LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes presents pop folk rock night. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. All Night Yard Sale. Jesse Turcotte's birthday show featuring All Night Yard Sale his Gypsy/Latin/jazz/junk thang. 9:30 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Missionary Position, Deborah Page. 8:30 pm. $7.

• The idea of soul and rock becoming increasingly intermingled and on the mainstream radar, with bands like The Heavy and the Black Keys, is one that I've wrestled with over the past couple years. Of course, the issue of credibility and appropriation are always going to be present in the discussion, but to my ears the bigger issue is something much more intangible - a bristling that comes up my back, and I can't help but picture Blueshammer from Ghost World. Better than the large part of rock bands incorporating soul touchstones, The Missionary Position manage to emerge relatively unscathed from these comparisons. Their combination of alt-rock, post-grunge influences and '70s soul flourishes is tasteful and seemingly completely sincere, which helps a great deal in avoiding that bristling feeling. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Soccer Babes, Statue & Cowboy. 9 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Santee. 8 pm.

• After living and traveling in Europe for the past year or so, singer-songwriter Heater Loepp has finally made her return to Washington. As the frontwoman for indie folk-pop outfit Santee, she started turning heads with her intimate lyrics, endearingly scratchy vocals and the warm bed of instrumentation provided by the rest of the band, which now includes Joel Myers and Conor Sisk from the Speedwobbles, and Spencer Kelley from Basemint. Word is that Santee is in the Swoon Records studio working on their long-awaited debut LP. It'll be about time for a band that has garnered as much good will as Santee has. In the meantime, their return to Tacoma is bound to be a joyous homecoming, full of drunken group hugs and even drunker dancing. — Rev. AM
  

The Pig Bar at South Bay BBQ Olympia - Downtown. The Oly Mountain Boys. 8 pm.

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Bad Influence, Cowardice, No Choice, Malice. 7 pm.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Reggae night with Vibe Project, The Approach. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Crosswalk. 9 pm.

Tollefson Plaza Tacoma - Downtown. Electric Salchow Stage at Polar Plaza: SweetKiss Momma. The Weekly Volcano presents live music at the Franciscan Polar Plaza every Saturday. All Ages. 7-9 pm. NC for music.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Vince Brown, LaVon Hardison. All Ages. 8 pm.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Negative Inside. 9 pm.

Westgate Bar and Grill Tacoma - Northend. True Holland, China Davis. 9 pm. $5.

LINK: More live music Saturday, Jan. 5 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Cloudy, hi 44, lo 38

Saturday: Partly sunny with a shower, hi 43, lo 34

Sunday: Partly sunny, hi 40, lo 32

>>> FRIDAY, DEC. 28: BRIDLE SHOW

I read that it takes an average of two hours to create one inch of horsehair hitching, the art of twisting and knotting horse tail hairs in to intricate and detailed patterns and designs, often in the form of wearable art, horse bridles or decoration.

The process is so tedious and time consuming, that most of the folks still producing this fine art are found in prison, where, for many, there is no end to the hours in a day. While a handful of prisons have adopted the art, specifically, state prisoners in Deer Lodge, Mont. (MSP) have garnished praise for their craftsmanship and dedication to keeping the art alive.

This Friday, local artist Lisa Kinoshita presents Bridle Show at Fulcrum Gallery, where she will discuss her experience with the inmates of MSP and share the meticulous process of horsehair hitching which passed through more than a century of inmates. Prisoners are allowed to sell their art in the gift shop, often bringing in thousands of dollars while preserving the craft and providing a sense of self-worth.

"Hitching inside prison is a very special privilege, and inmates have to buy their own materials and do it in their limited free time, after their chores," explains Kinoshita. "The administrative staff says it helps calm the atmosphere, reduce tension and build inmates' self-confidence. I was very impressed by the fortitude of the artists I met."

Kinoshita has also done collaboration work with a few of the prisoners and has taken up the art of leather working as a parallel to the hitching.

"I had wanted to learn hitching, but eventually realized that - short of committing a serious crime in Montana - it would take too long for me to really learn the craft," she says. "So, I took up leather working instead - I'm a scant beginner - which also has centuries of history behind it, and is madly beautiful. The bridle in the show took 450 ft. of kangaroo leather to make, and I can't wait to start the next piece." - Nikki McCoy

• Fulcrum Gallery, 5 p.m., free, 1308 S. MLK Way, Tacoma
  

>>> FRIDAY, DEC. 28: IMMIGRANT PILGRIM

"Amocat is a great spot to see music because they have a room that's isolated from the rest of the venue that has great acoustics, tons of places to sit and it's right in front of a storefront window so people look in as performers are playing. They don't host a lot of music but when they do, they do it very well." This is the praise that Patrick Galactic gives the venue space where he and Chris Nunley will play Friday evening as Immigrant Pilgrim, where the two incorporate acoustic guitar with electro beats and atmosphere. "It's a lush sound, haunted almost," says Galactic. Adam Hendricks, a veteran singer-songwriter will be opening the show with his distinct brand of psychedelic folk-blues and handcrafted ales will be flowing all night. The show is free and all ages. - NM

• Amocat Cafe, 5:30 p.m., free, 625 St. Helen's Ave, Tacoma, 253.242.3370

>>> FRIDAY. DEC. 28-TUESDAY, JAN. 1: MODEL TRAIN FESTIVAL

There are some hobbies better kept to yourself. You know, the ones you do alone in your basement late at night. And then there are some truly cool hobbies, like model railroads. These should be celebrated and dragged out in the open for all to admire. This is why the Model Train Festival, downtown Tacoma's biggest model railroad exposition (taking into account, of course, the relatively small size of the subjects at hand because they are, of course, models), is being held through Jan. 1, instead of like, a half hour. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy every floor of the Washington State History Museum filled with operating modular layouts. — Weekly Volcano

• Washington State History Museum, through Jan. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.3500
  

>>> FRIDAY. DEC. 28-SUNDAY, DEC. 30: A CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL GUIDE

After 17 years of Stardust holiday schmaltz-fests, Harlequin director Linda Whitney outsourced her holiday revue-writing to James Hindman and Ray Roderick of Miracle or 2 Productions, authors of 2003's A Christmas Survival Guide. From a critical standpoint, it's a welcome change; especially since this anthology's aimed squarely at cynical adults weary of the hustle, bustle, and rabid commercialism of 21st-century holidays. It plays to the Whitneys' principal strengths: live pop music, technical design and intelligence (in no particular order). It also introduces diminutive spitfire Amy Shephard, newly returned from grad school at Exeter, to the Harlequin stage, where she joins revue regulars Antonía Darlene and Christian Doyle. — Christian Carvajal

Read Christian Carvajal's full review of A Christmas Survival Guide in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

• Harlequin Productions, through Dec. 30, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $25-$38, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.786.0151
  

>>> SATURDAY. DEC. 29: COMIC BOOKS SIGNING

Nerdy Stuffs is just that. It's store full of nerdy stuff, especially comic books. Join other nerds for Nerdy Stuff's first-ever comic book signing. Dang, I just wrote "nerd" four times. Make that five. Anyway, this Saturday, Tim Seeley - creator of Image Comics hit, Hack/Slash, as well as co-contributor of many others including GI Joe, Love Bunny and Mr. Hell - will be in-store for a signing and meet and greet. Also present will be Chuck Messinger, author of Stink, and local writer Marie Frances, who wrote the successful Night Hawk. Steve Frank, who wrote the horror cult comic, Zombies Vs. Cheerleaders and Nathan "Rock" Quarry, famed UFC and MMA Fighter and creator of Zombie Cage Fighter will also be there. A Q & A will be available for all the nerdy fans as well as special signed prints. - NM

• Nerdy Stuffs, 1-4 p.m., free admission, 115 176th St., Spanaway, 253.267.1850

>>> SATURDAY, DEC. 29: RETRO SKATE NIGHT

Go old school in Puyallup Saturday at another Retro Skate Night at Tiffany's Skate Inn. Retro is all the rage these days, from Atari to tube socks, and Retro Skate Nights at Tiffany's - featuring tunes from the '70s, '80s and '90s - are probably better than both of those things. Get funky from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. — WV

• Tiffany's Skate Inn, 7-10 p.m., $7, 113 N Meridian, Puyallup, 253.848.1153

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
My only plans this weekend are to read, hit the gym (to burn all those holiday carbs), and spend some gift card money. Thanks, Santa!

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I think I'm going to try and set a record for sleeping.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
A little reading, a lot of writing and a possible stop by the Pig Bar Saturday night to see the Illustrious Danny play. Oh, and a coin toss to see whether we should put my cat down because he keeps pissing on my bed, the crotchety old man orange tabby that he is.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday, Beanz & Rize will be guests on Screwed Loose Radio, a successful syndicated hip-hop show put-on by Diggs Bozon. The show is on NWCZradio.com & gojuiceradio.com. Just to make sure ya know, Beanz & Rize is my new hip-hop group with MC Coo Beanz. Our self-titled album is out now on bandcamp and we have three sweet videos on YouTube. Get-hip! Have a good weekend Family!

JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Nothing interesting here. Serving up breakfast goodies over the weekend, sleeping, reading and writing. Riveting I know.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Friday and Saturday, the husband, two year old and I will be DRIVING home from Denver. Hopefully the boy will do as well on his drive TO Denver as he does home. A highlight along the way will be to stop at a gas station outside of Twin Falls to pet the alpacas and buy more chips and snacks. Sunday we will go to church and then do N O T H I N G the rest of the day (well, other than watch football).

NIC LEONARD Music Writer
Unfortunately all I'm doing this weekend is working.

ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
This weekend a friend and I will be apartment hunting in downtown Tacoma. Hoping for hardwood floors and a great view! And I will of course be sniffing out some good live music in north end.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes presents pop folk rock night. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Ethan Tucker Band. 9:30 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. SweetKiss Momma and Folsom Prism. 8 pm. $6.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Innocent Bystander, Emily Randolph, Champagne Sunday, The Rallies. All Ages. 8 pm. $5.

O'Malley's Irish Pub Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Hot Roddin' Romeos, Hard Money Saints, The Repo Man. 9 pm. NC.

• The culture of rockabilly is such a peculiar one, to me. This is a group of people (kinda like those mod weirdos) who bond over a very specific aesthetic - this antiquated genre of music, which has grown over the years to morph slowly with punk, creating this style all its own. With song titles such as "Six Inch Heels and Dynamite" and "Kitten's a Tiger," you'd hardly need to listen to know that the perpetrators, Hot Roddin' Romeos, are pure rockabilly through and through. Their music is nothing but blistering, skittering rockabilly punk, complete with the requisite tattoos, stand-up bass, curled lips and generous amounts of pomade. Saturday, they'll be joined by fellow rockabilly devotees, Hard Money Saints, which should effectively turn O'Malley's into a case study in this very particular subculture. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Redroom Christmas Party, with Crooks To Kings, Cowardice, Sojourner, Earth Mother. All Ages. 7 pm.

Rocket Records Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. C.F.A. album and comic book release party. All Ages. 3 pm. NC.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tatoosh Christmas Bash. 8 pm.

Tollefson Plaza Tacoma - Downtown. Electric Salchow Stage at Polar Plaza: Monday Ukulele Ohana's Holiday Show. All Ages. 7-9 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Tingstad & Rumbel. All Ages. 8 pm. $12-$18.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Anus Disease, Future Disorder, Kill Closet, American Wrecking Co., Murder Your Gods, Infernal Legion. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

TUESDAY, DEC. 18 2012 >>>

1. There isn't a need to bring dessert to your favorite Tacoma City Councilmember today. During tonight's Tacoma City Council meeting, at 5 p.m., Dec. 18 will be declared Brown & Haley Roca Buttercrunch Day in celebration of the Tacoma company's 100 years in business. That's right, The Tacoma confectioner - home to the Roca family and the Mountain Bar - celebrates its centenary this year. Brown & Haley produces, solely in America, more than 2 million pieces of Roca buttercrunch each day and ships this "made in Tacoma" treat all over the world." 

2. Spanaway has some similarities with Texas. For one, Spanaway likes to go big - in the drive-thru line, and when it comes to holiday light displays. In its wattage-chowing 18th year, Fantasy Lights offers oohers and ahhers a night of blinking and glowing bliss from 5:30-9 p.m. The two and a quarter mile long parade of lit-up scenery has its own peculiar sense of majesty, and it goes without saying that it's the perfect treat for a family to soak up the holiday spirit.

3. Usually when you go to the casino you just lose money - but tonight could be different. Danny Vernon's Illusions of Elvis will be at the Red Wind Casino this evening. Travel out to Yelm and have a great time with the King's likeness, starting at 6:30 p.m.

4. The Fighting Ground by the award-winning author Avi has been banned in many school districts. The book chronicles a 24-hour period in the life of a 13-year-old boy during the Revolutionary War. Parents complain the book, which was written in 1984, included several profanities uttered by some soldiers. Avi has won the Newberry Medal, one of the most prestigious honors in children's literature. Tacoma's Banned Book Club will discuss the book at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

5. The Christmas Revels is a show, a Puget Sound tradition, a high-spirited, silly and serious, variety show that takes on Christmas in a way unique to other holiday performances.  The Revels combine folk traditions and a bit of historical appeal with choirs and community performances, dance and drama. It hits the Rialto Theater's stage at 7:30 p.m.

LINK: Tuesday, Dec. 18 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGH TIN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes presents pop folk rock night. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Twang Junkies. 9:30 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Mickey Avalon, Pinkbead Federation, The Chicharones, Sky Pilot. 6 pm. $19.95.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. The Deceptives, Simon The Leper, Vanguard, Kim Jong Illin'. 10 pm. NC.

The Lochs Tacoma - Downtown. 3 Inches Of Blood, Huntress, The Hookers. All Ages. 7 pm. $12-$15.

Louie G's Fife. Mr. Von's Slice of Hip-Hop 3. All ages. 8 pm. $5.

Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. New Blues Brothers. 9 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Lozen, Hot Victory, Argonaut, Mosquito Hawk. 8 pm.

Olympia Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Stonewall Youth's 9th Annual Winter Gayla. All Ages. 6 pm.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Still Got It. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Crosswalk. 9 pm.

Tollefson Plaza Tacoma - Downtown. Electric Salchow Stage at Polar Plaza: Igneous Rocks. All Ages. 7-9 pm. NC for music.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Baby Gramps. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Tyranny Theory, TUT, Devils Of Loudon. 9 pm.

LINK: Saturday, Dec. 1 live music in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes presents pop folk rock night. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Buckshot Brass Band. 9 pm.

Harmon Brewery and Eatery Tacoma - Downtown. 253Heart Music Festival, with Deborah Page, Two Cities, Rafael Tranquilino. 9 pm

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. 253Heart Music Festival, with A Leaf, Gene Vallejo, Blacstahl, Bodybox, The Variety Hour, Amelia Circle, Rikk Beatty Band, The Lush Tones, Joe Rosati, In The Between, Jeanlizabeth, Silas, The Trasholes, Kody Ryan. 6 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band. 9 pm. $10-$13.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. SweetKiss Momma, The Lush Tones. All Ages. 8 pm.

Red Wind Casino Yelm. Igneous Rocks. 8:30 pm. NC.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Champagne Sunday, with The Rallies. 8 pm.

Temple Theater Tacoma - Stadium District. One Love Island Fest featuring Fiji, Bonafide, Two Story Zori and Island Trybe. 7 pm. $30.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Jef Ramsey. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Benefit For Doug Skoog's Daughter, with Crazy Texas Gypsies. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music and DJs Saturday, Nov. 24 in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Barring any new Movember drunken people donning mustaches photos, the Weekly Volcano is going to use the holiday as an excuse to take a rare day off. So, please people, for our sake, dig out that ol' music box that plays "Born Free," open a new doughnut shop or start your own Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project.

And we totally want photos of your family's fight to the death over who has the damn Tupperware. The Weekly Volcano knows every year someone brings Tupperware to collect leftovers and every effing year it disappears.

We'll all see you back here tomorrow for 5 Things To Do, The Weekend Hustle and other glorious posts.

Remember: baste often.

LINK: Movies

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes presents pop folk rock night. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. St. Practice Day, with The Bog Hoppers. 9 pm.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. De La Warr, Cadillac Radio. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Hell's Belles (AC/DC tribute). 5 pm (all ages) and 9 pm (21+). $10-$15.

JR's Hideaway Belfair. Junkyard Jane. 9 pm.

Karma Indian Cuisine Puyallup - South Hill. Kim Archer. 7 pm.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. The John Sutherland Band, Old Junior, The New Old Growth. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Love & A .38, Above Ground, Mechanism, Riot In Rhythm. All Ages. 8 pm.

Main Garden Chinese Restaurant Puyallup. Fall Fest. 8:30 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. The Riffbrokers, Eric Olson, Kevin Brown and the Beloved Country. 8 pm.

• For about 13 years now, the Riffbrokers have quietly been making some of the most sophisticated Southern-rock-tinged power pop around. Led by Nick Millward's distinctive vocals - reminiscent of storytellers like Elvis Costello and Craig Finn - and lyrics that manage to balance hook-y immediacy and blue-collar poetry, the Riffbrokers are virtually unmatched in these parts for humble, dignified substance and timeless riffs. In concert, the Riffbrokers perform with the kind of unshakeable confidence that comes not only from a prolific recording career, but a birth and development in the punk and country scenes of Boise and Seattle. These are workman musicians who never find time to rest on their laurels. That the band's song, such as "Please Forgive the Worst in Me," is a musical and lyrical match against a song such as "Bland, Predictable" - recorded a decade earlier - speaks to the continuing strength of the so-called "unsmashable" Riffbrokers. — Rev. Adam McKinney

The Olympia Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Yogoman Burning Band with DJ Funk Fuzz and art projection by Orange Peel. All Ages. 9 pm. $8-$10.

Rock The Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. The Kari Ehli Band. 9 pm.

Six Olives Lounge and Restaurant Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Jazz Generators. 8 pm.

The Social Bar and Grill Tacoma - Downtown. Kitt Bender. All Ages. 6 pm.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Chasing Mona. 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Ghost 211. 9 pm.

Tahoma Tea and Co. Tacoma - Downtown. Jeremiah Akin. All Ages. 7 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Michael Tomlinson. All Ages. 8 pm. $10-$12.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Cancer Benefit For Don, with MPB Band, Lee Franklin Express. 9 pm.

PLUS: Live hip-hop tonight

LINK: Saturday, Nov. 17 live music and DJs in the South Sound

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Mostly cloudy, hi 50, lo 44

Saturday: Rain on and off, hi 51, lo 41

Sunday: Cloudy with a few showers, hi 49, lo 43

>>> THURSDAY, NOV. 15: AKA AND THE HEART HURTS GOOD

Thursday night AKA and the Heart Hurt Goods will play its first show at one of Olympia's favorite venues, the Eastside Club, where dreadlocks, mohawks and ponytails all bob and weave through the dance floor to some of the regions best bands. AKA and the Heart Hurt Goods join the club with their fresh style of performance hip-hop. With a new CD under their belt, (release party coming soon!) the group is riding high on a wave of energy, bringing messages of love, both light-hearted and deep-seeded. The band has good looking merchandise, too. "We're very excited about playing at the Eastside," says Mark Bowen, AKA. "There is a large constituent of people that only go to the Eastside because they love really good beers, so go there we must. It's one of the last remaining venues in town we haven't got to rock yet." - Nikki McCoy

• The Eastside Club Tavern, with Jeff Campbell Band and Elbow Coulee, Thursday, Nov 15, 9 p.m., $3, 410 4th Ave E, Olympia, 360.357.9985

>>> FRIDAY, NOV. 16: THE NEO-FUTURIST

The Neo-Futurist, an experimental theater company from Chicago, are returning to Tacoma to perform their signature show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, inside the Norton Clapp Theatre at the University of Puget Sound.The show includes 30 short, original plays performed by the ensemble in just 60 minutes. The audience throws a wrench in the whirlwind pace by picking the order of the 30 plays from "menus" prepared for them by the troupe. It's perfect theater for those with short attention spans whom also wish they were directors. — Weekly Volcano

• Norton Clapp Theatre, 10:30 p.m., price determined by the roll of a dice, 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, 253.879.3555
  

>>> FRIDAY, NOV. 16: TRIPOD SLIDE SHOW

The wilderness does strange things to people. Isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by pine trees and reclusive coots, the mind can begin to play tricks on folks, causing them to see shadows in the forest when they're out walking alone or hear voices in the breeze. Sometimes, you even have to cut your arm off with a pocketknife. Friday, three local photographers will show slides of their latest adventures in the wilderness. Nina Rook introduces GREEN! ... The Olympia Peninsula.  Dan Fear presents Mountain Climbing Vistas in Nepal and Peru photographed by Ron Fear (b 1944 - d 1973). Kathy Gore-Fuss shares Grand Canyon: Foot by Foot. Get there early. Seats go fast. — Ron Swarner

• Madera Furniture Company, 7-8:30 p.m., $5, 2210 Court A, Tacoma, 253.572.1218
  

>>> SATURDAY, NOV. 17: TACOMA CASH MOB

If you picked up last week's edition of the Weekly Volcano, then you know all about Katy Evans and her involvement with the greater good of Tacoma. Saturday, 1 p.m., catch her and other like-minded individuals (yourself included?) in action as they embark on a very special Tacoma Cash Mob. This holiday inspired event has its very first sponsor who will be handing out prizes to the first 80 adults that claim a ticket. Meeting spot is Rainier Room of the Landmark Convention Center. After a hug, everyone will venture to mystery spots to spend cash, help local businesses, knock out some holiday shopping and pick up their special gift. Evans writes, "And when I say special, I mean REALLY special - the motherload really, thanks to a very cool cash mob sponsor!" — NM

• Landmark Convention Center, Rainier Room (2nd Floor), Tacoma Cash Mob, Saturday, Nov 17, 1 p.m., 47 St Helens Ave., Tacoma, www.facebook.com/tacomacashmob

>>> SUNDAY, NOV. 18: FANTASY LIGHTS WALK

It gets cold out there, but it sure is fun and the crisp air sparks the holiday spirit in even the most curmudgeon among the walkers. A family tradition in the South Sound is walking through the Fantasy Lights displays at Spanaway Park. The 2.5 mile route is open to walkers for a preview. Beginning Nov. 22 you can drive the loop to see some 300 light displays that range from a skiing snowman to a tank firing snowballs to a pirate ship and jumping rain deer. Fantasy Lights, now in its 18th year, is the Northwest's largest drive-through holiday lights display. — WV

• Spanaway Park,5-7 p.m., $4, $12 family, 14824 S. C St., Spanaway, 253.841.8515

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'm seeing Avenue Q in Seattle and, should the literary gods so grant, finishing Michael Chabon's Telegraph Avenue.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Saturday, I'll be hitting up The New Frontier for one of my favorite local bands, the Riffbrokers. Time permitting, I'll also be spending some more time considering whether or not I should see The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Everyone's saying it's good, but they also said that about that dumb book, too. Fool me twice? We'll see.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I'm going to see A Christmas Survival Guide at Harlequin Productions in Olympia and maybe ... just maybe if we can get five very busy people together at the same time we're going to rehearse the staged reading from my new book, Return to Freedom.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
After recovering from a night of HUMP! I plan to take it easy tonight, although there a lot of fun shows. I will probably re-arrange my furniture, to be honest. Friday will be the usual happy hour shenanigans, with a walk down to McCoy's Tavern in Olympia for a bitchin Mosquito Hawk, Argonaut and All Hail The Yeti show. Saturday is always laundry. Sunday will be Thanksgiving prep. Re-reading this, I realize, damn, Friday night is where it's at. I wish I could stay there all weekend, as I don't care for laundry or cooking, and I do love me some good ole dirty rock 'n' roll.

JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Sadly my weekend is mostly uneventful. Ill be slinging breakfast and booze at Dirty Oscars. Then having an after work Manhattan if I'm so inclined.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend is chock full of theater! I will be reviewing Lakewood Playhouse's production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Sunday, I will be heading to Seattle for Wicked, which will make all of my friends happy since they will finally be allowed to talk about how great they thought it was when they saw it (weeks ago). I will be spending the rest of the time trying to get my adorable two year old to learn new party tricks in time for the upcoming holiday season.

TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
Music history has been full of individuals mining horror imagery for tying the macabre with rock n' roll. From Screaming Lord Sutch on one end, to perhaps more contemporary examples such as GWAR, "shock rock" is entertainment personified. Alice Cooper, who helped solidify the genre with the Alice Cooper Group performs his set of classics this Sunday (Nov. 18) at the Emerald Queen Casino. Take it as a somewhat rare opportunity to see Cooper perform in a venue that is not a small arena.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Friday night I'll be at Backstage in Tacoma to watch Alabama transplant Bama Da Prince. He's performing and local Johnni Boi will be hosting the night. Saturday at 1 p.m. I'll be teaching my Spoken-Word/Poetry class at D.A.S.H. My class is part of the Art of Hip-Hop project. A.O.H.H. is compused of hip-hop culture classes, rhyming, writing and recording. Saturday, my hip-hop group Beanz & Rize has a show in Centrailia. Sunday, I will be recovering.

JENNI BORAN Features Writer
I'll be tackling the Mustache Dache 5k at Magnuson Park in Seattle. I hear the event has a mechanical bull. Bonus!

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Photog About Town
I will be hitting the Truman Middle School Orchestra concert tonight to admire the violin section. Friday will bring Tacoma Brewing Tap Night in the Triangle District. I will be leading a photo safari class on low-light picture taking Saturday, space is still available. Sunday will likely mean hanging out with some guy named Alice Cooper at the Emerald Queen.

NIC LEONARD Music Writer
Friday night I will be attending the Portland Trailblazers game.  I'll be spending the rest of my weekend in Portland as well, at various bars.

ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-Ages Music Columnist
Hanging out at Bluebeard Coffee.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. James Coates. 7 pm.

The Conquering Lion Tacoma - South. High Ceiling, Dub Lounge International. 8 pm. $25.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Jay Barz, Motamouth Jones, Chris Crazie, John Crown, From Heros to Legends. All Ages. 5 pm. $5. Psycho Rehab, Sanction VIII, Demon Dogs, Pukesnake. 9:30 pm. $5.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Lawless Birthday Bash, with AKA featuring Nathalie, Hollywood Kill Krew, Pawz One, Double B. 9 pm. NC.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. VIII Days Clean. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. The Dukes Of Jazz. All Ages. 6 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Squirt, Resident Kings, DJ Kahuna. 9 pm.

• A very long time ago I was on the radio. I used to rig contests so folks in Tacoma would win - I felt I owed them something. Tacoma was the first place to embrace my early '90s rock outfit Squirt. We didn't make it big or anything, but Tacomans were the first to understand, and that was huge for nobodies. Squirt had many ties to Tacoma. Our guitar player Eric "The Swede" Olson was from Tacoma. Lem Durant, the guy that booked Prosito (before it was The Central and the first Hell's Kitchen) was the first person to ever approach us for a gig. Squirt's first release on a compact disc (mind you getting a CD made in '93 cost a deep left nut) was courtesy of 253 label Wrecking Ball. And the first "cool" band to embrace/befriend us was Girl Trouble. It was different. Tacomans were ... nice. We were an odd lot. Read guest writer Dick Rossetti's full story on his band Squirt in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com. – Dick Rossetti

The Olympia Ballroom Olympia. Polyrhythmics, Snarky Puppy. All Ages. 9 pm.

• Just in time to celebrate 4/20, Andyinoly Productions brings in another stellar show. This time at the Olympia Ballroom, and all-ages, Polyrythmics will be keeping heads happy with their funky, world-beat music. According to dictionary.com, polyrhythm is the simultaneous occurrence of sharply contrasting rhythms within a composition. According to me, (and thousands of fans,) Polyrythmics is the simultaneous occurrence of badassness. This eight-piece ensemble jams long and hard, with interesting twists and tweaks to keep the mind engaged and the body moving. From the band's webpage, "Polyrhythmics have quickly gained notoriety playing to packed clubs and festival crowds all over the Northwest. Their self-titled and now sold-out EP released in 2010 has been charting on radio playlists up and down the West Coast." Snarky Puppy will also play this funky 4/20 party. Featuring members of Snoop Dogg's and Erykah Badu's band, this band hits the same fusion, international vibe as Polyrythmics. So light one up, cruise to the Olympia Ballroom and let this incredible line-up do the rest. – Nikki Talotta
  

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jerry Miller Jam. 9 pm. NC.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Nick Deonigi. 7:30 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Emma's Revolution. All Ages. 8 pm. $12-$17.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Stony Balony, Vigilante Justice, Inebriator, Ranchero. 9 pm.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. VIII Days Clean. All Ages. 8 pm.

LINK: More live music in the South Sound