WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don’t know what to do tonight? Don’t worry, we have you covered.

Jonathan Richman will make us and many other audience members cry and swoon and feel like we’re falling in love with everything. Ice cream, mosquitoes, the Velvet Underground, the Abominable Snowman, not doing drugs â€" these things will become our bestest friends. Richman plays the Capitol Theater Backstage at 8 p.m.

Olympia thrash metal rockers Christian Mistress â€" a local favorite â€" will be joining Pierced Arrows for a free show to celebrate Tara’s birthday at 9 p.m. inside The Brotherhood Lounge. (If you know Tara, this means something to you.)

Like indie rock migrants, unshaven and unforgiving, the Pharmacy bumble about this country of ours prescribing messy amounts of psych-pop-punk like doctors slinging elixirs out of the back of a horse drawn cart to wide eye and hopeful pioneers. They play an all-ages show with Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk, and Sugar Beats at 7 p.m. inside The Den @ urbanXchange.

Portland’s World’s Greatest Ghosts’ music is frequently exuberant â€" driving explosions of color and magick (as they’d say). Passionate vocals are shouted past careening cymbals, power pop guitars and swirling synths. While the lyrical subject matter may occasionally bend towards things like death, the band has a tendency to take it to fantastical extremes. Catch them tonight with Blue Horns and the Nightgowns at 8 p.m. inside The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: More shows in the South Sound tonight

MICHAEL SWAN: TWO OF THE FINEST >>>

Weekly Volcano Publisher Pappi Swarner shared some disturbing news with us - sometime this weekend (most likely Sunday night), his autographed Cheryl Ladd poster was pilfered from his private office restroom. No one seems to have seen the large framed poster make an exit out of the front door, which has led to some speculation that someone actually unscrewed it from the wall above his jetted tub, removed the screen in the bathroom window and lowered the thing onto our back parking lot, kinda like a dumb-ass Thomas Crown Affair.

Pappi claims he's hitting both The Grand Cinema's Annual Movie Poster Sale and the Beautiful Angle 2009 Holiday Party Benefit Sale Saturday in case the master poster thief tries to sell it.

[The Grand Cinema, Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to noon, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

[King's Books, Beautiful Angle poster sale, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

SUZY STUMP: FOR THOSE ABOUT TO REVEL, WE SALUTE YOU >>>

What do you get when you cross an opera with a circus?  Puget Sound Revels' colorful, zany staged production and a great way for all ages to celebrate Christmas past and present. 

The Christmas Revels - 60 to 90 adults and children strong - will explore, um, you figure it out (from their Web site):

"This year's Christmas Revels in Tacoma plays with the enduring character of the fool. Culture to culture, community to community into the distant past, the Fool has played a part in people's understanding of the deep nature of things. This year three traveling fools from "the mysterious east" arrive in a European village - late medieval/early Renaissance. The mysterious strangers bring with them music, foolery and fable. Cosmic excitement ensues as they become unlikely guardians of the Sun, Moon and Stars. Their Moorish and Sephardic songs and stories reflect the rich cultural influences of the Ottoman Empire in the early years of Europe's blossoming Renaissance."

It sells out quick. Call now. Operators are standing by.

[Rialto Theater, Saturday, Dec. 12 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 13 1 and 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 15 and Wednesday, Dec. 16 7:30 p.m., $11-$26.50, 310 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253.591.5894]

SUZY STUMP: INTERVIEW WITH AN INTERN >>>

“Basically, her music is so powerful it will get you pregnant.”

That’s how Andrew Reeder describes the music of San Diego musician Gayle Skidmore, who performs tonight at the Mandolin Café and tomorrow at KJ’s Garage in Olympia.

Who the hell is Andrew Reeder?

He’s a 24-year-old intern at Skidmore’s record label, Raincoat Records.

Reeder’s promotional e-mail morphed into a Q&A with the intern. Enjoy.

ANDREW REEDER: Hello, I have a show for your calendar... Tue Nov 24, Gayle Skidmore (indie/folk, multi instrumentalist) @ KJ's Garage, Olympia. 7pm, all ages. Thank you and take care.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Thanks Andrew. Is Gayle a solo artist? Are you her agent?

REEDER: She is a solo artist and yes I am her agent. I run a high profile agency here in San Diego. I am basically a big deal you know whatever no big deal. LOL. No I am just joking. I am actually her intern. She started a label a couple years ago and I am helping her out with promotions right now. But she really needs to hire a promoter or an agent.

VOLCANO: How would you describe her music?

REEDER: I would have to say straightforward indie singer songwriter first. But of course she puts her own quirky twist on things by bringing different instruments into the mix. I really love her song "the muse" cause I like that classical plucking dramatic acoustic style, but if you like more folky stuff you’ll love "crazy". You can hear them at Reverb Nation.

VOLCANO: Is Gayle touring behind an album?

REEDER: Does touring behind the album mean touring after the album has already been released? I mean that makes the most sense but she just finished recording, literally a couple days before she left. She will at least have a few eps to sell on the road. She is doing that sell a band website to try to get enough money to release the full length properly.

VOLCANO: Does she have support on the tour?

REEDER: The artist that was scheduled (Travis Oberg) for the whole tour just backed out of the first week. So she might be playing by herself at the Mandolin and KJ’s Garage.
 
VOLCANO: What do you enjoy most about working at Gayle's label? Does she make you get coffee?

REEDER: You know to be honest she hasn’t asked me to get her coffee yet, but she was considering asking me to help pack her clothes. I said if I have to pack your clothes I'm going to have to ask for a raise. She thought that was funny.  That’s the thing a good intern needs to know how to set some boundaries. Even if they don’t exist but serve to just make yourself feel better. For example coffee â€" of course I wouldn't mind bringing her coffee; everyone should bring everyone coffee whenever they need it, it’s just a decent thing to do. Now I need to draw the line with cocaine. I would not bring that for her.

VOLCANO: Why must people see her shows up here?

REEDER: Oh my goodness where to start. The positive rewards of seeing a Gayle Skidmore show are infinite. Looking at the big picture, I would have to say you should see her show because you are a student of life, and you love music and you love people. She will channel the sonic energy of the earth to wash your mind and body with nurturing sound waves that will bring unity to your soul and connect you to your fellow brothers and sisters. It’s just simply physics really.

VOLCANO: Do you have a photo of you I can post with a preview?

REEDER: Here is a picture of Gayle. I swear every picture I have of myself I’m making some really weird face.

[Mandolin Café, Monday, Nov. 23, 7 p.m., no cover, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]
[KJ’s Garage, house concert, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m., Olympia]

WEEKLY VOLCANO: VERY COOL SHOW TOMORROW >>>

"This show rules because ... it's at The New Frontier - and cause Dark Party + Mux Mool + LOZEN + The New Frontier = Baddassness," claims Tacoma musician, artist and promoter Matt Eklund.

We're in.

SUZY STUMP: YULE BOUTIQUE THIS SATURDAY>>>

Even if you don't personally celebrate a single holiday in winter - even if you say Hanukkah schmanukah and bah humbug in the same breath as you tell the Kwanzaa candle lighters what they can do with their ujamaa - it's still cold and wet outside, and we know somewhere in your desiccated non-denominational soul there is a desire to share something with others in this dark season. Something merry. Perhaps even bright.

Yes, well, festivity doesn't get any more vague than the description for the Yule Boutique: "The Yule Boutique, sponsored by the PLU Women's Association, is a holiday bazaar featuring quality arts and crafts and a variety of food vendors." There's also a Nordic Sweater Exchange (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) that allows you to sell or exchange "gently-used" Nordic clothing. Those who have been before know it's a feakin' festivus of holidayness.

All are welcome Saturday, Nov. 21 at Pacific Lutheran University's Olson auditorium. Happy mid-November.

[Pacific Lutheran University Olson Auditorium, Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3, 10th Avenue South and 124th Street South, Parkland/Tacoma, 253.531. 7581]

RON SWARNER: THIS ISN'T BASKET WEAVING >>>

If you happen to be anywhere near the Fulcrum Gallery on Hilltop Tacoma, you might have sworn you saw tumble weeds. You did in fact see bent, formed, and dried willows - taken from riverbanks in Montana - but hidden behind the fantastic shapes was artist Kim Cheselka. The Los Angeles-based artist is setting up her installation, Instructions From the Natural World - willow constructions created without nails, glue or wire - opening Thursday, Nov. 19 at Fulcrum.

I caught up with Cheselka on the road during her journey to Tacoma.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: You construct shapes without fasteners. Can you talk a bit about why you took that route?

KIM CHESELKA: I found the willow, the willow found me.  I am a fairly minimal type of person, so when we travel to Montana I don't like to cart along a ton of art making material.  I had pretty much narrowed it down to water colors, pencil and paper, but then needing a more physical outlet in 2004 I began fiddling with willow branches while camping on the river.  There was no great decision not to use nails, glue, wire or some other type of "fastener."  It just became evident that the material, the way I wanted to use it could stabilize itself on its own - I liked that.   When you use another element to hold something together it pushes the material to (possibly) do something it was not meant to do. When the willow is freshly peeled it is pliable, it dries within hours (depending on the weather) allowing a framework to play off of.  

I enjoy the collaboration with the nature of the willow and the constraints it puts on the forms I make.  I am able to push the material only to the point of its own nature ... then it pushes back.

VOLCANO: Have your other four shows this year been some aspect of willow shaping?

CHESELKA: The show at Rhythmix Cultural Works, Convergent Roads, in Alameda, was the first major show of the willow pieces after making them since 2004.  After a full summer of gathering willow and making art I had an open studio showing of new willow pieces in Ennis, Montana. Figured it was time to show folks what I was up to with my hours besides fly fishing and building fires.

VOLCANO: What is it about Montana that draws you there?

CHESELKA: We first ventured to Montana when living in New York City. My husband, Mitch, and I wanted to learn to fly fish and a friend told us just to go out to Montana.  So we did.  It took us by surprise - sucked us both right in.  May be it was the two extremes.  I grew up in New Jersey across the bridge from New York City.  In the "city" everything is vertical including its energy, compact and pulsing. In Montana, it is the other extreme - horizontal and completely open - including the people.  For me it was a wonderful compliment. 

When I began working with willow I began seeing its reflection everywhere in the landscape environment.  While walking or floating the river - beaver dams, log jams were everywhere - seemed like all of nature was working with willow. It was inspiring.

Back in the city these days I have a hard time being away from these elements. It takes me awhile to find my paints and tools to build back in the urban studio.

VOLCANO: What do you hope audiences will gain from the Fulcrum show?

CHESELKA: When I first started doing installations in public spaces part of my desire was to get people to look at their environment in a different way, to question another way to use a material or common area - that jolt of "Hey what's going on here" that is still very important to me.  We, myself included of course, run through the day forgetting to adjust our minds to see and question.  If a person is in a gallery, they have already made the choice to participate in a different way, to stop and reset their mind so I see it as my responsibility to have them leave with a gift, a response. 

The simplicity of the willow material and the complexity of its configuration create a good rhythm. Whether you eventually see it in a ball of dental floss, find a tangle of wire, yarn, or blackberry bushes - an association will be made and a connection will occur.  What the individual does with that connection I cannot know.

VOLCANO: Did you deconstruct Slinkies when you were a kid?

CHESELKA: Who doesn't like those silvery puppies? Simple and elegant.

For those interested in following Cheselka's path of willow bending may chat with her during her reception at the Fulcrum Gallery from 6-9 p.m. during Third Thursday ArtWalk. The best word of advice she has would be to, "get there before the beavers eat all the best willow. They are connoisseurs of the stuff."

Instructions From the Natural World will show at Fulcrum through the end of the year.

[Fulcrum Gallery, Thursday, Nov. 19, 6-9 p.m., no cover, 1308 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.250.0520]

P.S. Fulcrum hosts a fundraiser for itself following the reception Thursday night featuring M.C. Alleon, Bobby Galaxy, Sax & Synth and DJ Broam until 2 a.m. Admission is $5.

RON SWARNER: PULL OUT YOUR CALENDAR >>>

Here are two events happening down the road at the Mandolin Café:

1. The Mandolin Café will host “Remembering Phil Wood, His Music, His Life,” a spoken word and musical tribute to the beloved Tacoma musician lost his life to cancer a year ago. The tribute will be held Sunday, Nov. 29 from 3-6 p.m., which would naturally flow into the Mandolin’s 6-9 p.m. Open Mic.
2. Steve Stefanowicz, the human jukebox, will perform Saturday, Dec. 5, from noon to 8 p.m. â€" at least eight hours â€" to help raise money for St. Leo’s Food Connection. Stefanowicz says he’ll go longer than eight hours if people keep bring in non-perishable food for the Food Connection.

REBEKAH CORCORAN: LOCAL VETERAN'S ARTWORK ON DISPLAY FOR VETERAN'S DAY >>>

Tacoma Art Place - the nonprofit art center located in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood - hosts the bronze and copper works of local veteran Charles Minton through the end of the month. His work is amazing. He first draws the artwork on transfer paper by hand and then hammers and crafts every detail into intricate designs.

As a veteran, Minton is well aware of the struggles and joys of military life. He gives back to the military community in several ways. One of the ways he does this is by honoring military members who are killed in action. He donates his time and his artwork to create individualized pieces for these heroes and provides them to Fort Lewis.

TAP will be honoring all veterans during Minton's reception on Veteran's Day from 5:30-7:30 p.m. TAP encourages veterans and their families to come to the reception as well as check out what TAP has to offer.

If you are a TAP member, you are invited to a special member's only viewing of Minton's work with Washington state's First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire at 1 p.m. on Veteran's Day. If you are not a member, you can join at the door.

[Tacoma Art Place, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 p.m. members only reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. public reception, 1116 11th St., Tacoma, 253.238.1006]

RON SWARNER: NUMBER 15 COMES WITH A BONUS >>>

Vicci Martinez just dropped us a line here at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters with a bit of exciting news. The Tacoma musician will provide the score for the next MLKBallet MOVE performance - no. 15 to be exact - on the books for Nov. 20 and 21 inside the SOTA Theater. Martinez composed the music for a new seven-piece dance.

The songs include "Breathe," "Chasing," and "I Love You in The Morning," which are on her super secret MySpace site. However, I think she gave us the wrong MySpace address.

Stay tuned for more details.

LINK: Something we wrote on Martinez a while back