FROM HIBERNIANS TO THE FUCKING EAGLES >>>

St. Patrick's Day and Tacoma go way, way back - all the way back to Tacoma's very earliest days when loggers, sailors and at least one bear (no really) roamed the city streets. The Tacoma Daily Ledger mentioned the old traditions of wearing jaunty green ribbons and shamrocks to show Irish heritage or citizenship as far back as the 1890s. As the years crawled on, St. Paddy's remained a to-do in T-town, but whether the to-do was confined to high mass or bars or spilled revelry into the streets depends on the year.

In the early 1900s, St. Patrick's Day most often included a catholic mass, but the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians - a fraternal organization made up of Irish descendants and immigrants - also had a major role in festivities. Papers throughout the 1910s and 20s mentioned the Hibernians annual play, often telling the story of intrepid Irish men and women overcoming difficulty. In 1921, the Tacoma Daily Ledger also highlighted the Hibernians raising money to help the starving population of Ireland. As anyone who watches Downton Abbey knows, the plight of the Irish was a big deal in the early 1900s.

By 1935, though, St. Patrick's Day seems to have become old hat. The Tacoma Daily Ledger on March 17, 1935, says, "In the olden days, there were services in the churches of commemoration, but the sons and daughters of Erin were also wont to make it a day of celebration. There were parades in which the green flag was proudly borne, there was the picnic where Irishmen and their descendants made merry, and then the festivities were prolonged well into the night. Like so many old-time customs, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day has quieted down - almost allowed to lapse."

And, in fact, other than church and school dances and other wee events, St. Patrick's Day seems to have taken a good long break.

Not until the 1960s did the holiday really get cookin' again. A Tacoma News Tribune in 1975 mentions Honan's (now Club Silverstone on St. Helen's Ave.) as St. Paddy's central. Starting in the '60s, Honan's discovered there was another Honan's in Ennis, Ireland. Each year after that discovery, Honan's Tacoma would call Honan's Ennis. The two pubs came to regard each other as sister saloons.

The 1980s brought a parade. In 1982, The Trib called the parade the first official St. Paddy's celebration in 50 years. The parade gathered in front of the Pantages, marched down Broadway, and ended at the Bicentennial Pavilion where the entire pavilion was made into a giant "pub" with music, singing and dancing. Sadly, the parade didn't do very well. Only about 300 people showed, largely due to nearby pubs. Honan's was offering two drinks for $5 and Ceccanti's Restaurant (38th and Pacific Ave.) charged $7.50 for unlimited food and drink. Who could say no to that?

Today, Tacoma doesn't see too many parades. Instead, Tacomans do as they always have done - gather in pubs and toss back mass quantities of beer and whiskey.

Doyle's Public House in the Stadium District, which is so serious about its St. Patrick's Day that it holds 11 practice sessions throughout the year, throwing a shindig on the 17th of every month. This year, because St. Paddy's is on a Sunday, Doyle's will stretch out it's St. Patrick's Day celebration over four days, March 14-17, erecting a 4,000-square-foot tent in the adjacent parking lot. Expect copious amounts of beer, and live music by the Bog Hoppers and punctuated by The Fucking Eagles and others.

"The best year was about three years ago," says Doyle's co-owner Russ Heaton. "Everybody seemed to be in good spirits even though the economy was in the grips of an abject free fall. It was the first year we had the Pierce County Firefighter bagpipers come through. When they started up around the corner, the entire place went dead silent quiet as soon as the first note was hit. To quiet down a crowd of this size was amazing. The bagpiper hit his note and literally - silence. The ability of the bagpipes to do that - and they do it still - but that first time it happened is still one of those times where I was like: Holy Cow!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEDDY HAGGARTY! >>>

Some bars lure customers in with specialty selections, great pizza or killer open jam sessions. Some places, such as Stonegate Pizza & Rum Bar, do all three. Mondays, blues/rock fusion guitarist Rafael Tranquilino leads a rockin' blues jam. Tuesdays, swampbilly blues band Junkyard Jane founding member guitarist, singer/songwriter, percussionist Leanne Trevalyan hosts an acoustic open mic. Thursdays, the other Junkyard Jane founding member Billy Stoops commands a blues open jam night, rocking his guitar and throwing out one-liners. Between the three nights, a who's who of local musical talent hops on and off Stonegate's stage.

Last Thursday, Billy Stoops' open jam night became Junkyard Jane's open jam night as several members of the band sat in with Stoops, playing Junkyard hits and covers.

Tonight, it's Trevalyan's turn to host the Junkyard Jane takeover. Stoops and crew are scheduled to join her on stage under a local birthday umbrella - Tacoma artist Teddy Haggarty's 60th birthday celebration.

It's the perfect storm: Haggarty's vast friend contingent will join Trevalyan's normal Tuesday crowd, adding to Stonegate's new marijuana smoking customer base. Stonegate's upstairs lounge has been converted into the Vape Club, where members pay a nominal fee to puff vapor pens loaded with their own, previously purchased cannabis-infused oil. Vape Club co-owner Green Light Expo encourages members to purchase their medical marijuana vaporizing oil from its business, which is located across the street from Stonegate.

As part of Haggarty's birthday celebration, DJ Ninja will spin in the Vape Club.

So, to recap, Stonegate will host Teddy Haggarty's 60th birthday celebration tonight featuring Junkyard Jane-ish performing downstairs and DJ Ninja spinning upstairs for Vape Club members and those who want to purchase a membership day-pass, or something, to watch card-carrying marijuana members puff away.

Exciting.

STONEGATE PIZZA, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 7 P.M. TO CLOSE, 5421 S. TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, 253.473.2255

ON THE STREETS OF OLYMPIA >>>

Whether it's Kai, the hatchet-wielding hitchhiker, or Billy, the homeless man who returned a valuable diamond ring, many folks on the street possess a certain charm that attracts people.

In honor of our annual Music Issue this Thursday, I loaded my pockets with coins and searched the streets of Olympia for musical entertainment. I passed an older woman strumming her guitar, I passed a man playing good rhythm on the congas, but it was Aaron Gates who finally caught my eye. His dirty blonde hair, slow smile and heartfelt music made him stand apart.

The 27-year-old from South Dakota and his dog, Bandito, post up on Fourth Avenue on a regular basis, turning out song after song, from covers to originals.

He tells me he likes to play Bill Withers and Otis Redding on a busy weekend night and that when he plays, "people generally go home happier."

Gates believes his music helps adjust the vibe to mellow on an otherwise potential-for-violence kind of night.

"When there's music - it disappears," he says.

Gates says a non-rainy Thursday evening can bring him around $20, and weekend nights can bring much more.

"I'm just trying to get by," he says.

Below is Gates performing his original song, "Free to My Soul."

TUESDAY, MARCH 5 2013 >>>

1. Well over a decade in the making, Holy Motors arrives at The Grand for a brief moment, today for a mere two showings. Much like director Leos Carax’s style of storytelling or rather his revealing, the film is minimal and profound. The chameleonic Denis Lavant stars as Monsieur Oscar, traveling from place to place in the back of a white stretch limo, donning some shockingly good prosthetic makeup as he moves from "appointment" to "appointment" - dropping in for brief scenes as different characters in various movies belonging to wildly disparate genres. Later on, there will be some discussion with an agent, as Oscar laments the shrinking of the cameras and digital diaspora. Nothing is like it used to be. It's rare to find a film so gripping as it whirls you through sudden twists and jarring imagery with such a void in established character development and dialog. This rarity, typically an honor bestowed upon Terry Gilliam or even that of the ever visually appealing Michael Gondry, is what elevates Carax's film Holy Motors into the alluring and all too unyielding nonsensical wonderment of the word - surreal. Catch it at 2 and 6:35 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. Read Lisa Fruichantie's full feature on Holy Motors in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

2. The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium will be offering free admission to anyone who shows up with picture ID or other proof of residency. That's awesome.

3. A nationally touring performance poet and teaching artist Lauren Zuniga is ranked among the top five female poets in the world. Her works include two poetry collections: The Nickel Tour, published in 2009, and The Smell of Good Mud, published in 2012. Tacoma Community College's Student Life department hosts Zuniga at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Union Building to discuss current events and other topics of interest.

5. Ricky J's Restaurant and Sports Lounge in Puyallup doesn't exactly sound like the name of a meat market haven. But in fact, Ricky J's has some of the most reasonably priced meat in town. Every Tuesday night Ricky J's offers a bar steak special for $4.95. That's a heaping pile of meat for under $5. Other specials include a buy one burger receive a second at half price at 8 p.m. poker. But what's that you say? What about the chicks? Jeez, here we mention cheap meat and you're still concerned about chicks. ...

5. Every Tuesday night at Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way Leanne Trevalyan hosts an acoustic open mic at 8 p.m. Tonight, many special guests join her as Tacoma artist Teddy Haggarty celebrates his 60th birthday.

LINK: Tuesday, March 5 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympi aarea

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Yesterday's comment of the day comes from Jaime Vanchura in response to Nikki McCoy's feature story on drummer Dylan Kuehl and his Michael Jackson tribute band.

Vanchura writes,

Um, Dylan Keuhl's watercolor alone is enough to make you sigh with appreciation, Love the band, and am so happy to support an artist who is like an all-around athlete--excelling in so many ways. I live on the other side of the country, but heard his motivational speeches are not to be missed. Basically, Dylan is an artist whose work cannot be ignored. Live the dream!

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, RUN BOYS RUN >>>

Bruce Molsky plays a mean fiddle. In one YouTube video, he sawed the hair right off his bow!

Speaking of shredding, he tears up a banjo and guitar with the same vigor. And when he throws his voice in the mix, the combination is a complete expression of old-time music.

Solo, or with other musicians, his music is simple, effective and at times haunting. A blurb on his record label website, Compass Records - where Molsky has six albums under his belt - reads, "Bruce Molsky has been exploring traditional music from an astonishingly broad range of cultures over the past two decades - synthesizing them and refracting them through his own evolving sensibilities to the point where the sources of his inspiration transform themselves into a sound that is uniquely his."

If It Ain't Here When I Get Back, his latest album, drops March 5. Enjoy this world-touring master of old-time Appalachian Sunday, March 10 at Traditions Cafe in Olympia. 

TRADITIONS CAFE, SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 7 P.M., $12-$18, 300 FIFTH AVE. SW, OLYMPIA, 360.705.2819

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013 >>>

1. Last year Broken Water released an album that pushed the band further into the limelight than any of the its previous, amazing releases. Most bands would relish that moment and memory as a triumph, however with the unfortunate timing of a looming line-up shift on the horizon noisy pop band Broken Water was unable to fully tour in the immediate aftermath of Tempest's critical success. With a new bass player, the band is back on the road, sharing a bill at 8 p.m. with Vancouver, B.C. loud, aggressive dissonant punk trio Nu Sensae inside the all-ages venue Northern.

2. For a month The Pierce College Puyallup Art Gallery the hosted the wildlife and tribal portrait art of Becci Crowe for its winter exhibition. Crowe's desire to study her subjects in their natural environment has led her across six continents and to more than 41 countries. Crowe's work is created with pen and ink, using a technique knows as pointillism. Images are created using thousands of points, applied one dot at a time, taking weeks to complete. Her subjects include wildlife and tribal cultures, including the Maasai and San Bushmen of Africa. Her art emphasizes conservation and preservation of wildlife and world cultures. Check it out from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. The jazz quintet Minilla Smiles returns to The Royal Lounge bringing a little Brazilian musical sunshine to Oly at 8 p.m. The band features Seattle based master drummer/percussionist Jeff "Bongo" Busch, Olympia's own John Croarkin on flutes, harmonica and sax, Phil Lawson on guitar, and first call jazz bassist Steve Luceno. Three-time Latin Grammy nominee pianist Jovino Santos Neto will be in the house, too.

4. The Mark Riley Band plays a free blues show at The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Alternating between folk and blues, Laura Meyer is a skinny white chick with soul to burn, and inside are tough-minded songs that simply don't seem like they could have come from her. Hear her at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur in Olympia.

LINK: Monday, March 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, MARCH 3 2012 >>>

1. The tragic, yet ultimately inspiring story of Rachel Corrie made its way from Olympia to around the world in a matter of days back in 2003 when The Evergreen State College student made her way to the Gaza Strip to protest the destruction of homes of Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli government. She was killed by an Israeli bulldozer when she stood between the heavy machinery and the house only to be crushed to death as the bulldozer went about its business. Her death sparked not only international attention and outrage but highlighted the struggle of the Palestinian people. Ten years later, it has been an extraordinary and challenging journey for the Rachel Corrie Foundation, for the Corrie family, and for those in our community and beyond who have worked tirelessly for justice and peace in Palestine/Israel, in the world, and here at home. In reflection, the Rachel Corrie Foundation hosts Remi Kanazi, Palestinian-American poet, writer, and human rights activist based in New York City for a spoken word event at 67 p.m. inside the Washington State Labor Council.

2. The Tacoma Buddhist Temple (1717 S. Fawcett, Tacoma) hosts its annual sukiyaki dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 3. You may enjoy a one-pot meal of thinly sliced beef, saifun noodles, tofu, green onions and other vegetables, all lightly sautéed in a flavorful broth - as well as teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef shish kabobs, mochi ice cream and cupcakes, rice and drinks - to raise money for the temple's programs and maintenance costs.

3. If you've been dreaming of crashing a party ever since the 2005 blockbuster Wedding Crashers, then here's your chance. The Lincoln High school Alumni is hosting a 100th Birthday Bash from 2-8 p.m. at The Swiss. So what if you went to Wilson. Nolan Garrett, Big Wheel Stunt Show and island Bound are performing. Maybe you'll have a beer with retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.

4. From New York, Grammy nominated Bill Sims Jr. and special guests Paul Green and the Mark Riley Trio will perform at 5 p.m. at a special Blues Vespers concert at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tacoma. All proceeds will go toward the 2014 IPC/Habitat for Humanity International Build in Guatemala. Get in on the Gumbo Fundraiser Dinner after the show.

5. Rich Wetzel's Groovin' Higher Jazz Orchestra has been popping up in local bars and restaurants, introducing folks to jazz of years gone by, as well as a few current numbers. Lately, the big band has put more emphasis on the jazz-rock fusion, some hot Latin jazz and some big band rock tunes from Chuck Berry and James Brown. That said, Maynard Ferguson hovers above the band like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Wetzel and crew perform at Stonegate Pizza at 5 p.m.

PLUS: 4th Annual Olympia Dance Festival and Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Sunday, March 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 2013 >>>

1. Reggae fans and bands are nearly everywhere - even in Hawaii. It's not hard to understand the music's appeal. In addition to its infectious grooves, reggae lyrics typically present a fantasy life to listeners, one in which positivity and love always win out and smoking large amounts of pot is a good thing. The latter reason seems to be the key to why audiences for reggae and jam rock have largely merged into one baked body. We don't know the baking habits of The Green, but we do know the Hawaiian reggae band takes the genre to a new level, incorporating R&B into its music, and adding energy to its shows. Catch the band with Stay Grounded and New Kingston at 7 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

2. Today marks the grand opening of STAR Center's Urban Adventure Course, which is an obstacle course that teaches kids age s6-12 physical and cognitive skills while being safe and inclusive. Throw your kid into the adventure from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and enjoy the extra grand opening events such as live entertainment, refreshments and watch kids run around like maniacs.

3. Today also marks the grand opening of the St Helens Ave Mercantile - the home of the Tea Works, The Blue Octopus Art Gallery, Wolf Bear Treasures and the OCD Candy Company at 753 St. Helens Ave in Tacoma's Triangle District. Now, under one roof, you may shop for organic and loose leaf teas, art, oracle readings, energy enhancing crystals, nostalgic candies, healing stones, steampunk accessories, aromatherapy incense and much more. Celebrate the grand opening from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and get in on the prizes, candy, art demonstrations and raffle.

4. The Oakhouse Restaurant & Bar hosts The Canadians Are Coming, a comedy show featuring Greg Kettner, Dennis Lintonqua and Ed Hill. Kettner has opened for Norm MacDonald and performs more than 300 shows a year. Hill tweeted this Feb. 22: "I just burned 500 calories in 30 minutes with a slice of pork chop and a microwave." The show begins at 8 p.m.

5. Guitarist and self-proclaimed man about town Vince Brown teams up with bassist Steve Luceno to celebrate a jazz duo that rolled like a winning pair of dice: bassist Ron Carter and guitarist Jim Hall. Brown and Luceno will channel the talented jazz legends, filling Swing Wine Bar's cozy space with the musical conversation between Hall and Carter, a fragile duet from 9-11 p.m.

PLUS: The South Sound Sustainability Expo in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, March 2 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THERE ISN'T REST ON SUNDAY >>>

Last weekend was crazy. There were three shows to choose from every night of the weekend. This weekend is a little bit mellower. I'm thankful. I could use the rest. There really is not that much to do concerning 253 hip-hop on Friday and Saturday. You will have to find yo kicks elsewhere. The fun actually starts on Sunday night.

If ya want to go out Sunday and have some fun, then hit the California Club at 56th and Portland Ave. in Tacoma. Starting this Sunday and then every first Sunday of every month after, Power Moves Ent and SlapBoy Ent will throw benefit shows. All the proceeds from these shows will toward buying school supplies and gift cards to clothing stores for young students. You can donate money at the door or actually bring school supplies and/or clothing store gift cards to the show.

This is an awesome idea. I congratulate P.M.E. & SlapBoy for making a true effort to help young people in the community. That's umoja!

If ya want to stay home Sunday but still experience some of the best Tacoma hip-hop, then tune into KEXP 90.3 FM - or stream it live at www.kexp.org - at 8 p.m. to listen to a live on-air performance from Bruce Leroy. Bruce is fresh off a dope performance at The Breaklites show in Seattle. His album is still getting props. I have spent many a car ride listening to track 1 "Leroy" on repeat - man that beat goes. Props to 1^st Born! All we need is a fresh video from Mr. Leroy and our lives would be complete.

Also on Sunday, as always, the Graffiti Garage Sunday Cyphers fires up at 1 p.m.

Peace family, see ya'll out there!

LINK: Josh Rizeberg's What's The Word? column featuring Starr