DO NOT BE ONE BIG MASHED COUCH POTATO >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Bump Kitchen, Square N The Jimis. 21+. 9 pm.

Beyond the Bridge Cafe Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. The Phoenix Show, featuring The Black Sails. All Ages. 8 pm. $15.

Harbor Greens/Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Sean Pratt. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. NORML Benefit: Northwest Sons, Mighty High, Dirty Change Up. 21+. 9 pm. $5.

• Reggae and the march toward marijuana legislation reform just go together. Seriously. If you've ever been to a Hemp Fest, 420 rally or a long car ride through Eastern Washington with Bobble Tiki you know this. A wise man once said you'll never end marijuana prohibition without a drum for the circle, a Bob Marley poster in your room and a great acronym. Luckily, tonight at Hell's Kitchen you'll have a chance to score all of the above. With a bill headlined by the brightly colored and HIGH-ly enthusiastic Northwest Sons, and including Mighty High and Dirty Change Up, tonight's sweet-smelling benefit for NORML will be your chance to get down and (figuratively speaking) get high all in one place. NORML, founded in 1970, is a nonprofit public interest advocacy group that lobbies for marijuana legalization and, well, basic common sense when it comes to pot. They claim to represent the "tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly," which might be a conservative estimate based on an informal poll of the Weekly Volcano scribes. - Matt Driscoll

Little Creek Casino Shelton. Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Rebecca Reddin. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. Gina Belliveau. All Ages. 8:30 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. The Revengers. 21+. 9 pm.

O'Callahan's Pub & Grill Key Peninsula. Tim Hall Band. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Rhythm & Brews Tacoma - Downtown. Black River Blues. Under 21 welcome until 10 pm. All Ages. 8:30 pm. $5.

SideBar Bistro Tacoma - Downtown. Saxophonist Michael Hershman. All Ages. 6-9 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

CONSUME WITH A CONSCIENCE >>>

Cities all over the nation are supporting American Express' "Small Business Saturday" campaign, which encourages shoppers to consider supporting their local retailers this weekend, particularly the Saturday after Black Friday.  According to Civic Economics, out of every $100 spent on a small business, $68 returns to the community. Nationally, the Small Business Saturday website reports small businesses employ half of all private sector employees. Additionally, the Small Business Administration says, "for every year over the last decade, 60-80% of new jobs were generated by small businesses."

Tacoma and Olympia are ripe with locally owned boutiques, furniture and electronic stores and more.  I encourage you to take a look at your Best Buy, Gap or Target list and consider if those same items could be purchased from a local retailer.

A TASTE OF THE GOODNESS YOU'LL FIND IN PRINT & ONLINE>>>

Look, there is absolutely no reason to let a family holiday like Thanksgiving ruin your entire weekend. Sure, you should show up to dinner Thursday, make mom feel good about pulling out the extra leaf for the table, down some stuffing and cranberry sauce and act like a decent, civilized human being - but the rest of the weekend holds no such obligation.There are lots of musical happenings to choose from, and there's plenty of music coverage in this week's Volcano to prepare you.

Check it ...

>>> Mad Rad

It's been a tumultuous year and a half for Seattle party-rap provocateurs Mad Rad. The Volcano's Jason Baxter talks to Mad Rad's Terry Radjaw in anticipation of the group's Saturday show at Jazzbones.

>>> Funky Monkey

DJ Damon Stewart talks about Funky Monkey 104.9FM's sorry demise and rebirth as GenX.

>>> Northwest Sons

Reggae and the march toward marijuana legislation reform just go together. The Northwest Sons, Mighty High and Dirty Change Up will play Hell's Kitchen Friday as part of a benefit for NORML.

>>> Salie Ford and the Sound Outside

Referring to herself as a "belter," Sallie Ford's voice is perfectly suited to the type of vintage soul, roots-rock and blues swagger she and her band, the Sound Outside, have mastered.

FUCKIN' A>>>

Just got a press release from the Thermals announcing a string of shows, including one on January 23 at Northern in Olympia. How exciting! The Thermals will also play in Seattle at Neumos on January 21.

Here's the rest of the release:

Its been a busy few years for The Thermals! Since signing with beloved Northwest indie label Kill Rock Stars in 2009, The Thermals have released one LP (Now We Can See), three singles ("Now We Can See," "We Were Sick" "Canada") and two split singles (with their friends The Cribs and Thao With The Get Down Stay Down). They toured Europe five times, the U.S. six times, and even went to CHINA and ate a chicken's foot. The Thermals' career has become a metaphor for their live show - exuberantly fast-paced and fun, with no signs of slowing down any time soon.

For their upcoming album Personal Life, The Thermals re-teamed with producer Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie). Walla and The Thermals have a long history together - Chris mixed the first Thermals LP (More Parts Per Million, 2003) and produced their second LP (Fuckin' A,  2004). Walla brought his signature brand of crisp, shiny pop production to Personal Life, as he has done for records by Tegan and Sara and Telekinesis, to name just a few. Personal Life was recorded to 2" tape and mixed to 1/2" tape, and vinyl enthusiasts will be happy to know the vinyl was mastered straight from tape, with no computers involved.

Sonically, Personal Life continues the Thermals tradition of high-energy punk/power/pop while also exploring darker, more introspective territory. Lyrically, Personal Life obsesses over love and lies with the same passion The Thermals have reserved for politics and death in the past.

SUNDAY, NOV. 21>>>

1. Violinist Janet Sung is a sight to see and behold. Her violin skills are something to celebrate - and you'll have a chance to do just that today when Sung joins the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra and conductor Harvey Felder for an afternoon full of Ravel, Mendelssohn and Beethoven at the Rialto Theater.

2. Every Tuesday and Sunday Longhorn Saloon hosts a beer pong tournament. Tonight's frat-like action starts at 9 p.m., and there's a $5 entry fee. If you're the kind of dude that's up for beer pong on a Tuesday night, chances are this one's perfect for you. Cash prizes will be up for grabs.

3. This afternoon is your last chance to catch South Puget Sound Community College and St Martin's joint production of Grease playing at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Performing Arts. But don't expect a carbon copy of beloved Travolta adaptation. Read our full review here.

4. Check a collection of some of the best aerosol artists in the area busting loose on the Broadway Graffiti Garages in downtown Tacoma. Happening every Sunday through the end of November, this collection of gathered graffiti talent is brought to you by Fab 5.

5. Built to Spill are kind of indie rock royalty. Making a name for themselves in the mid-to-late '90s, the band distinguished itself by performing high atop a rigid foundation of complex chord structures and no a small amount of jamming. Tonight, the classic Idaho band led by Doug Martsch will be at Olympia's Capitol Theater for a show benefitting Friends of Mia.

SATURDAY, NOV. 20 >>>

1. Celebrate the fifth anniversary of Tacoma's iconic Tempest Lounge. Everyone who's anyone will be there. Find more details here.

2. Like records? Like rock ‘n' roll? Like Olympia? The 2^nd Olympia Record Show, today at the Elk's Lodge in downtown Oly, sounds like just the event for you. Here's our article on the occasion.

3. Faun Fables, a performer that defies most classifications, is also in Olympia today - performing as part of the 27^th Annual Olympia Film Festival. Faun Fables is, basically, Dawn McCarthy - and her music and performances are like few others you'll see. Here's some background.

4. Check out the first even ‘Nesian Fest at Hell's Kitchen tonight. A celebration and gathering of talented Pacific Islanders in our local hip-hop and music scenes, organized by Island Trybe, tonight's event is one of the most impressive collections of talent you'll find this weekend.

5. Have you been training? Do you have the endurance required? November's Puget Sound Poetry Connection "Poetry Marathon" is today at King's Books in Tacoma - from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Poets scheduled to read include Emilie Rommel Shimkus, Tammy Robacker, Bill Kupinse and more.

BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>

Look, it's crappy outside. I get it. I smoke. I've been out there a few times today, and it isn't inviting. I'm honestly pretty sure it never got light, and there are times when the eternal precipitation and darkness can get a person down.

Don't be that person! At least not until Monday. Right now, it's Friday for gawd's sake- which means two very important things. Number one: You've probably got two days off ahead of you. Number two: It's time for your regular installment of The Prefunk, a weekly weekend primer for you and your liver - with a picture of an alcoholic household pet thrown in for good measure.

ALL FREAKIN' NIGHT at The Capitol Theater

Saturday, midnight - 7:30 a.m.

Olympia has more traditions than most places. It's the kind of town where history is important. It's the kind of place where people keep things alive, breathe new life into them, and rally together to make cool shit happen. It's the kind of place where people go to college, grow a beard, graduate from college, get a co-op membership, go back to college, and never leave ...

While it's doubtful that last part has much to do with anything, the Olympia institution that is All Freakin' Night is here once again - devouring the historic (there Olympia goes again with its history...) Capitol Theater Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

For the uninitiated, or the new faces in the Invisible Man seminar, All Freakin' Night is an annual part of the annual Olympia Film Festival - now in its glorious 27^th year. A collection of cultish horror flicks and just plain strange stuff, All Freakin' Night has reached institution status because of a few things - not the least of which being its eccentricities, and the fact it literally offers Olympia the chance to sit in the Capitol Theater all freakin' night and hang out. Both are very cool, and what it's all about.

This year's strange cinematic offerings include 1983's Treasure of the Four Crowns, a story featuring, "renegade history professor and archaeological mercenary J.T. Striker," as well as 1982's Superstition, 1993's Freaked, 1988's Dead Heat, and 1983's The Being, a movie about an evil creature lurking in a local dump and attacking residents.

PREFUNK: It's a long night. Hell, it's All Freakin' Night. That's all I'm saying. You're going to need your energy ...

Luckily, we're here for you.

BONUS INTERVIEW >>>

A few days ago we posted an interview with Olympia band Broken Water, which the Volcano's Jason Baxter did with Jon Hanna and Abby Ingram as they finished up a recent tour.

Well, we held out a little. Here's the part you haven't read yet ...

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What was the best show you've played on tour and what's been the most disappointing?

HANNA: I'm going to leave Tijuana (out of the running), because that was just a whole different experience from any show I've ever played. I think the best show for me would be the one in LA, on Halloween. They totally decorated (downtown all-ages venue The Smell) and tons of people came out - apparently we have a lot of fans down there. The worst show we played was in Chico, California. I'm going to find Abby and let her tell you about this. ...

VOLCANO: Jon was just telling me about the worst night of tour, and he said it was Chico.

INGRAM: He said Chico? Yeah, that was pretty bad. It was early on, though, so it's fine - our spirits weren't broken yet. We played at like this sports bar, and it was just a weird scene. There were four people in there, and they were watching the game. The bathrooms were labeled "hotties" and "hosers," and there was a sign that said, "No dudes on the bar," and there were Slurpee shots. But it was still fun, in a weird way.

VOLCANO: Any road horror stories yet?

INGRAM: Probably not. It hasn't been too bad. It gets tense when people are in close quarters. Nothing's broken down. ... In San Francisco, we had to carry all of our equipment up three flights, because we couldn't leave it in the van.

In LA, we played at The Smell on Halloween. It was really cool, but the sound guy was really young. I think he was really stressed out, and he was by himself. He was having trouble getting our mics to work, and the crowd was being really impatient. This guy came on the stage and started talking to Kanako, and was like, "You guys should just play, people want you to play." And I said, "Well, I don't have a microphone, how do you want me to sing?" They were being jerks to the sound guy, but it was cool. Kanako sat down and told some stories about how she had first played The Smell ten years ago.

VOLCANO: When my band was on a West Coast tour recently, I drove over a pigeon and it was horrifying. How much road kill have you seen (or caused) driving up and down the I-5 on tour?

INGRAM: I don't think that we've hit anything - I haven't hit anything, and I haven't been notified if anyone else has. I think I saw a dead dog on the side of the road, on the way down the 5.

VOLCANO: That's pretty rough. Was that in California?

INGRAM: Yeah it was in California, but I don't remember where. I just remember thinking, "Oh my god, is that a dog?" It was this black, doggish-looking thing. Maybe it was a coyote.

THE BIRTH OF PUNK ISLAM >>>

A documentary about punk rock and the active practice of Islam? Sounds messy, if not completely impossible, no?

Well, as Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam - a film by written and directed by Omar Majeed - shows us, it does get messy, but anything is possible. Based on a book of the same name, written by Michael Muhammad Knight and now taught in some universities as a "Catcher in the Rye for young Muslims," - Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam screens tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater. For more information on the Olympia Film Festival, go here.

For a sneak peak at Taqwacore, check the trailer below ...

LIVE MUSIC WARMS YOUR COLD BONES >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. The Brown Edition, Dorado. 21+. 9 pm.

Amocat Cafe Tacoma - Downtown. The Hive Dwellers, Trevor Dickson, Spencer Kelley. All Ages. 6:30 pm. $5.

• The gradual coolifying of Amocat Cafe is about to get a serious bump tonight when Calvin Johnson's project, the Hive Dwellers, performs. Also on the bill will be solo sets from two of the people behind two of the best bands in Tacoma: Trevor Dickson of the Nightgowns and Spencer Kelly of Basemint. Read my full story here. – Rev. Adam McKinney

Beyond the Bridge Cafe Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Open Mic Night. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma - Eastside. Keith Sweat. 21+. 8:30 pm. $40-$70.

• If you're in the mood to have a butter-voiced elder statesman of soul make sweet, sweet love to your earholes, get thee to the Emerald Queen Casino, because late-'80s/early-'90s phenom Keith Sweat is set to perform there. There's no word on whether or not his enviable wardrobe of "Cosby sweaters" (as seen on the cover of his flawless Teddy Riley-produced debut LP Make It Last Forever) will be appearing with/on him, but it seems unlikely. At 49, odds are that Sweat will actually start sweating pretty early in the show, but the man's still got the pipes and still got the moves, and his proto-New Jack Swing material (chintzy keyboard presets aside) sounds just as groovy and sinful now as it did 23 years ago. - Jason Baxter

FuSE @ Pt Defiance Cafe and Casino Ruston. Billy Shew Band. 8 pm. NC.

Harbor Greens/Forza Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Jennifer Lind. 21+. 8 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Fro Blo's Birthday Bash, with Psychonaut Deathtrip, Unhailoed, .50 Caliber Nightmare, Helles, Scourge Schematic, Devils Of Loudon, Ether. 21+. 7 pm. NC.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. SweetKiss Momma, Midnight Salvage Company, Guns Of Nevada. 21+. 8 pm. $7.

• The last time I saw SweetKiss Momma frontman Jeff Hamel I told him he needed a championship belt - something to signify his band's current standing as the reigning champs of Puyallup. He was modest, naturally, brushing the suggestion off, but I stand firm. SweetKiss Momma is far and away the best thing P-Town has going for it these days. Though I say that with mild sarcasm (I came from Puyallup so I feel comfortable making fun of it), I'm obviously not alone in my admiration for the band. Hamel tells me SweetKiss Momma recently signed distribution deals with "a number of European distributors and have obtained publicists both in the UK and USA." Friday SweetKiss Momma, Midnight Salvage Co. and Guns of Nevada will be at Jazzbones - a show that's also a celebration for Darrel Fortune and the Northwest Convergence Zone podcast. Fortune recently won fifth place in the radio personality category of King 5's Best of Western Washington competition, which is awesome. - Matt Driscoll

Kerby's Lounge Sumner. Spooning With Elmo. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. Hotter Than A Crotch, The Missionary Position, Eric Anarchy. 21+. 10 pm. NC.

Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. Randy Linder. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Maxwell's Speakeasy Tacoma. Lance Buller Trio. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

Red Wind Casino Yelm. Chance McKinney & Crosswire. 21+. 8:30 pm. NC.

Rhythm & Brews Tacoma - Downtown. Maia Santell & House Blend. All Ages. 8:30 pm. $5.

Rock the Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. Billy Roy Danger & The Rectifiers. 21+. 9 pm.

Shakabrah Java Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Tacoma Songwriter Showcase featuring Daniel Blue and others. All Ages. 6:30 pm.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Correo Aereo, with Amy Denio. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound