TRIPLE SHOT OF THE SURREAL >>>

Thursday, May 27

AMBI3NT N1GHT: Avant-garde musicians Ben Paris, Phil Harty, Lucas Webster and Nicholas Hartzell will mess with time, space and dimension via ethereal soundscapes and minimalist tones while Kris Crews' abstract video commands the wall space tonight at the Fulcrum Gallery.

"I plan to screen a mixed bag. Several of the featured artists are providing video to accompany their sets," explains Crews.

For example, Ben Paris will bring a multi-media collage of found video samples that Crews will mix between Paris' eccentric video clips with a live video mixer that allows Crews to tweak and distort the video in real time. He calls the Paris project Ethereal Weeping.

"For Lucas Webster And Nicolas Hartzell's sets, I will be doing more of the same, but mixing between clips that I have personally produced. Phil Harty has shot and self-produced a video to accompany his set. Harty calls his multi-media project Smile For The Sky, which will be his first live performance of the work."

Fulcrum's Ambi3nt N1ght provides an opportunity for Crews to get really abstract with visual effects.

"It is a kaleidoscopic eye-candy explosion within an expanding universe of sound," he adds. "I really do show kaleidoscopic video; that's not just a fun adjective. 7 p.m., all ages, $5, Fulcrum Gallery, 1308 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.250.0520

Friday, May 28

VINONLY: Tacoma DJ collective Vinly Tribe resides at the Tempest Lounge every Fourth Friday. This week they'll spin strictly vinyl concentrating on the ‘90s. 9:30 p.m., no cover, Tempest Lounge, 913 Martin Luther king Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904

Saturday, May 29

ARTIFAKT: The Artifakt folks are back at Jazzbones with another packed night of artwork and hip-hop. Logics, Fatal Lucciauno, State Of The Artist and DJs Hanibal and Reign provide the tunes. Artwork by Tyler Haney, Xavier Lopez, Jeremy Gregory and Julie Luke will don the walls. Luke will also be performing live art. 9 p.m., $5 before 10:30 p.m., $8 after, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169.

LINK: South Sound music calendar

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY AT THE TEMPEST >>>

In the grand, and unusual, tradition of skinny English boys bopping about in even skinnier ties to American soul and jazz music, local DJs Bobby Galaxy and dAb offer a night of are soul, funk, jazz and rare grooves under the tag Rare Groove.

Back in the day, Brits loved obscure American soul records almost as much as they loved mayonnaise and cucumber sandwiches. Galaxy and dAb celebrate this phenomenon by playing authentic, obscure soul, funk and jazz records. It's the kind of music that would have been heard at all-night parties in Manchester or Blackpool back in the day.

Bring your own skinny tie.

Rare Groove

Second Fridays, 9:30 p.m. to close, no cover
Tempest Lounge, 913 Martin Luther King Junior Way, Tacoma,
253.272.4904

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1022! >>>

Coming into its own, general manager Chris Langston and staff of Tacoma's 1022 South lounge celebrated its one-year anniversary along with a packed house last night. From 6 p.m. on it was standing room only; granted this is not a difficult feat given the lounge's actual physical dimensions. The difference is that those standing were content to do so if it meant possible seating later.

I wrote a little recap of the party in the Bars and Clubs section. I also posted some photos in the Photo Hot Spot.

Cheers

IT'S A GLOOMY DAY >>>

The appeal can be summed up in a sentence: What happens at Dress-A-Raoke stays at Dress-A-Raoke - although I'm talking more about embarrassingly heartfelt karaoke choices (oh, for a Gloom Chaser drink and the music to "Chevy Van!") than about any activities stretching into the realms of illicit, illegal or enjoyable. No matter how wild the night can be, this is still Tacoma, not Bangkok.

Let's skip past the "Chevy Van" subject and talk Gloom Chaser.

The drink doesn't chase it away; it brings it on - especially on an empty stomach.

The Tempest Lounge - hosts of Thursday night Dress-A-Raoke (karaoke with props and hosted by Colin) - serves the $10 Gloom Chaser. Served in a pint glass, this liquid of death contains Belvedere Intense Vodka (100 proof), Grand Marnier, PatronCitronge liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon juice, dash of grenadine, and topped with soda.

Lost in the music and artist Teddy Haggarty's Hollywood stories, I accidentally drank three of these.

Enough said.

TODAY - THE CHEAP WAY >>>

Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma presents another Tightwad Tuesday featuring $2 tacos (two), $2 beers (any beer) and $2 wells (swell!) beginning at 4 p.m.

The Flying Boots Café and Spur Room in the Lincoln District celebrates Tipsy Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with $2.75 wells and $2.75 Bud.

CALLING ALL CRUMB-CATCHERS! >>>

Move. Groove. Groom. Your mustache.

Masa restaurant hosts a Mustache Party Wednesday, March 3 featuring its resident DJs spinning the latest music video while you dance your mustache off.

Don't have a mustache?

You're in luck. Masa will give a free mustache for everyone that walks through its doors Wednesday night.

Drink specials include $4 Jäger shots (Jäger Girls will be in the house), $3.50 for 24-ounce Tacates and $4 "Mustacheo" shots.

There's no peach fuzz at this party (21+ only).

[Masa, Wednesday, March 3, 9:30 p.m., ladies free, cover for guys after 11 p.m., 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.254.0560]

FIRST FRIDAY SERIES >>>

Just as turntablism-the art of playing records-has made an instrument out of a medium, the movement's DJs have made the transition from enablers to performers. Friday's The Last Vestiges of Winter, organized by record-player manipulator/artist Oliver Doriss, seeks to put a little stress on that assumption by presenting three musical talents in an art gallery setting. Saxophonist Victor Prinsen begins the night with improvisational notes. At 10 p.m. DJ dAb presents a historical look at grooves including rare cuts paired with their modern counterparts. At the stroke of midnight Klik will offer a gut tingling set of modern dubstep.

Throughout the night the art space will be under a blanket of snow visuals.

What will result during this art-space party is anyone's guess, which is more or less the idea. Get spun for a loop.

[Fulcrum Gallery, Friday, Feb. 5, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., 21+, $5 benefiting the gallery, 1308 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.250.0520]

BE TIGER BUT DON'T BE LIKE TIGER >>>

I really don't care who is gripping Tiger Woods' putter. Neither should you. He's rich and famous and if he wants to shag every waitress who serves him a drink, what business is it of yours? People cheat. Even famous people.

If you do want to make it your business, one way to start is to attend Masa's "Golf Pro's and Ho's" party Wednesday, Jan. 27. Dress up like Woods or Rachel Uchitel, and share your opinions on the subject of cheating while throwing back a few Golf Cocktails:

Golf Cocktail

2 - 3 oz. Gin
3/4 oz. Dry Vermouth
2 dash Bitters

Combine in a mixing glass or shaker. Stir with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with a blade of grass from your golf shoes.

Masa will bring in DJ Niros for the party, as well as its own resident DJs. Many drink specials will be featured throughout the night. Those in costume will be admitted free.

[Masa, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 9 p.m., 9 p.m., cover starts at 10 p.m., 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma,253.254.0560]

THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN GET BEHIND >>>

Cans in downtown Tacoma serves $1 drinks to everyone between 10 p.m. amd 2 a.m. Check it out at 100 S. Ninth Street across the street from the Frank Russell Building.

ICE BLOCK PARTY AT VARSITY GRILL >>>

Where there’s beer, there’s burping, and where there’s beer burping, there’s smiling. Beer enthusiasts from near and far will be gathering for the Varsity Grill’s annual Ice Block Party Thursday, Jan. 21 from 5-8 p.m. A $10 pass nabs you winter beer samples from the likes of Red Hook Winterbrook, Alaskan Winter, Deschutes Jubelale, Pyramid Snow Cap, Widmer Brrr, Sam Adams Winter, Snoqualmie Avalanche, Rogue Mogul and New Belgium 2º Below.

Live music and prizes are also on tap.

[Varsity Grill, Thursday, Jan. 21, 5-8 p.m., 114 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.1229]