I walked past Golden Oldies record store, past Farrelli's Pizza's outside fireplace window and into the warm glow of Metronome Coffee. It was around 9 p.m. on a Saturday night. It was packed. A smile cracked my face in anticipation of witnessing one of Tacoma School of the Arts' most exciting and hyped new bands, Bat Police. While the band was jamming, I stood stage side next to the band's frontman Levi Ratliff's girlfriend - and part time muse - Molly. Strange, she's wasn't dancing.  Typically a dancey person at SOTA shows, Molly was not in the dancing mood. "I think I have a fever," she claimed and left it at that.

Thankfully, Molly's unusual lack of dance and energy seemed to be the antithesis of the mood of the crowd that night. Bat Police encouraged a sort of energy and reaction that I had not been in the presence of since I saw the band Roswell in the dead of winter. Bat Police burned through their set list in little over an hour and left the crowd wanting more of the signature SOTA rock band sound that has been absent since the departure of both Roswell and Makeup Monsters.

Bat Police is a quartet, composed of singer songwriter and guitar player Levi Ratliff, bassist David Pierce, keyboardist Austin Milner and drummer Alex Williams. The group members met at SOTA and became fast friends, bonding over a shared love of Weezer and garage rock. The group's original lineup consisted of Ratliff, Pierce, Williams and Mitchell Babington under the name The Okays, which they thought sounded humble. Babington backed out of the band taking more of a managerial role. After a few failed attempts to find a replacement drummer, Williams became the permanent drummer. The Okays performed its first song, "Deep End," at a SOTA showcase, which was met with positive reactions. Ratliff remembers the show as being "pretty okay." Over the next year, the four friends worked to develop their sound, taking key influences from bands such as Weezer, Vampire Weekend, The Smith Westerns, Phoenix and Roswell. They also renamed themselves Bat Police.

In terms of both style and sound,

Bat Police's sound could be compared to Weezer circa 1994. Ratliff and his fellow band members appear awkward on stage, which lends the band a sort of nervous charm. Its focus on guitar-heavy indie rock makes the group easily identifiable, yet keeps its influences on its sleeves.

Over the summer of 2012, Bat Police continued to write and develop, culminating in its first show at The Den, which it played alongside prominent SOTA songwriter Evan Main. The success of the show inspired the band to perform again - this time at SOTA's summer camp showcase. Everyone left with Bat Police on the brain, clinging to one of the few surviving SOTA bands.

Aside from a recent show in the garage of The Trasholes' frontman Ian Call, Bat Police has taken time away from performing to write songs and improve its sound. With the addition of Austin Milner on keyboards, the band is currently at its best, proven at the post Valentine's Day show at Metronome.

Like all young bands, Bat Police seeks a label. In the meantime, catch the band Saturday, Feb. 23 at Anthem Coffee in downtown Tacoma.

I'm always amazed when a band can energize a crowd as the Bat Police did that Saturday night at Metronome. I don't witness such energy too often. Bat Police are in flight, and currently, it seems the sky is the limit.

WE SCENE IT >>>

Friday night, I bar hopped around Tacoma with my camera. It was a full-meal deal of live music and audiences wackiness.

The first course of the night was a family set at C.I. Shenanigans along the Ruston Way waterfront. Gina Belliveau and Cottonwood Cutups were in the Fireplace Room, performing before date couples, families and old dudes snapping their fingers to the down beat. A kid or two played games on cell phones as the music blasted the room. Belliveau packed a lot of power into a spritely frame while Cottonwood did ... well, what Cottonwood does ... brought the thunder. See more photos from the Shenanigans show in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

The next morsel came with The Front featuring RJ Medeiros playing at Rock the Dock Pub & Grill. The band brought out the power ballads for a mix of over 50 rockers and those who love them. The jam proved that age is just a number - some of those folks can cut a rug with the best of them. See more photos from the Rock the Dock show in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

My main entrée was a delicious set by the Kim Archer Band at Jazzbones. The band brought its signature soul and energy to the stage with a tight set of classic R&B covers. See more photos of the Jazzbones show in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

For dessert, I went for the weird. After the KAB show, the Jazzbones crowd was well lubricated for BZ Productions' Mardi Gras Costume Contest, complete with full-on bead craving hotties. With $100 for best Mardi Gras outfit on the line, and DJ Switch behind the deck, BZ asked the Jazzbones crowd to stay away from the trashy look. It got trashy. Fast. See more photos from the Mardi Gras Party in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot.

LINK: Weekly Volcano Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

BZ Productions knows how to throw a party, if the definition of party includes booze, fist pumping, short skirts and low necklines. BZ hosted a "Naughty or Nerd" contest Friday, Jan. 25 at Jazzbones in Tacoma. One hundred dollars was the prize money. Victor Menegaux was behind the turntables.

Suffice it to say, the audience cheered loudest for one naughty nerd because ... well, the beauty had blouse issues.

LINK: More photos from Naughty or Nerd night at Jazzbones

WE SCENE IT >>>

Remember back in the day when you were in your first apartment and spent a memorable Saturday night with your friends just blaring the record player and singing along to random selections from your album collection? Toss in a pitcher of PBR and extreme lighting and that is karaoke at Bob's Java Jive.

Sunday through Tuesday nights has Nikki Weatherhead on the mic. The spunky Tacoman never seems to lake energy or a smile even if the sign up sheet is less than full.

Monday, Jan. 7 brought Tacoma filmmaker and all around hipster G.W. Welsh to the mic to celebrate his birthday. It was a good time.

BOB'S JAVA JIVE, KARAOKE, 9 P.M., NO COVER, 2102 S. TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, 253.475.9843

LINK: More photos from Monday night karaoke at Bob's Java Jive

WE SCENE IT >>>

Doyle's Public House and its patrons have St. Patrick's Day on the brain ... constantly. In fact, Doyle's hosts a St. Patrick's Day practice party every 17th of the month. During the "St. Practice Day" party, patrons discuss what they will wear on St. Patrick's Day - such as obnoxious green eye shadow, glitter and thigh-high green and white striped stockings; who would a fight between the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly; and whether the guy in the green trash bag will show up again March 17. Above all, St. Practice Day monthly parties are a chance to gather with friends and drink a pint or three.

St. Practice Day parties are also a time to do business, specifically if you're a member of Doyle's 100 Pint Club. Doyle's co-owner Russ Heaton calls the meeting to order, typically with a Guinness in his hand, and rattles off member drinking achievements, such as hitting 250 and 500 Guinness pints consumed. With each name called, there's a toast and everyone advances further toward his or her Guinness drinking goals.

This month, St. Practice Day was stretched over two days. Today, Dec. 17, there will be the typically revelry including a 6:17 p.m. 100 Pint Club member toast, and a chance to win the Guinness Guitar for those who drink Guinness pints before 6 p.m. Last night, a special St. Practice Day was summoned to hand out drinking honors and dance to several bands, including Matt Coughlin and the Growlers. The big honors of the night went to Joe Shuckhart and John Howard, two 100 Pint Club members who reached 1,000 Guinness pints downed at Doyle's. It's equivalent to drinking 10 kegs for those trying to do the math. Shuckhart and John Howard receive Doyle's bar stools each with their names engraved on the back.

Tonight, at 6:17 p.m. two more members will receive stools for reaching the 1,000 pint level.

DOYLE'S PUBLIC HOUSE, MONDAY, DEC. 17, 6 P.M., 208 ST. HELENS AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.7468

WE SCENE IT >>>

I kissed a lot last night.

My wife, Kate, and I fell in love while listening to hours and hours of Jeff Buckley songs. In the '90s, Kate saw Buckley perform at the old Backstage venue in the Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. To this day, that Buckley show, which was on his birthday, remains her all-time favorite concert.

Back to the kissing - last night The New Frontier Lounge hosted a Jeff Buckley tribute show. Besides performing in their Jeff Buckley pop-up band Wait In The Fire, producers Najamonique Todd and Del Brown asked Alex Tapia of RowHouse, Kurt Lindsay of BODYBOX and Not From Brooklyn to perform songs from Buckley's small catalog of songs. Todd and Brown couldn't have picked better bands. All musicans performed with passion, as well as showed admiration for each other. The music was so glorious we practically made out.

Highlights included Tapia's "Lilac Wine," Lindsay's "Grace" and "Everybody Here Wants You" and Not From Brooklyn's "So Real," which I caught on video.

The night was Todd and Brown's second Sound Icons show. Can't wait for part three.

WE SCENE IT >>>

Saturday night Tacoma's Encore Boutique Nightclub celebrated two years of making customers feel like movie stars. The two-story club's dark leather seating, velvet ropes, plush bathrooms and upscale décor played host to yet another night of pressed suits and fashionable dresses - as well as shabby jeans - popping Grey Goose Bottles and admiring the degree of slope in some of the high heels.

When photographer Steve Dunkelberger wasn't following the hot Grey Goose Girls around the club, she snapped a few shots of the night.

Happy anniversary Encore!

LINK: More photos of the night in our Photo Hot Spot

TASTY! >>>

Simple beer math, courtesy of Tacoma Brewing Company: November is cold and alcohol makes you warm, so by way of booze logic, the TBC beer tapping Friday night was equivalent to the warmest snuggle-buddy in all the land!

Morgan Alexander tapped several of his brews in a tasting party environment at his St. Helens neighborhood cafe, Amocat Cafe.

If you're a fan of doppelbock, oak aged imperial stout, ginger ale, port and IPA, you might want to befriend Alexander.

Photographer Steve Dunkelberger snapped, and sipped, at the tasting party. Check out his work here.

WE SCENE IT >>>

DJ Broam's Future Bass night was where Tacoma gathered to hear innovative electronic beats - at least the first Saturday of the month. When its home — Tempest Lounge — closed this summer, the 4-year-old dance night searched for a new home.

For several months Broam has taken residency at The New Frontier Lounge, grabbing the first Saturday and renaming his experience "Midnight Snack," offering glitch hop, heavy electro dance, indie electroclash remixes and the whims of his guest DJs.

Saturday, I popped in on Broam and his guest DJs Bobby Galaxy, Mr. Melanin and DJ Habit. While the crowd has yet to grab the night, the DJs spun infectious, soulful beats backed by lush visuals and classic breakdancing videos.  

The Weekly Volcano will remind you when the next first Saturday rolls around. It's a worthy Snack.

IT'S HAPPENING TONIGHT >>>

It's Saturday, so that means DJs invade the Tempest lounge  - but hark! 'Tis not just any Saturday, my young lad, it is the first Saturday, which means DJ Broam and Bobby Galaxy drop their Future Bass on the swanky cool Hilltop Tacoma lounge. The bass will swoop down and kill you, especially with guest DJ Nick Francis - music director at KPLU/Jazz24 - and his Choppertone in the house. According to hype, expect "a night of Trick Controllers and Baller Beats."

So don't sit against the wall like a loser... or they'll feast on your rotting entrails as well. Enjoy that one!

[Tempest Lounge, Saturday, April 7, 9 p.m. sharp, 913 MLK Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904]

LINK: NPR story on Nick Francis and his Choppertone