasonal and local foods and the support of those who produce them." They do this with educational events, potlucks, tastings, cooking demonstrations and more.

Sunday, Slow Food hosts a Taiwanese Oolong Tea event led by Dewey Meyer of the Northwest WuWo Tea Association. Wu translates to mean void or emptiness while wo means self or mine. This brand of tea ceremony is meant to separate material possession and status from the equation and encourage a sense of equality and community between drinkers.

Meyer having traveled all over the world studying tea, the process of growth and harvest and philosophy behind them, will be available to enlighten attendees to the history of tea, with a focus on Oolong.

Also hosting is Martha Rosemeyer from The Evergreen State College who specializes in agricultural ecology and food systems.

To accompany the tasting snacks like tea eggs and buns with red bean paste will be available.

Once you register for this event, the secret tea tasting location will be revealed.

To register you can contact hostess Dziuba at hdziuba@hotmail.com or call her at 503.312.9543. Registration fee is only $10 for members of the organization or $15 for non-members.

TAIWANESE OOLONG TEA TASTING, SUNDAY, DEC. 2, 2-4 P.M., OLYMPIA, SLOWFOODOLYMPIA.ORG

TIME MACHINE TIME >>>

KISS and Rush. Just saying those names, with one-syllable urgency and sexy implications, makes me excited.

To know there is a tribute show featuring these two rock legends at the Backstage Bar and Grill Friday makes me beyond excited - I'm talkin' butterflies with face paint and long hair headbang through my stomach excited. It's all-ages until 11 p.m. and free, which makes those butterflies start pumping their tiny little fists, too.

The Backstage show plays off the 1975 concert in which KISS and Rush shared the same stage at the Paramount in Seattle. Fast forward 37 years and Dr. Love (KISS tribute) and 2112 (Rush tribute) will take turns churning out classics and rocking the crowd for their first ever double-hitter performance in Tacoma.

"I'm looking forward to playing the songs I grew up on, in front of what we expect to be a nice energetic crowd," says Jason Flom, aka Ace Frehley. Flom says he excited to play with 2112 too.

"The first show (as Dr. Love) went over so well," he adds. "I know we're way better at this point and more comfortable up there in our make-up. It's gonna be a blast."

BACKSTAGE BAR AND GRILL, FRIDAY, NOV. 30, 9 P.M., NO COVER, 6409 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.564.0149

HERE COME THE SHOWS >>>

This past summer Oliver Doriss was named winner of the 2012 Foundation of Art Award. It's a long-overdue award considering Doriss' contributions to Tacoma's art community both as a practicing glass artist, a DJ and as a gallery owner. And how fitting considering that a large chunk of the current and previous nominees and winners have shown their work in his gallery, Fulcrum.

"Oliver is deeply committed to art in Tacoma, both as an artist and a gallerist," says Jeremy Mangan, former Foundation of Art Award winner and the Foundation of Art Committee member who nominated Doriss for the Award. "His own glass work is as unique and risky as it is beautiful, and Fulcrum Gallery is a vital and dynamic venue where art and community meet in the best way."

"I was flattered just to be nominated," says Doriss. "I couldn't have done a better job at identifying the creative community than in the artists that were nominated. To be selected as the winner and have that recognition is very validating."

As a critic who has been observing the scene here and elsewhere for decades, I must say that I've seldom seen any such award so consistently and intelligently chosen. Over the years I have disagreed with almost every award in the arts from, "best in show" selections to grant recipients. I often think the choices are made by idiots. But Tacoma's Foundation of Art winners and nominees are always top-notch.

This year's nominees include painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed-media artists. The nominees are: R.R. Anderson, Gabriel Brown, Kyle Dillehay, Oliver Doriss, Spencer Ebbinga, Travis Galindo, Chris Jordan and Kenji Stoll, Matt Johnson, Maria Jost, Chuck Knigge, Meghan Mitchell, Susie Russell Hall, Peter Serko, Sharon Styer and Judy Wagner.

Doriss makes unique and technically difficult glass vessels often incorporating twigs and leaves and silver foil. As he explains on his website, "The silver foil effectively wraps the ash of the plant matter as it vaporizes resulting in a stunning ghost like botanical composition." He also makes vessels that he calls domed cities, which are like futuristic, steampunk snow globes. His glass vessels are dense, multi-layered and rich in color and texture.

As the winner, Oliver will receive a $7,500 award and create a commissioned art piece for the Community Foundation, to be unveiled at a culminating art show featuring the work of Foundation of Art Award nominees from the past five years. The exhibit will be on display Dec. 3-29 at B2 Fine Art Gallery in downtown Tacoma. An opening reception will take place the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 5. Among the many artists to be represented in the five-year show are Sean Alexander, Lynn Di Nino, Gabriel Brown, Jeremy Gregory, Ellen Ito, Lisa Kinoshita, Jeremy Mangan, Janet Marcavage, Nicholas Nyland, Holly Senn and others. Learn more about the reception here.

KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE >>>

Starting the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, it is basically one big awesome weekend. Wednesday night is big party-time because no one works on Thursday, No Thankstaking Day, then it is the weekend. So what to do? Here ya'll go:

One of the more popular new acts of this year is Sky Pilot. It just dropped a brand new video titled, "Everywall." The video looks awesome, and it is bound to have every adolescent emo-listening suburbanite going bananas. Sky Pilot is a multi-genre music outfit. It can do hip-hop and rock music. This song definitely falls into the rock category - but Preston, the lead vocalist, can and does rap pretty darn well in other songs. Ya can catch Sky Pilot and all of its freshman buzz Friday night in Seattle at the Hard Rock Café. Tickets are $10 advanced and $15 at the door. The Hard Rock Café in Seattle is a quality place to catch a show.

Maybe ya would rather drive south than north. OK, that is fine too. In that case, ya can see Cam the Viking, the busiest man in Gonzo as of late. He'll be rocking The Midnight Sun Performance Space Friday night in Olympia. The Midnight Sun is a classic Olympia all-ages, D.I.Y. venue. It does not get more Oly than that place. So go soak-up the 360 hip-hop vibes.

Maybe ya should do it true Oly style and crash on someone's couch down there that night, because Saturday night, ya can catch the other busy man from the Gonzo Family, Abom the Kid. He'll be performing at the Track House in Oly. This is a birthday house party - more of that Oly' vibe. Call Remex for directions, (360) 480-8179.

That is all for 253 hip-hop this weekend. So, drive safe, for-real. There are still lots of drunk, turkey-induced sleepy drivers out there. Peaces My Family!

LINK: Josh Rizeberg's What The Word? hip-hop columns

BRING ON THE VIBE >>>

Sometimes Bobble Tiki gets irritated. Sometimes it's the rockets red glare over Gaza. Sometimes it's factory pollution in China. Sometimes it's batshit crazy talk, like adding eight cents to barely edible chain pizzas because of health care.

Sometimes it's something else.

Bobble Tiki guesses you could say he has a fair amount of pent-up anger and resentment. Feelings like these don't exactly generate boatloads of friends.

Sometimes Bobble Tiki also gets depressed. Sometimes Bobble Tiki hates himself most of all. It's not as much fun as hating other things, but that doesn't seem to stop him from doing it. Sometimes Bobble Tiki's heart rate slows down, his eyes glaze over, and he feels like staring at the wall for a whole weekend. Bobble Tiki considers this a god given right, but admits it's not the most social activity.

What Bobble Tiki often needs is something to pull him from a particular funk or rut - something to lure him out of his shell, into the world - something that makes him remember the good aspects of interacting with humanity. That something could be reggae.

Bobble Tiki is talking about real reggae. Not streaming out of a little pod while people mull over musty mulled wine, mortifying mistletoe moments and situations involving coats piled up on the bed in a Gore-Tex orgy to make the guests who own them feel unwelcome. Nope, Bobble Tiki is ready for some live reggae ... in public, no less.

Alas! Ben Alaalatoa of BTOA Entertainment will have hangers for coats and four reggae-like bands for your enjoyment Saturday at the Temple Theater: Fiji from Honolulu, Bonafide from Las Vegas, Two Story Zori out of Seattle and Tacoma's own Island Trybe featuring PO Boxx.

Fiji is huge in Hawaii. Bigger than Bobble Tiki. Born George Brooks Veikoso, Fiji lays down an exotic fusion of classic reggae, hip-hop, R&B and jazz, which dials in nice when swaying from a hammock or tossing back Long Island Ice Teas at Moose McGillycuddy's on Maui. Just sayin'. Fiji also performs a mean version of "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay."

When Bonafide isn't riding the gondolas at the Venetian, the Las Vegas band serves up good rhythms infused with sultry base lines coupled with Jr. Rootz gracing each track with his smooth soothing vocals.

What's your story Two Story Zori? Bobble Tiki guesses its four dudes from Guam, one from Hawaii and one from Vietnam, channeling Bob Marley, Natural Vibrations and Tribal Seeds to produce island reggae tunes from its home base of Seattle.

Island Trybe hails from Tacoma, with Guam in its heart, and fuses rap, reggae and R&B with its island musical roots.

Bobble Tiki expects an insane amount of positive vibes at this show - especially with money raised headed toward Families for Effective Autism Treatment of Wasington.

TEMPLE THEATER, SATURDAY, NOV. 24, 7 P.M., $25 AT TICKETMASTER, $30 AT DOOR, 47 SAINT HELENS AVE. TACOMA, 253.691.3173

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

It's time again for the Olympia Record Show, growing bigger yet again in its fifth year of providing a space for dealers, collectors and amateurs to rub elbows, move merchandise and treasure hunt.

"It gets better and better," says Michael Dixon, event curator. "It's getting really big, we have to open up a side room."

The Elks Lodge on Fourth Avenue houses the event.

DJs will be spinning tunes while 40 record dealers from all over the Northwest sell thousands of records, CDs and pieces of memorabilia spanning all genres, styles and price ranges.

Admission is $2.

This event offers an early bird entry of $15, for those who want to peruse during set-up.  Dixon says this is the ideal time to pick and choose.

"It's when all the serious dealing goes on," he says. "The dealers like to buy all the good stuff."

There are still a few tables left, going for $25 to $30, so if your wife and/or mom is nagging you to clean out your closets, or maybe you need a little extra holiday cash, this is the place for you.

And if you are on the other side and need to bulk up your collection or find that hard-to-find gift for somebody special, the Olympia Record Show is the place for you, too.

It's an all-ages show, but there's a full bar to celebrate your major score.

For more information, or to get a table, contact Dixon at olympiarecordshow@yahoo.com.

ELKS LODGE, SATURDAY, NOV. 17, 5-9 P.M., $2, 1818 FOURTH AVE. W., OLYMPIA

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Thanksgiving at my house is a futile exercise in restraint. Which calorie-laden delight should I gorge on first? At my house, we load up on the traditional bread stuffing spiked with country sausage, roast turkey and close to 20 bowels of fixin's. Yes, we're a gluttonous bunch, and then we add wine on top of all that. I imagine the excess and I feel fat just thinking about it. But excited, too - I love Thanksgiving. It's fabulous excuse to open a bottle after bottle of wine while discussing current events

And speaking of opening bottle after bottle of wine, Kris Blondin, owner of STINK - Cheese & Meat, will open STINK Tank - a new wine bar in the neighboring space once occupied by her kitchen store, Füdie.

Why STINK Tank?

"It's a play off of ‘think tank'," explains Blondin. "Where people can talk and engage each other. Basically change the world over a glass of wine."

Sounds like Thanksgiving.

Blondin says STINK Tank will focus more on unusual, less common wines such as Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Grenache.

"I want people to come here and not be afraid to try new wines that are weird and hard to pronounce," she adds. "You can buy a glass of Zweigelt rather than commit to a whole bottle. I pride myself on finding wines that over-deliver for the price. We will have over 75 by the glass."

I'll let the 75 pours by the glass sink in.

STINK Tank ...

I can see you still need time with the 75 pours. ...

STINK Tank will also serve specialty beers such as Belgian brews, which were available at Füdie.

As you might expect, the menu will be heavy on cheese and meats.

STINK Tank opens tomorrow.

I, for one, give thanks.

STINK TANK, 4-10 p.m. TUESDAY-THURSDAY, 4 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT FRIDAY-SATURDAY, 630 SAINT HELENS AVE., TACOMA, 253.426.1347

THIS JUST IN >>>

Three days before the release of its first studio album in 16 years, King Animal, Soundgarden announced it's brief North American theater tour will hit Seattle's Paramount Theatre Thursday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 8. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at LiveNation.com, Tickets.com, 24-hour kiosk at the Paramount Theatre or charge by phone (877) STG-4TIX.

Soundgarden broke up in 1997 while touring behind the previous year's Down on the Upside. Its members reunited in 2010, playing concerts (including a headlining slot at Lollapalooza and issuing a greatest-hits collection called Telephantasm.