YES, THIS OPEN MIC IS FOR YOU >>>

Beyond the Bridge Café on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue is the extended living room for musicians and musicians-in-the-making every Friday night during its all-ages open mic. People - ranging from members of the silver haired set to tweenies - read, surf the Net, chat or kick back with a beer or a mug of joe and listen to music strum and holler from the stage.

Open Mic

Fridays, 7-10 p.m., no cover
Beyond the Bridge Café, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.572.9199

Haley Robbins, Ryan Marth, Jared Kalinski, Heidi Hohn, Amie Larson, Peter Larson play Scrabble.

Aaron Sweet and Matt Jahns make up "Crush the Empire."

Mitch Vandenburg

More photos of the Friday open mic are in our Photo Hot Spot.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER >>>

A cold, rainy night calls for a freaking fun night of live music - or a car with heated seats. But because I don't know how to install heated seats, I give you photographs from a freaking fun night of live music at Bob's Java Jive. Before a fairly full venue, The Ram Rams, Murder Party, MC Mike Kopf and the Tacomen rocked it, playing musical members as they swapped out keyboards and drummers here and there.

I was most impressed with the way the Tacomen worked the Jive's entire stage.

For photos of the other bands, jump into our Photo Hot Spot.

WE SCENE IT >>>

Saturday night, The High Rollers filled Dawson's Bar and Grill at 56th and South Tacoma Way with tight chords, jam riffs and classic rock from the Doors, Santana, and the golden age of rock. The dance floor stayed full.

Check out more shots from the night in our Photo Hot Spot.

WE SCENE IT >>>

We draped photographer Steve Dunkelberger in beads and shoved him out the door to find a local Mardi Gras party. He ended up at the Peabody Waldorf Gallery's soiree. The crowd was light and subdued but grew as the evening progressed. A lull allowed Dunkelberger to jet over to The Mix to wish Johanna Gardner a happy birthday and catch the Mardi Gras action at the popular gay-friendly bar.

More of Dunkelberger's shots have been downloaded to our Photo Hot Spot.

RUM AND BLUES ARE ON TONIGHT >>>

Last week I dropped in on Stonegate Pizza's Tuesday Blues Jam. Blues fans can enjoy award-winning pizza, 10,000 different rums, and watch the area's best blues musicians riff, jam, experiment and practice outside their normal band or schedule. Guitarist Rafael Tranquilino keeps the jam on track in Stonegate's Rum Lounge, beginning around 8:30 p.m.

LINK: Check out the photos

STEILACOOM TAKEOVER >>>

After the Dockyard Derby Dames battled it out Saturday night at the Pierce College Health Ed. Center, the women's flat track roller derby league from Tacoma partied it up at the Steilacoom Pub and Grill.

LINK: More after party photos in our Photo Hot Spot

LINK: Dockyard Derby Dames schedule

WE SALUTE YOU >>>

As we recently proved The Mix hosts Bar Bingo every Monday beginning at 9 p.m. It's very popular, which might be due to the coinciding Micro Monday promotion where all microbrews are $3 a pop.

Tonight might be extra special as it's Military Appreciate Day at The Mix. The downtown Tacoma bar will knock 25 percent off all tabs for those with valid military I.D.

The Mix

635 St Helens Ave., Tacoma
253.383.4327

WE SCENE IT >>>

Editor's note: Harmon Tap Room no longer hosts the goldfish races.

Don't look now, but goldfish racing has hit the Harmon Tap Room every Tuesday night.

The rules are very simple: 1) pick your fish 2) name it something vulgar 3) grab a water spayer 4) dump your fish in the trough 5) spray your fish across the finish line and 6) win $50 cash.

Last Tuesday a mixed-age crowd of flounder fans raced, cheered and pounded Harmon brews.

Losers don't always have to be eaten. I learned that a bit too late. Sorry Sushi, you were a noble racer and a tasty treat to go along with the Vanilla Porter on tap.

Goldfish Races

8 p.m., every Tuesday
Harmon Tap Room
204 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma
253. 212.2725

LINK: More photos from the event

WE SCENE IT >>>

The Tacoma-based band Voxxy Vallejo played its last gig last night at Cheers West in University Place before taking a few months off to compose and record a new, as yet untitled CD. Expect the new songs to drop in late spring or summer. This will be the band's second album.

"You really don't know how long it is going to take when it comes down to producing," explained lead vocalist Sherrie Voxx Minter between sets at Cheers.

Minter, who many call the "Janis Joplin of Tacoma," performed a high-energy and spirited performance last night, owning every power ballad or classic rock tune she covered. Minter's musical partner, guitarist Gene Vallejo, rocked his six strings like they owed him money. Commanding the skins was the always-cool Markal Harris. Newcomers John Sommer on bass and Paul Coleman on drums rounded out the band. Their addition also prompted the band's hiatus to tap into their creative musical talents.

"We only thought it was fair to bring them in on our previous material," Vallejo said, noting that some of their songs they performed last night will be on the album, while others are still works in progress. "We have enough for two CDs."

LINK: More Voxxy photos in our Photo Hot Spot

A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND SHOTS >>>

Colin Sannes turned the big 40 Friday with an epic time at Puget Sound Pizza, where he normally hosts weekend karaoke and holds court as king of the mic. The kilted wonder received his share of free shots and well wishes. He also got more tackle hugs than a Seahawks wide receiver, one of which left a knot on his head when he took a digger in the parking lot. But that is a story for another time. Imagine, a birthday party for Colin and only one ambulance was called. That is moderation in Tacoma terms.

Colin also hosts the Tacoma Cult Movie Club 7 p.m. every second Sunday and third Monday at the Acme Grub Cage in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: More photos of Colin's party