Weekly Volcano Blogs: Walkie Talkie Blog

Posts made in: 'Future Things Are Coming' (383) Currently Viewing: 41 - 50 of 383

August 26, 2013 at 10:08am

Tacoma's new label: Strapping Young Productions

Filmmaker Isaac Olsen (right) shoots stills at his post-production studio. Photo courtesy of Schnelluloid Film/Spaceworks Tacoma

Weekly Volcano's email inbox fills with all kinds of notifications - ad inquiries, press releases, overdue library notices, etc. Every so often an email arrives that immediately receives lunchroom refrigerator placement. A recent email from Isaac Olsen hit the frig - even landing above the heavily marked vacation calendar. Seems this Tacoma creative is teaming up with friends to start a new label: Strapping Young Productions.

Here's the scoop from Olsen:

"In a broad overview: My friends and I started a new organization called Strapping Young Productions in order to distribute work by local artists (in any discipline). Its primary purpose is not to be yet another branding exercise, but to promote work that we are involved in under one banner and use the capital to fund further projects, thus reducing out-of-pocket spending of the individual artist. I see this as a self-perpetuating venture and a vehicle to simply make a lot of things happen in a timely manner.

Our first priority is distributing and showcasing work that already exists in our immediate circle, such as my two feature films, Quiet Shoes and Ich Hunger, two singles from Red Hex, an EP by Trees and Timber, the music of Dick Rossetti and his current band Jilly Rizzo, and some electronic music by Sam Olsen. I also plan to use this new platform to promote the Girl Trouble documentary (which I hope to premiere at SIFF this coming May) with a gallery show featuring 30 years of Girl Trouble art, fanzines and photographs. The film is currently on schedule!

We also plan to put on live shows; the first of which will be a company launch of sorts hosted by The New Frontier on Saturday, Sept 21. This show will feature Trees and Timber, Red Hex, The Jilly Rizzo, Girl Trouble, and a showing of my German art film, Ich Hunger.

Strapping Young Productions has recently been approved for a spot in the next round of Spaceworks, and we hope to use this location to host art shows, small musical performances, and film screenings."

Wow. It's DIY spirit like this that make us love Tacoma.

July 17, 2013 at 9:39am

Downtown Olympia music picks during Capital Lakefair

The Hard Way will rock the Capital Lakefair Stage Thursday night.

Capital Lakefair pitches its tent today along Capitol Lake in Olympia, with all its debauchery, carnies, high school folks you'd rather not see, Demo Burgers, janky rides, over-priced games and the saving grace of it all - tons of music!

It was hard to decide what band to highlight this week because so many rad bands will perform. That said, I had to choose The Hard Way. First, they are playing the stage at Lakefair. (Awesome!) Second, The Hard Way are one of those bands that are a staple in Olympia - helping shape the music scene, always rocking no matter the weather, the mood or the crowd. They are true Oly talent - with Scott Taylor's nimble fingers and easy voice and the band's many influences that create a grungy, peaceful, angry, awesome, harmonic and psychedelic sound. See them live. It's like comfort food.

Read more...

July 16, 2013 at 10:22am

Food truck festival Moveable Feast to include "Made in Tacoma" section

A scene from Tacoma's Moveable Feast 2012 / photo by Pappi Swarner

Mark your calendars, the second annual Moveable Feast - Tacoma's largest food truck festival - is coming July 28 from noon to 5 p.m. to Cheney Stadium. With 38 food trucks, seven breweries, live music and kids activities, it is an event not to miss.

"We have great music, great beers, fun things for the kids to do, but the food trucks are definitely the showcase," says Alyson Jones, event organizer. "These trucks take pride in their ingredients and their creations and they are delicious. There is no other event like this in the South Sound."

Locals agree. Jones estimates 6,000 people attended last year, and projects around 8,000 attendees for this year's event.

New this year is a market-style "Made in Tacoma" section, with local companies that include Dry Soda, Lynnae's Pickles, Little Eorthe Farm, Great NW Popcorn Company, One Spot Jam and more. There will also be a kid zone and more access to Cheney Stadium's party decks for more seating and a chance to get into the ballpark.

The Moveable Feast is free, but if you want to be first in line at the trucks, you can get in an hour early and also get free parking and an event T-shirt with the purchase of VIP tickets, available for $10 online.

There are plenty of new trucks this year, including Box Nature Sushi, Caravan Crepes, Gibson's Frozen Yogurt truck, Tokyo Dog, Street Donuts and many more. Big-name favorites that attended last year, such as Where Ya at Matt and Maximus/Minimus will also be returning. Just reading the list of vendors will get you salivating.

THE MOVEABLE FEAST, noon to 5 p.m. July 28, Cheney Stadium, 2502 S. Tyler St., Tacoma, tacomafoodtruck.com

June 24, 2013 at 11:14am

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to play KeyArena Dec. 12

Premier hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will kick off their fall U.S. arena tour Oct. 22nd, playing some of the biggest venues of their career, including a Thursday, Dec. 12 date with Seattle's big house, KeyArena.

Fan pre-sale begin Tuesday, June 25 here. Ticketmaster has the $35-$72 tickets, and will offer them for sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, June 28.

Here's a couple excerpts from the press release:

The group has toured their electrifying live show worldwide for nearly a year with Rolling Stone saying "they have the makings of genuine superstars." In early fall the group will play sold out shows across Europe following massive ticket sales that saw two nights at the O2 Arena in Dublin sell out in 25 minutes-faster than any artist since Beyonce. The fall U.S. arena tour will be available for early pre-sale to save fans money on ticketing fees, before going on-sale to the general public on Friday, June 28th. Joining Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the road will be Brooklyn emcee Talib Kweli and Mississippi's own Big K.R.I.T.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, from Seattle, WA, are known for their expertly crafted music and innovative music videos and media. They broke new ground by independently releasing their debut full-length album, ‘The Heist,' which shot to the #1 slot on iTunes, debuted at #2 the Billboard charts and was certified Gold without the support of a traditional record label. Recently they made Billboard history as the only duo to send their first two singles to #1 on both the Hot 100 and Top 40 Radio charts with new single "Can't Hold Us" and breakout smash "Thrift Shop;" each has over 60 million and 350 million views on YouTube respectively. "Same Love", a song and video in support of marriage equality, galvanized young fans and voters, and is currently soaring at radio on multiple formats with certified Gold sales.

June 24, 2013 at 10:55am

Thursday's storytelling night will skip the gonads

It's best to leave the young kids home for this night of storytelling.

Upon the evening of Thursday, June 27, three local writers will take to the hallowed spaces of King's Books for a reading - an evening of good old fashioned storytelling in Tacoma's most awesome of bookstores. The three writers: Titus Burley, Melissa Thayer and Joshua Swainston seek to entertain you with their clever words, their wit, their art.

"Readings usually aren't the most exciting thing in the world," says Swainston. "I'm not juggling chain saws. What I can promise is entertaining literary work from a few members of the community who are foolish enough to stand up and have their work be judged in such a way. Both Titus and Melissa are very skilled readers and performers and will be putting on a great set. As for me, I'll read about drugs and crime, so if you're into that sort of thing, and are tired of watching it on FOX then you'll enjoy it."

Read more...

June 18, 2013 at 9:10am

Gibson's Frozen Yogurt to cruise Tacoma in a truck

A mock up of the Gibson's Frozen Yogurt Truck. Courtesy photo

If you thought Tacoma had no more room for another frozen yogurt option, there's a new way to get your fix. Gibson's Frozen Yogurt, with two locations in Stadium District and Westgate, is opening a mobile version of its shops, the Gibson's Frozen Yogurt Truck.

It will be the first self-serve frozen yogurt truck in Washington," said Judy Jones, business manager for Gibson's.  "We wanted a way to bring the fun to everyone, not just in a single neighborhood."

There will be three machines dispensing six different flavors, with toppings similar to the ones that are in the shops, including fruits, nuts, cereals, candies and more. It'll be pay by the ounce, and since it's self-serve, you can have as little or as much as you want.

Though it's still in the permitting process, look for Gibson's Frozen Yogurt Truck at the Tacoma Freedom Fair on the 4th of July and the Old Town Rhythm and Blues Festival the following weekend. After that, it will be found around town at various locations year-round. To track it down at any given time, check its Facebook and Twitter. It'll also be available for catering weddings and parties.

If you loved ice cream trucks as a kid - or, let's face it, still do run outside when you hear the music, this takes the experience to a whole new level of personalization and convenience.

June 10, 2013 at 12:07pm

Celebrating Tacoma's Golden Age of Television: Spud Goodman Show

Spud Goodman / photo courtesy of Facebook

WITH A SPATULA IN ONE HAND AND A HOT DOG IN THE OTHER >>>

Bruce Walkup was the booking agent for Tacoma's Prosito Restaurant in the mid-'80s. Considered the first commercial venue to host alternative bands, Prosito's music was turned off by the Liquor Board for graffiti and noise complaints; Prosito let Walkup go. The restaurant morphed into the Central Tavern, which housed many a grunge-era show, then the 6ht and Proctor Bar and Grill, and finally Hell's Kitchen (Gruv what?).

To fulfill his musical needs, Walkup changed his name to Spud Goodman and bought time on Tacoma's cable system for a parody/music show.  With a spatula in one hand and an open bottle of Pepto-Bismol in the other, Goodman interviewed guests and provided airtime for alternative bands in the area. It was the beginning of many cable access music shows to hit the local airwaves.

It was an awesome show.

It looks as if Spudman, his cast and crew will commemorate the show 3-7 p.m. Sunday, June 23 at The Red Hot on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. Click here to join the Facebook event.

June 10, 2013 at 9:31am

Bands announced for Tacoma's Brew Five Three beer festival

Little Bill and the Blues Notes anchor Tacoma's inaugural Brew Five Three event June 22.

Tacoma is chock-full of fun community events and festivals this summer. With the combination of local food vendors, blues bands and more than 35 Washington craft brewers, Brew Five Three is one not to miss. This inaugural event, put on by Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, takes place Saturday, June 22 from 1 to 10 p.m. on Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

"The inspiration for Brew Five Three came from our city," said Aaron Stevens, Broadway Center programming manager. "Tacoma has a long-standing and wonderful relationship with craft beer. Further inspiration came from our city's blues fans. We get asked all the time to bring more blues shows to Tacoma."     

Read more...

June 6, 2013 at 3:11pm

Tacoma Craft Beer Festival tickets on sale June 7

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Remember how excited you were when you learned the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival was moving to Cheney Stadium? TCBF co-organizer Bennett Thurmon has been so overwhelmed with joy he had to be forcibly removed from Cheney Stadium. Every day, for the last two months, he's hung out at the stadium, measuring fences, calculating sun angles and "becoming one with the stadium" he claimed.*

Anyway, here's more good Tacoma Craft Beer Festival news: Tickets for the Sept. 7 all-day beer festival go on sale Friday, June 7. Tomorrow, click here to journey to the TCBF website, click "Tickets available online" and you'll be whisked to Ticketmaster's fancy site, select the $30.50 ticket or $60.50 VIP ticket, then feel content knowing you'll be one of many hanging out on that glorious Saturday, tasting goods from 70 craft breweries and hugging the hell out of your friends, which happens every year.

*OK, Thurmon wasn't removed, but he has been living at Cheney and actually used a protractor to calculate the stadium's coaster capacity.

June 5, 2013 at 1:09pm

Squeak & Squawk, Tacoma's music festival, needs your help

Australian psych-rock band Pond thrilled the Squeak and Squawk crowd last year. Photo credit: Pappi Swarner

Adam McKinney, or "The Rev," is no stranger to the Tacoma music scene. A writer for this fine rag, McKinney is known for making a fabulous Faux Loco, for always looking dapper and for summing up his music mission as "wanting to introduce Tacoma to the country and the country to Tacoma."

Squeak & Squawk (SQSQ) - a 5-day indie music festival in Tacoma that has had a sporadic, yet successful run - rocked Tacoma in 2008, 2010 and 2012 - the year McKinney and fellow music lover Jena Stedler took it over. The pair had a small budget and big hearts, accomplishing one of the best SQSQ yet.

This year, the festival is set for Sept. 12-16, and the two want to kick it up a notch. McKinney and Stedler have started a Kickstarter campaign and hope to earn $7,500 to help offset costs of paying bands, promotional demands, staffing and more.

With 11 days left, the Kickstarter has only reached a small portion of its goal. I chatted with Rev. Adam about the sometimes-rocky process of putting together a kick-ass festival, and why you should help make it happen.

Read more...

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News and entertainment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s most awesome weekly newspapers - The Ranger, Northwest Airlifter and Weekly Volcano.

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