MONDAY, SEPT. 29 2014 >>>

1. Once upon a time, before the advent of iPhones and Google Glass, people sat with rapt attention and listened as storytellers wove magical word-tapestries. Thanks to the Creative Colloquy, this fairy tale doesn't have to end. Storyteller connoisseur Jackie Fender has gathered more local storytellers for a night of tales and beverages at the B Sharp. Melissa Thayer, Jack Cameron, Tiffany Aldrich MacBain, Michael Haeflinger and Erik Hanberg - who was named Best Tacoman in the 2014 Weekly Volcano Best of Tacoma issue - will read from their latest works, then step aside as an open mic busts out beginning at 7 p.m. in the B Sharp Coffee House. You will delight in this night chock-full of good, old-fashioned entertainment ... and then they'll live happily ever after. The end.

2. Karen Hanan, the executive director of Arts WA, share the achievements Washington state had had in the arts and culture community in since the Centennial, beginning at noon in the State Capital Museum in Olympia.

They both are owned by Carole Ford and Pat Nagle. They both are operating breweries. And they both are hosting a week's worth of Oktoberfest events beginning today. But between the downtown Harmon Brewery & Eatery and the Stadium District Harmon Tap Room, which can truly claim Tacoma Oktoberfest star status? Click here and decide.

4. Every Monday night beginning at 9 p.m., Jazzbones hosts Rockaraoke - a chance to sing onstage with a live band - plus a plethora of cheap Miller High Life. It's valid excuse to drink on a Monday (!) night.

5. Astral, visceral, ethereal - all of these "al" words describe Los Angeles indie rock band Nacosta. Synthy, dancey and poppy describe them, too. Releasing their first album this past spring, Under the Half Moon is full of harmonic tendencies, resulting in dreamy songs, backed by solid instrumental work. The song "Aberlina," for instance, is lyrically, and musically, a love story laced with creepiness, as good love stories should be. Do I hear a Beatles and other '60s psychedelic influence? And perhaps some Radiohead and other '90s pop influence as well? On a successful tour, including SXSW, these hotcakes will hit Le Voyeur at 10 p.m. before heading home and busting out another album. Catch them while you can, with openers The Celestials and Woolen Warrior.

LINK: Monday, Sept. 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 2014 >>>

1. Psychomagic's recent self-titled album begins with flutes and a tremulous vocals from Fusco, before breaking off into a kaleidoscopic array of '60 sounds, all blended up and spat out in a colorful cornucopia. In performance, Psychomagic never takes itself so seriously. Everything is filtered through the glassy-eyed gaze of a person who has no need to dig trenches in their brains, but would rather take a moment to notice how fine it feels to be bombarded with the serene vibrations of psychedelic rock. Face-melting can be found elsewhere; Psychomagic is a brain massage. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Psychomagic in the Music and Culture section., then catch the band with Santoros, MILK and Bath Party at 8 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

2. Did you know that Metro Parks Tacoma hosts a Fall Garden Festival? It's true, and this year's fest, set in picturesque Point Defiance Park, packs educational and resourceful activities, such as how to keep bees, the best ways to grow fruit, "Chickens 101," creative ways to grow your own foods and flowers, and many more, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Little ones can grab a dose of eco-friendly gardening. Gardening superstar Ed Hume will make an appearance at 10 a.m. In "65 years of Gardening" Hume will recount his favorite gardening tips. Bus tours of Tacoma's community gardens and the heritage garden at Fort Nisqually will be led by Harvest Pierce County. Five tours are planned to depart from the Point Defiance Pagoda.

3. Like beer? Jump in and enjoy the Aroma of Tacoma Pro-Am Pub Crawl along Sixth Avenue. For $35 attendees can present a punch card at participating stops and redeem a 10-ounce pour of one of five beers from the 2014 Aroma of Tacoma Homebrew Championship that were selected by local brewers and brewed commercially. Attendees also receive a commemorative T-shirt. The crawl kicks off at noon at The Red Hot then heads out to Engine House No. 9, O'Malleys, Dirty Oscar's Annex and the Crown Bar. Click here for full details and to purchase your ticket.

4. Fish Brewing Company's 16th Annual Oktoberfest will pack their downtown Olympia brewery from 4-10 p.m. There you'll find all the things you've come to expect from a Fish Oktoberfest: down home, ole' fashion, ass kickin' southern-roots band The Slow Rollers and high energy funk, soul and sexy The Brown Edition. Live German oom-pah bands would only squash the groove. These two bands will pump out tunes to incite beer guzzling, various delicious wursts (there is no such thing as too much wurst), a sneak peek at the Hobbit beer series and an obscene amount of Leavenworth Biers Oktoberfest. 

5. The Bad Things are born out of cabaret and drink. A motley crew, made up of urchins and drunkards, The Bad Things bring theatricality and tongue-in-cheek fatalism to a variety of genres. Taking cues from the likes of Tom Waits and the Pogues, the band piles accordions, mandolins, singing saws, upright bass and all manner of sqeezeboxes onto their stage, inciting polka riots and rowdy singalongs in their audiences.Catch them with Victoria Renee and Middlewav at 8 p.m. in Bob's Java Jive.

LINK: Saturday, Sept. 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Red Williamson and Newspin Photography changed the hip-hop game in Olympia by opening up shop for local hip-hop artists to step their YouTube game up. For the past couple of years, the accomplished photographs - and Sasquatch Music Festival documentarian - has been making quality music videos for the Olympia hip-hop scene. Therefore, it was a logical choice to have Williamson document K Record's Northwest hip-hop collection release, All Your Friend's Friends.

The Olympia record label allowed 30 hip-hop artists to rummage through its 30-year catalog of hip-hop tunes to turn beats into new classics. Those performing on the album include XPerience, Free Whiskey, AKA, Smoke, the Chicharones, XPerience, Heddie Leone, Ang P, MG! The Visionary, Bishop, Puget and many others.

Williamson's trailer for his documentary and the first track off of the album dropped yesterday. Three words from participating musicians - including Macklemore and Calvin Johnson who aren't on the compilation, and Weekly Volcano scribes Paul Schrag, Owen Taylor and Jose Gutierrez, all playing a part in the rise of South Sound hip-hip - hype the release of the documentary, which will drop in a few weeks.

All Your Friend's Friends drops Nov. 11 in both physical and digital formats.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25 2014 >>>

1. Superheroes are coming to Kent's ShoWare Center tonight. These "superheroes" don't actually fight crime. Instead, they battle against a more insidious threat to mankind: fickle, short-attention-span audiences. As part of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents Super Circus Heroes, these courageous do-gooders perform super-human feats of athleticism for your amusement. The storyline, such as it is, involves "Mr. Boredom" (award-winning clown Davis Vassallo of Italy, making his American debut), searching for his own superpower while witnessing such acts as The Cuban Comets (springboard artistes), sexy acrobats The Lightning Rods (the jokes write themselves with that name) and the Shaolin Warriors - who, among other feats, swing sticks, chains, swords and their bodies at one another in what looks like an effort to figure out which one of them is more macho.

2. The largest of 12 lakes in Lakewood's Lakes District, American Lake was once envisioned by Tacoma developers as an ideal resort location. But their grandiose dreams came to a crashing halt with the Panic of 1893. Author Nancy Covert has added another book focusing on the area, American Lake Vignettes, exploring the little-known history of American Lake, weaving together stories from lifelong residents. Join Covert for a vivid look back at life on American Lake at the Steilacoom Historical Museum, beginning at 7 p.m.

3. Like many a young independent filmmaker trying to get a foot in the door, Eric Ayotte felt disenfranchised. It's not an easy life, he learned, and you just have to make your own way through the muck. In 2002, he took his future into his own hands and started the ragtag gypsy Gadabout Traveling Film Festival. The microfest seeks not only to expose audiences to quality short films by unknowns, but also comes with live music by Ayotte. His sincere songs bring a political message as well as an emotional truth. This tour will be supporting his fourth full length record, Transparency, a full band album that explores the concept of honesty, and wanting more open communication from his community, government, friends, religions and himself. See it all at 8 p.m. in Northern.

4. Katchafire are an all-Maori reggae band from Hamilton, New Zealand. With three of the original band members coming from the same family, guitarist Grenville Bell and his sons Logan (vocal) and Jordan (drums/vocals), connections are a driving force behind the band. As the group's name suggests, Katchafire was inspired by Bob Marley, whose fifth album was titled "Catch a Fire." Katcha the band at 8 p.m. in Jazzbones.

5. Astral, visceral, ethereal - all of these "al" words describe Los Angeles indie rock band Nacosta. Synthy, dancey and poppy describe them, too. Releasing their first album this past spring, Under the Half Moon is full of harmonic tendencies, resulting in dreamy songs, backed by solid instrumental work. The song "Aberlina," for instance, is lyrically, and musically, a love story laced with creepiness, as good love stories should be. Do I hear a Beatles and other '60s psychedelic influence? And perhaps some Radiohead and other '90s pop influence as well? On a successful tour, including SXSW, these hotcakes will hit The Swiss at 9 p.m. before heading home and busting out another album. Catch them while you can.

LINK: Thursday, Sept. 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Realizing the impact of Prisoner of War and Missing in Action soldiers may be a little difficult for those not directly affected. That is, until watching a family member fight back tears during a Vietnam and POW/MIA Recognition Day event held Friday in front of the Capitol building in Olympia.

"It's an honor. It was a hard time and difficult time for the nation, as well as those of us that were serving," said Vietnam veteran and Washington Military Department Chief State Finance officer Daniel Swisher. "It's a lot of pride of nation for us. These people have given so much of their own lives to make this country what it is, and to forget that or not to honor that is just a tragedy."

Swisher was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, and during Friday's ceremony he shared the impact of returning from Vietnam without a close friend with whom he had deployed as well as the sacrifices and risks of every deployed service member.

"It's important that we pass these stories on to our children, and they pass them on to their children, so we don't forget," Swisher said.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1986, and more than 80,000 service members from the U.S. are still considered to be "missing in action."

>>> Minute Man Riders conducted a joint motorcycle ride as part of the POW and MIA Recognition Event at the Capitol Plaza in Olympia.  The ride started outside of Camp Murray and ended at the Capitol in Olympia. Photo credit: Gary Lott

That's more than 80,000 family members and friends who were never able to thank their service members for their combat service or feel that euphoria of embrace when welcoming them back home into their arms.

"The 50th Vietnam Commemoration is to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war (POW), or listed as missing in action (MIA), for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans," said Brig. Gen. John Tuohy of the Washington National Guard during the ceremony.

>>> Col. Gregory Allen, the event's master of ceremonies, expresses his gratitude to the family members of POW and MIA servicemembers during a POW/MIA Recognition Event. Photo credit: Gary Lott

Events such as this highlight the special partnership between the Washington National Guard, the Washington Department of Veterans' Affairs and National Guard Association of Washington that take place throughout the year.

Brig. Gen. Wallace Turner, commander of the Washington National Guard and the 6,200 citizen-soldiers that serve the United States of America and the state of Washington, was also on hand to read the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

"In recognition of a chapter in our nation's history that must never be forgotten, let us renew our sacred commitment to those who answered our country's call in Vietnam and those who awaited their safe return," said Turner, reading from President Obama's Vietnam Commemoration. "While no words will ever be fully worthy of their service, nor any honor truly befitting their sacrifice, let us remember that it is never too late to pay tribute to the men and women who answered the call of duty with courage and valor."

Since Memorial Day 2012, the Federal Government has partnered with local governments, private organizations and communities across America to honor and show thanks to the generation of service members who embarked upon one of the most challenging missions in U.S. history.

Along with the Washington Military Department and National Guard, which conducted the Sept. 19 ceremony at the Winged Victory Memorial at the Capitol, the Washington National Guard Military Funeral Honors performed the Honor Guard ceremony; the National Guard Association of Washington (NGAW) provided the traditional wreath; and the 133rd Army National Guard Band performed the event's music.

"The Washington Military Department, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs and Washington National Guard do a great job of honoring all these vets," said Swisher. "No one's forgetting, and that's truly special in itself."

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23 2014 >>>

1. While riding in a motorcade with Texas Governor John Connally, President Kennedy was assassinated. Never regaining consciousness, the President died on an operating table at 1 p.m. The suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, was caught in a darkened movie theater in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, about a mile and a half from the assassination. Police officer J.D. Tippit was shot and killed near the same theater by Oswald. Connally, who was riding in a jump seat directly in front of the President, was shot in the chest. After a four-hour operation, he was reported in satisfactory condition. Johnson was sworn-in as President at 2:39 p.m. Central time. At 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, Dean Owen will talk about his new book, November 22, 1963: Reflections on the Life, Assassination, and Legacy of John F. Kennedy, a fascinating collection of interviews and thought-provoking commentary from notable men and women connected to that notorious Friday afternoon when President Kennedy was assassinated.

2. Pouise Archambault's sensitive film Gabrielle tells the story of the title character (Gabrielle Marion-Rivard), a young woman with Williams syndrome who is passing into adulthood, and all the trials and tribulations - living alone, taking care of yourself, finding love - that accompany that journey. Catch the film at 2 and 6:50 p.m. in The Grand Cinema.

3. Olympia's Westside is happening, but that's not news to those who live up on the hill. If you want proof, drop by the West Olympia Farmers Market from 4-7 p.m. In addition to an awesome selection of local vendors, this season features live music, raffles and special events. Drop by for fresh produce, baked goods, pastured poultry and meats, flowers, veggie starts and crafts.

4. Karen McGrath's Watermark Cards and Gifts has been in downtown Tacoma for 40 years. Located across the street from the downtown Post Office Building, the store sells home decor, gifts, calendar, humor items and women's accessories. However, it's the go-to for greeting cards. It blows Hallmark out of the water as the spot with the perfect card - from the sentimental to the risqué to the humorous. At 6 p.m. McGrath will wheel out cake and refreshment plus giveaway gifts as she celebrates her 40th anniversary.

5. Ron Bates has performed '40s tunes since the '80s. He knows Sinatra's songbook inside and out. Catch him at 6:30 p.m. for a Supper with Sinatra show at the Red Wind Casino.

LINK: Tuesday, Sept. 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, SEPT. 22 2014 >>>

1. Moses Walker has led quite a diverse life filled with hard work, travels and lots of music. His music has been described as a mixture of blues, folk, jazz and a many other influences such as Tom Waits, Leon Redbone and the list goes on and on. Catch Walker at 8 p.m. in The Swiss Restaurant and Pub.

2. In partnership with the Office of the Secretary of State, the Washington State Historical Society has created a Washington 125 program series that continues until the big celebration Nov. 11 at the State Capitol Building. As part of the series, women's historian Shanna Stevenson will explain what role women played in the development of our state's constitution and how it affected women's history at noon in the State Capital Museum. It probably will be brought up that a woman wasn't involved when Miles C. Moore, the last governor of Washington Territory, forgot to sign the constitution and President William Harrison could not approve it. A new copy was prepared and sent to the President by courier the next day.

3. In the 12 years since its debut, the Juried Art Exhibit at The Gallery at Tacoma Community College has not only grown in scope, but it's also become a favorite for South Sound art lovers. Nearly 40 artists - a who's who of the South Sound arts scene - have works in the 12th annual show, which opens at noon for a six-week run. Artists include: Bill Colby, Andrea L. Erickson, Ric Hall, Fumiko Kimura, Becky Knold, Ron Schmitt, LeeAnn Seaburg Perry, Sharon Styer, Jason Sobottka, William Turner, Sarah Waldo and others. Read Alec Clayton's review of the "12th Annual Juried Art Exhibit" in the Music & Culture section, then see the show from noon to 5 p.m.

4. Community policing involves local law enforcement agencies proactively interacting with the community - much like the policing of old, when officers "walked the beat." They knew everyone in their community and everyone knew them. Community policing can only be effective when communities, law enforcement, and elected officials work together. Join Rep. Denny Heck of the 10th Congressional District to discuss ideas to improve safety and protect communities from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Pierce College's Fort Steilacoom Campus Performance Lounge in the Cascade Building.

5. DC Sextet is comprised of some familiar Olympia Jazz faces: Don Cohen, Mark Stout, David McCrary - Trumpet, Daven Tillinghast, Craig Cootsona and Steve Bartlett. The band will be offering up jazz and blues vocals and instrumentals a la Buddy Guy, Fats Waller, Frank Sinatra and others at 8 p.m. in Rhythm and Rye in downtown Olympia.

LINK: Monday, Sept. 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 2014 >>>

1. The Weekly Volcano gears up for the annual Tacoma Maritime Festival like the Super Bowl. We just can't get enough of celebrating Commencement Bay, and the "Working Waterfront" as it's known. This year marks the 22nd annual Maritime Fest - and it might host the most fighting ever at the Dock Street Building, Foss Waterway Seaport and the land in between the tow buildings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Today's events include NOAA Tours, port tours, free guided tours of the Foss Waterway, LEGO exhibit, remote-controlled boats, crafts, games, Seaweed Sisters band at 12:30 p.m., Doug Mackey and Mr. Blackwatch at 2 p.m., Steve and Kristi Nebel at 3:30 p.m. and much more.

2. The rapid growth of Valhalla Coffee Company, which includes shipments overseas, forced A.J. Anderson to relocate his operation from his embedded situation at the former Mandolin Café to the small storefront on Sixth Avenue. Anderson thinks in terms of flavor profiles and uses adjectives such as "robust, rich, and acidic" to describe his coffee. He wants people to realize that coffee is not just a cup of black liquid but a complex and important commodity. In conjunction with its exhibition, "Ethnobotany: An Artists' Study of Planets," the W.W. Seymour Conservatory hosts Anderson for an aromatic and educational Valhalla Coffee tasting titled "Tacoma Loves Coffee" from 10-11 a.m.

4. Little Bill Engelhart is soul on wheels, thanks to his musicianship and polio. He grew up on Hilltop Tacoma and learned rock 'n' roll by playing rhythm and blues with the black musicians downtown, which was unusual for a young white kid at the time. He formed a band with some of his teenage friends and had a national hit when he was just 19 titled "I'm in Love with an Angel." He is a legendary Northwest blues musician and perhaps the Godfather of rock 'n' roll in Tacoma. He and his band, the Bluenotes, will perform at The Spar at 7 p.m.

4. The Lord Franzannian Royal Olympian Spectacular Vaudeville Show promises a "fast paced variety show" with "a little something for everyone." Will this mean jugglers? Probably. Contortionists? Perhaps. Rampant fun? Almost certainly. Proceeds benefit BigShowCity, a non-profit Performing Arts Organization that supports and helps finance burgeoning artists. They say laughter is good medicine. Here's a heaping spoonful of proof at 8 p.m. in The Midnight Sun Performance Space. 

5. Remember that time in high school when your parents went away? You know, plot line of every teenage movie ever made - except this time, you blew up the house. Standing in the ashes as your parents roll up, what do you do? Say it with us now -iiiiiimprovise. Take notes at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Comedy Club when male and female comedians battle with improve and sketch skills.

LINK: Sunday, Sept. 21 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 2014 >>>

1. The Zags are a prime example of the kind of devotees that worship at the feet of the perfect pop song. It's not surprising that the band, hailing fro Portland, has received so many comparisons to Squeeze, though they've only been around for a little over a year. In that time, they've released several singles, which have just been assembled into their debut EP, Small Bags. Every song is a triumph of economy, packing punch and beautiful harmonies into rarely more than 2-and-a-half minutes. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on The Zags in the Music and Culture section, then catch the band with Full Moon Radio and the Falsies at 10 p.m. at 4th Ave Tavern in Olympia.

2. There are numerous celebrations today involving beer. Narrows Brewing Co. head brewer Joe Walts celebrates the release of his Oktoberfest beer with a party on the deck. That's right Hans, live music, food vendors and a German Marzenbier-ish beer with Munich and Vienna malts from 6-11 p.m. There's no cover during Oktoberfest, Franz. Morso wine bar will pour seven beers from German brewery Ayinger, including its Oktoberfest, beginning at noon. Expect a brewplate special. Dick's Brewing Company hosts the 4th Annual Beer for a Cure, a fundraiser for the Lewis County Relay for Life event. Homebrewers will square off for a chance to have their beer brewed in the Dick's Brewing system. Also expect raffle prizes, food carts, live music and a silent auction from 2-8 p.m. Celebrate the Hub at Gig Harbor's first year anniversary all day at its digs next to the Tacoma Narrows Airport. Expect food and drink specials, a raffle for a Fly and Dine package and live music.

3. Wingman Brewers hosts Made In Tacoma, a Tacoma-based business veritable farmers market featuring 21 Cellars Winery, Bluebeard Coffee, Comeback Sports, Creative Colloquy, Dave's Meats, Ice Cream Social, Libertine Tacoma, Lifestyle Brewery Tours, Tacoma Tree Salvage and Wingman beers from 5-11 p.m.

4. The Moss Brothers Band is unmistakably Southern rock, but with a surprising funk twist. The songs feature whiskey-rattled vocals telling stories of betrayal and re-connections and phenomenal guitar solos break through, just to make sure you are still paying attention to what bad-asses these musicians are. Signed last year to Maurice The Fish Records, The Moss Brothers Band celebrates their second record release, Monarch Jubiliee, at Jazzbones with a 6 p.m. meet and greet and an 8 p.m. show.

5. Lumins Festivus, orchestrated by Adam Martin, should be a magical opportunity for the amateur and the professional photogs to grab incredible shots as it floats from Wright Park down and through Tacoma's Theater District Saturday night, beginning at 7 p.m. Thousands of people doing hundreds of things: illuminated dragons, illuminated butterflies, people on illuminated stilts, in illuminated make up, crazy illuminated hats, and women wearing red and white striped illuminated dresses and yellow illuminated wigs who stopped traffic - anything goes in this autumnal procession of lights in illuminated sea sculpture.

LINK: Saturday, Sept. 20 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 2014 >>>

1. Does it matter what Mike Wattdoes? The guy has so much cred that he could spend the rest of his career covering Hanoi Rocks! tunes in a crushed velour jumpsuit and the indie kids would still wet themselves. And for good reason - this is friggin - Mike Watt, dude. Founding member of The Minutemen. Founding member of fIREHOUSE. The guy who helped give a tongue to punk rock brings latest project il sogna del marinaio to the Capitol Theater. Watt joins fellow band members Stefano Pilia and Andrea Belfi for a night of rambunctious blend of punk-prog and avant garde jazz. Not progressive enough? Japanese instrumental quartet LITE opens with your standard prog rock injected with cinematic art rock compositions. Survival knife kicks the night off at 8 p.m.

2. Doyle's Public House will host guided whiskey tasting with Travis Zinkel from Heaven Hill Distilleries from 6-8 p.m. Learn what "Bottled-in-Bond" means as well as why some whiskies are called bourbon and others are not all while sipping on some wonderful examples. Space is limited to 16, so sign-up with the bartender to reserve your space

3. Blake Shelton's "Ten Times Crazier" tour will hit the Tacoma Dome at 7 p.m. with four hours of non-stop music by the headliner and openers Neal McCoy, Dan + Shay and The Band Perry. It's rumored that McCoy, a road-tested veteran who scored his initial hits in the early 1990s, will play three short sets as bridges between the other acts. Dan + Shay's countrified arena rock will continue to Tacoma's Steel Creek American Whiskey Co. after the concert. The Band Perry trio is rumored to have a flashy light show. Shelton, of course, is a mainstream celebrity now as a star of NBC's The Voice, so expect him to be chatty.

4. As a founding member of Barleywine Revue and a member of Rusty Cleavers, Forest Beutel has had his share of carrying the torch for old-fashioned folk and bluegrass in Tacoma. Armed with a banjo and a harmonica, Beutel is releasing his debut solo album, If You Label Me, You Negate Me. Even more so than his work in other bands, Beutel's solo work values the classicism of country and bluegrass form. His songwriting is ragged and humble, covering well-worn subjects and winking acknowledgments of the tropes of the genre (mentions of dusty trails, beer and good ol' boys are aplenty). Joining Beutel for his album release show at 8 p.m. in the B Sharp Coffee House will be Squirrel Butter, a duo that also explores the sounds of traditional bluegrass and jug band rave-ups.

5. Cody Foster Army, or C.F.A., will be re-leasing their first album, Smoking Gun, on 7-inch colored vinyl with additional art and download card tonight at The New Frontier Lounge. Otherwise known as the 7-11 album, the fast and heavy album will be the highlight of the 9 p.m. show featuring, of course, CF.A., Anticulture from Everett, Agonizer from Bellingham and Deathbed Confessions from Tacoma.

LINK: Friday, Sept. 19 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area