MUSICIAN-TO-MUSICIAN, BROTHER-TO-BROTHER >>>

It's not often that musicians can say they have been performing together since early childhood. Brothers Evan and Ryan Purcell, both in their mid 40s, can make such a claim. Over the years, the two have played in many local bands - a few together. Wednesday, April 21, Evan and Ryan will perform as a duo - singing each other's songs, favorite covers and maybe punching each other in the arm once or twice - at the Tempest Lounge.

I had the honor of listening in on the brothers' conversation as they planned their Wednesday show. I couldn't get one word in.

EVAN PURCELL: Yeah, I guess us playing music together ... it goes back a ways ... back to when we were just kids sitting around singing old folk songs our dad used to play. 

RYAN PURCELL: Or just as likely singing the words to every musical ever written.  It was the golden days of '70s musicals and we knew all the words to Jesus Christ Superstar and many others.  But go ahead Ev. 

EVAN: Dad learned to play guitar in the Army and after he got out, used some of the GI Bill to attend the Chicago School of Folk Music where he learned from the likes of Leadbelly and Pete Seager.  There weren't too many days that went by where our family wasn't singing "If I Had A Hammer," "Blowing in the Wind" or one of the hundreds of other songs Dad knew all the words too. 

RYAN: "The Frozen Logger" was a favorite of mine.

EVAN: Yeah, or "Dark as A Dungeon."  We grew up overseas throughout the whole decade of the '70s, living for the most part, in a little town just to the north of Frankfurt, Germany.  That's one thing about living in a place where you don't speak the language ... it makes you have to rely on each other more, and I've always sorta thought that's why we've gotten along so well.  

RYAN: I won't speculate.

EVAN: Over the years we've played off and on together in various bands.  I tend to be a bit better of a guitar player than your and you tend to be a more prolific songwriter. 

RYAN: How come you get to be "better" and I just get to be "more prolific?"  Could we just instead say that you're a "more prolific" guitar player than I - you certainly do like to play more notes and use more complicated chordal progressions.  Let's just not put a value on it, OK? 

EVAN: Sure, if it makes you feel better.  One thing we don't do is any of my songs when we play in bands together. Why is this you ask? 

RYAN: Not really totally true. You forget our band MOJO SKILL!  We did some of your songs in that band. Faulty premise. 

EVAN: Well I guess if you want to go back 15 years, then sure Mojo Skill counts.  My guess is that there seems to be an intimidation factor involved - me being the award-winning songwriter and all.

RYAN: Intimidate? Ha! Ha! Whatever!

EVAN: Back in 2007 I put out a solo record.

RYAN: ATTACHMENTS - a fine CD and, for the record, one I wasn't invited to play on.

EVAN: And about a year after that Ryan put out his ... 

RYAN: ... Kick the Dirt CD and yes, you make an appearance in the liner notes - lead and slide guitar.  Then you complained because we had to replace one of your guitar tracks.  Because it was Out Of Tune! (at least some of it was)  So we changed the part. It was for the greater good!  Water under the bridge anyway, right? 

EVAN: I thought your CD turned out great!  And I'm having a great time performing the songs in our band - Ryan Purcell and the Last Round.

RYAN: I'm hoping someone in Tacoma books us for a show.  We have nothing scheduled down here until July for Christ's sakes.

EVAN: We should perform some of our new material Wednesday, April 21 at the Tempest Lounge.

RYAN: Good idea.

EVAN: I thought we would take a break from the whole band thing for a minute and just pull out of couple of acoustic guitars, pull up a chair ...

RYAN: A couple of chairs mind you. I will be sitting as well.

EVAN: I meant that! ... at the Tempest and do a little song swap.  Pull out some material we don't usually play, maybe dust off a few folk songs our dad taught us years ago and just see where the evening takes us.   

RYAN: It will be fun.  And I think they serve bourbon there.

EVAN: Yes indeed!

[Tempest Lounge, Wednesday, April 21, 7-9 p.m., no cover, 913 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904]

LINK: Evan Purcell's Myspace

LINK: Ryan Purcell's Myspace

CONCERT ALERT >>>

Ann and Nancy Wilson are coming back to the Puyallup Fair Saturday, Sept. 25. Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 24 at 9 a.m. here. Prices are $60 for Golden Circle, $40 and $25, and include Fair gate admission, and seats are reserved.

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Live Nation just released the new that Roger Waters will hit the road with The Wall tucked under his arm. He will bring the show to the Tacoma Dome Dec. 11. Ticket prices haven't been announced, but they will go on sale May 10.

The full press release after the jump ...

Read more...

VINYL TRIBE REPRESENT >>>

People who consciously attempt to be cool are a turn off. Those who try to act cool to earn the money of other people should be dragged into Tollefson Plaza and forced to sit there. Those who make great music don't do it for us, but for themselves.

Art is a form of self-expression and brings self-satisfaction. This does not mean it cannot be admired. Presentation is one thing; creating a work of art is another entirely different consideration.

As soon as people are willing to pay money to witness artistic output, that product becomes a commodity. Honors go to those who work dreary 9-to-5s in order to support themselves and still find the energy within to create magnanimous odes to human existence.

Such is the case with Tacoma's new DJ collective Vinyl Tribe, three veteran DJs who are slowly building their collective with pile-driving techno and dubstep on the scene. While slaving away in the local clubs (OK, make that 9-to-5 a.m.), Damon Kaiser (DefCon1), Chris Savenetti and Garret Winebrenner (BennieNugs) met at house parties only to discover they live within a few blocks of each other. Witness their skills every Thursday at Sax Restaurant and Lounge on Sixth Avenue. They spin techno, dubstep and house under the title Tribal Thursdays, which begins at 9:30 p.m. What I have discovered chatting with the collective over the past two weeks is that they're cool without trying to be cool.

The men behind Vinyl Tribe are regular guys who are in love with music, the art of collecting vinyl, and the discovery of new music. They create the music for themselves, and then share the joy with others. Yes, they watch the crowd closely - monitoring the vibe and adjusting as necessary. That's what the great DJs do. However the three Vinyl tribe DJs spin for themselves, too. You can see it in their eyes and smiles behind the decks. It's passion not posing. And ultimately the crowd wins.

If you haven't heard DefCon1 spin yet, you may grab a taste today when he's the guest DJ on DJ Michael Sherman's "Intersections" show on enSonic.FM at 1 p.m. The show connects listeners with rising star DJs in the underground dance scene. DefCon1 will showcase his Western Technology set today on the show.

What follows is my conversation with DefCon1 concerning his "Intersections" appearance.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Tell me about Western Technology.

DEFCON1: Well, when I was initially putting together the DJ mix set of Western Tech I wanted to not just do a decent mix for Michael Sherman's "Intersections" show, I wanted to introduce what is an exploding new form of dance music, dubstep. Hence, I didn't want to just throw together some tracky set, where each new song is trying to top the other. Western Technology is more of a gradual up and down journey in feel - a condensed version of what an evening out at a party might be like. If you're familiar with dubstep, it's a treat to hear the songs not normally heard, and if you're new to it, it's a great introduction, I think.

VOLCANO: Sometimes there's a fine line between identifying a common set of sensibilities, which make up a genre. Do you follow a strict dubstep genre path?

DEFCON1: Not in the least. I love the mellower side with its spooky reggae or trip-hop harmonies, as well as the old school screaming acid lines in stuff from artists like Datsik. In fact it's the entire, "let's take a bit of this and that" mentality of dubstep that draws me and a lot of others into it. People are much more astute regarding dance music than when I began DJing and it shows in the progression of the music and what they want to hear. When you listen to Western Tech, it's an example of how I spin in song selection with this in mind. Now there are others that do just spin one type or the other, but I think that limits them creatively.

VOLCANO: What kind of music did you listening to growing up? What led you to the dark side?

DEFCON1: HA! I grew up listening to all kinds of music, my dad liked country and 1970s folk and mom liked metal, classic art rock - and Kraftwerk of all things. I would say that those pioneering German geniuses were my first introduction to electronic music. I mean, just like any kid I had periods where I only liked one thing - AC/DC and Metallica one month, Easy-E and NWA the next. Influentially though, what brought me into dance music and away from the traditional was darkwave like the Cure and Depeche Mode, followed by techno - and I mean fast, breakbeat, we-just-broke-into-this-warehouse rave music. It was just like now, an incredible new form of music bursting on the scene. I loved it. I had just hit my late teens/20s and went to every party I could go to, I couldn't get enough of the energy. Spinning naturally followed.

Catch Defcon1 on enSonic.FM today at 1 p.m., and every Thursday with his Vinyl Tribe collective mates at Sax on Sixth Avenue.

On Wednesday, April 21, DefCon1 and collective mate BennieNugs will spin as part of Black Ice Booking's "Return to Eden" show at Jazzbones, which will feature live hip-hop from Faraca. DefCon1 and I chatted up the show, which I will post the conversation on Spew later in the week.

Now bookmark enSonic.Fm and enjoy DefCon1's world.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE SPEAKEASY >>>

Before he becomes king, Prince Hal gives his dear old dad King Henry IV a few headaches. He drinks, throws down and hangs out with all manner of slatterns and washerwomen. He cavorts with Falstaff, a disreputable knight, while numerous parties plot against his father, the titular king. Eventually, he realizes the need to prove himself as heir to the throne, and the challenge to his father provides the perfect foil.

Watching Tacoma's Shakespeare in the Parking Lot troupe rehearse Henry IV Part 1, Act 4, Scenes 1 and 2 at the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative today, I wonder if the honor-crazy Hotspur (son and heir of the Earl of Northumberland and the nephew of the Earl of Worcester) might not steal the show. Prince Hal is the true focus and hero of the drama, which is considered Shakespeare's greatest history play, supposedly written in 1591 and 1592 along with Henry V and Henry VI. However watching the fiery female redhead perform the role of Hotspur, performing it as if it was opening night, the others, including Prince Hal, better step it up. She had her game face on, often screaming at her mistakes as if part of the play.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot was rehearsing for their upcoming Shakespeare-a-thon to be held April 23-24 at the Speakeasy. More than 50 actors and Shakespeare enthusiasts will recreate the three King Henry and two King Richard plays in "Shakespeare Unplugged" staged readings and performances.

Here is the schedule:

Friday, April 23 (the first 12 hours - the first four plays)

6:30 p.m.: Richard II

8:30 p.m.: Henry IV Parts 1 and 2

11:00 p.m.: Henry V 

Saturday, April 24 (the final 12 hours - the final four plays

3 p.m.: Henry VI Parts 1, 2, and 3

8 p.m.: Richard III

Saturday, the staged reading of Henry VI at 3 p.m. and the final show of the series, Richard III, will both be presented for free. Otherwise, adult tickets are $10 for each play. All plays will be free for those 18 and younger.

A "meal ticket," which will include the three Friday evening shows and an Elizabethan inspired dinner, is $32 or $45 for two. Meal ticket reservations must be made before April 19.

Call 253.318.5182 for more information and tickets.

And keep your eye on that redhead.

MY FRIEND RAY IS GOING TO FREAK OUT >>>

My friend Ray loves Rush. If the Canadian power trio was a drug he'd inject it between his toes.

I fully expect my friend Ray will be trippin' today.

Announced today, The Time Machine Tour is an evening with Rush, where they will perform their classics, give a taste of the future - and for the first time ever - feature the Moving Pictures album live in its entirety.  The 40-city tour begins in Albuquerque June 28 and finishes Oct. 2 in West Palm Beach. Included in the tour is a stop at White River Amphitheatre in Auburn on Aug. 7.

Tickets prices haven't been announced yet.

Join my friend Ray Saturday, April 17 at 10 a.m. in the mad rush to get Rush tickets through LiveNation.

HE'S A JAZZ STUD >>>

Tickets are still available to see American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and Golden Globe-nominated film score composer Terence Blanchard Friday, April 16 inside the Schneebeck Concert Hall on the University of Puget Sound campus. Tickets are $15, and can be charged by phone at 253.879.3419.

THE WORD ON CHLOE AND FISH TANK >>>

Opening at The Grand Cinema on Friday will be the films Chloe and Fish Tank. Roger Ebert has the scoop on both films:

Chloe: A woman doctor (Julianne Moore) suspects her husband (Liam Neeson) of cheating, and hires a young call girl (Amanda Seyfried) to test how he might respond. She is fascinated by the girl's reports. Her jealousy shifts into curiosity. And the call girl? What's in this for her? Egoyan weaves a deceptive erotic web. Read full review here. Rated R, three and a half out of four stars

Fish Tank: The harrowing portrait of a 15-year-old girl on a reckless path toward self-destruction. Her mother, only about 30, is a drunken slut, and the girl seems on the same path. Covers a few days of fraught experiences with sex and anger. Superbly acted by newcomer Katie Jarvis. Winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes 2009. Read full review here. Directed by Andrea Arnold. Not rated, four out of four stars

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Every summer, Vans Warped Tour organizers enlist about 60 popular bands that would normally play the club circuit and assign them to consecutive, half-hour long, afternoon sets in front of a dirty, thirsty, sunburned audience who number in the thousands. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Now in its 16^th year, the 43-date 2010 Vans Warped Tour commences June 25 in Carson, Calif. and finishes Aug. 15 in Hillsboro, Ore. Before it packs up the shoes, the tour will hit the Gorge Amphitheatre Aug. 14. The artists include Andrew W.K., The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Pretty Reckless, Pierce the Veil and Death Punch as well as recent Tacoma visitors Agent Orange and FunkyJahPunkys. 

Tickets are $35.45 in advance and $40 day of show and go on sale Friday, April 9 at 4 p.m. at LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone 1.800.745.3000.

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Country duo Brooks & Dunn will bring their last tour ever (good one) - The Last Rodeo - to the Tacoma May 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $49.75 and $65.75 and go on sale Saturday, April 10 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone 800.745.3000.