THURSDAY, JUNE 13 2013 >>>

1. Lauded as the greatest performer of all time, Michael Jackson was a dancing, singing, performing phenomenon, and we are not likely to see another performer of his caliber ever again. The life of Michael Jackson is being retold at 7:30 p.m. when Kenny Wizz, considered the world's best Michael Jackson impersonator, takes th Pantages Theater audience on a musical Jackson journey from the Jackson 5 era to the current decade. What to wear to the show? One white glove. 

2. Upon first listen to Memory Boys, one gets the impression that they are practitioners of this sort of trendy, depressive songwriting, cloaked in darkness and murky with reverb. This is certainly the case, to an extent, but repeated exposure reveals a nifty knack for interesting twists and turns - unexpected bursts of sunshine that cast a relief over the rest of the proceedings. Catch them with Humble Cub, Slushy and Half Shadow at 8 p.m. in Metronome Coffee.

3. Comedian Caroline Rhea will perform at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Comedy Club. Rhea began her career in comedy in 1989, taking the trek from her native Montreal to the mecca of stand-up comedy, New York City. She studied performance at The New School and trained at the Catch a Rising Star comedy club before breaking out in stand-up, both with live comedy performances and appearances on MTV's Half-Hour Comedy Hour and Comic Strip Live. Rhea's talent in comedy has led to roles on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Drew Carey Show, the movie Man on the Moon, and as the host of the talk show The Caroline Rhea Show and The Biggest Loser. Her trademark upbeat perkiness can mask a routine just as vulgar as anyone.

4. A Leaf has the honest qualities of '60s psychedelia and harmonic folk with a splash of this generation's shoe-gazey pop rock. The band's songs range from groovy instrumental to Beatlesesque love songs. The stories told are catchy and engaging; something listeners can relate to, and dream with, such as, "See the world inside a seed. Feel the ocean moving through me. Fell asleep on a trembling leaf, woke up in a cloud and I heard them sing, "Wherever we go, wherever we go... we're alright". I'm a caterpillar you're a butterfly." There's a motivation behind the music that seems to work itself out in every riff and harmony, allowing a sense of movement and grounding at the same time. A Leaf performs at 8 p.m. with Owl Parliament and A Breakthrough In Field Studies in The New Frontier Lounge.

5. The Engine House No. 9 is housed in a firehouse built in 1907 and still retains some of original firefighting artifacts. Purchased by the X Group, the force behind Asado and Masa, there's new excitement with better food, a whiskey bar, more craft beer from head brewer Shane Johns and a shuffleboard in the sideroom. Rev. Colin hosts karaoke at 9 p.m. He possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby."

LINK: Thursday, June 13 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 2013 >>>

1. Word Nerds! Scrabble is back at King's Books. Chill. You're good with words. Seriously. Get it together! This is Scrabble Rabble at 6:30 p.m. inside King's, remember? The Tacoma bookstore's Scrabble Rabble tournament will allow participants to establish their own skill levels and compete with others for glory. The Weekly Volcano has always enjoyed hanging onto the "Q," where it hangs there on our rack like some ultimate weapon of destruction, waiting for that all-enabling "U" tile to unleash its point-mongering wrath upon our opponents. Anyway, if your job sucks or you have a strange rash, join the tournament and those problems will, if only for a few hours, ease back into the recesses of your mind. Oh, and read Kristin Kendle's feature on Scrabble Rabble on the Weekly Volcano's blog Spew.

2. Since its introduction in 1894, the motorcycle has spawned a variety of cultures and uses. As basic transportation, as leisure activity or as a die-hard lifestyle, millions of people have a love affair with Choppers, Crotch Rockets, Thumpers and all things two-wheeled. The action-packed exhibit "Let's Ride! Motocycling The Northwest at the Washington State History Museum is a celebration of the region's never-waning motorcycle culture - will include interactive exhibits, videos and impressive displays of machines from 1906 to the 21st century. Check it out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Wednesday night is always good for getting quizzical in the South Sound. The Harmon Brewery hosts Trivia Night with Gordon Adams, Doyle's Public House offers Knowledge Night team trivia with awesome prizes, and out at the Steilacoom Pub and Grill Steilacoom catch "Trivia with Dave." Find all the info you need right here.

4. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi's sound is virtually unrelated to the roomy traditions of soul saxes, honking saxes or deep-chested boudoir ballad saxes. It derives from the classic, free, often enthusiastic tradition of Joshua Redman as filtered through Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, all of whose shadows can be traced-Redman in Kandi's funky organicism, Gordon in his dynamic harmonics, Stitt in the intensity that coats his every note with a Gritty City finish. Kandi has been hanging with organist Delvon Lamarr and drummer Adam Kessler, which has added groovy innovation to Kandi's sound. The Kareem Kandi Band heads back to The Swiss at 7 p.m. for another Wednesday open jam session.

5.There may be no better venue in Olympia to belt out the hits as the China Clipper on Fourth Avenue, which hosts Late Night Karaoke every Wednesday for the hard-drinking, hard-singing crowd. You should see this spectacle.

LINK: Wednesday, June 12 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

The Brown Edition - the Olympia band self-described as "all the soul, funk and jazz your ass can handle" - was voted best band in the Weekly Volcano's 2011 Best of Olympia readers' poll. It's a prestigious honor, to say the least. The award undoubtedly helped the band earn its latest accolade, winner of the 12th Annual Independent Music Awards' Fusion/Funk/Jam category.

Read the press release excerpt, then go find the band and give them a big hug. You'll probably find them at the Fish Tale Brew Pub.

Olympia based The Brown Edition (Spectra Jazz Label), are among the established and rising stars named as the judge-determined Winners of The 12^th Annual Independent Music Awards.  The IMAs are one of the most influential music awards programs for independent bands and fans.

The veteran artists and rising stars named as 12th IMA Winners in more than 80 Album, EP, Song, Music Producer, Music Video and Design categories were winnowed from thousands of submissions from around the globe, and were determined by a panel of influential artists and music industry executives.

Congratulations!

TUESDAY, JUNE 11 2013 >>>

1. Folksy, folk-writing folk hero John Denver - born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. - died Oct. 12, 1997, when the experimental plane he was flying crashed into Monterey Bay off the coast of California. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Red Wind Casino, fans both casual (which way to the slots?) and rabid (dude, "Rocky Mountain High"!) will cheer on Ted Vigil - born Ted Vigil - as he pays tribute to Denver - both visually and musically.

2. Fans of all things Instagram, Vine, Twitter and more should gather at the Social Media Club Tacoma, a free organization that brings together diverse groups of people to learn and share about social media. The event will offer locals a chance to network and discuss social media while enjoying drinks and food from the Harmon Tap Room. The sharing starts at 5:30 p.m.

3. Proctor District's wine connoisseurs at Pour at Four will be Touring the Rhone Valley June 11. Toward the tail end of their tour series, Pour at Four will be journeying to France's Rhone Valley. Not only is the tasting complimentary, but it is teeming with loads of vino knowledge. Tasting runs 5:20-8 p.m.

4. There are trivia competitions all around the South Sound on a Tuesday night, where you can unleash your inner Ken Jennings. And while you won't approach Jennings-like earnings, you can win some cool stuff, ranging from gift certificates, to concert or sports tickets, to a VHS copy of All of Me, the film starring Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin. Sweet! Two of our favorite Tuesday night trivia are at Fish Tale Brew Pub in Olympia and Farrelli's Wood-Fire Pizza in Tacoma, both start at 8 p.m.

5. Hailing from Olympia, White Wards serves up the meanest sound-fights that the Capitol City has ever swallowed. Sonically they land somewhere between Tar Babies and Devoid of Faith. Catch them at 10 p.m. with Condominium, Negative Press and Coprot at Le Voyeur.

LINK: Tuesday, June 11 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Tacoma is chock-full of fun community events and festivals this summer. With the combination of local food vendors, blues bands and more than 35 Washington craft brewers, Brew Five Three is one not to miss. This inaugural event, put on by Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, takes place Saturday, June 22 from 1 to 10 p.m. on Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

"The inspiration for Brew Five Three came from our city," said Aaron Stevens, Broadway Center programming manager. "Tacoma has a long-standing and wonderful relationship with craft beer. Further inspiration came from our city's blues fans. We get asked all the time to bring more blues shows to Tacoma."     

Read more...

MONDAY, JUNE 10 2013 >>>

1. It's appropriate Bill W. - a documentary that recalls the life of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder William G. Wilson - skips the eight gazillion dollars special effects and 3-D action of modern-day films. Wilson's story - one of heartbreak, recovery and heroism - is a serious one, and the never-before-seen photographs, diary entries and speeches speak for themselves, revealing how Wilson, a hopeless drunk near death from his alcoholism, found a way out of his own addiction and then forged a path for countless others to follow through A.A., a deed that landed him in TIME Magazine's 100 Persons of the 20th Century. Filmmakers Kevin Hanlon and Dan Carracino don't pull any punches in the film that screens at 6:45 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. We see Wilson cheat on his fiercely dedicated wife, experiment with LSD and request alcohol as he suffered on his deathbed from emphysema.

2. Trombonist Marc Smason has performed throughout the world with such luminaries as the Funk Brothers, Baby Gramps, Big Joe Turner, Andy Statman Perry Robinson, Sam Shepard, Julian Priester, Sonny Simmons and Jeff Johnson. His playing encompasses many styles including jazz, Latin, klezmer and R&B. Catch him and his band, A Better World, at 8 p.m. in The Royal Lounge.

3. Monday is typically a black hole for nightlife. Sure, if you run a sports bar, you'll do well during the World Series or football season, but for most eating and drinking establishments, it's just dead, dead, dead. There's a darn good reason why so many bars are empty on Mondays. So how do those that remain open find ways to fill barstools on this, the most dreadful evening of the workweek? The folks at The Swiss seem to have found a solution and, oddly enough, it's one that has been the bane of many other venues: live music. Since the beginning of time, The Swiss has hosted live blues every Monday at 8 p.m. Tonight, guitar legend Jerry Miller will be in the house.

4. Hey! Guess what? Rafael Tranquilino hosts an experimental jam at Stonegate Pizza every Monday night! Get in on the rockin' action tonight.

5. Beginning at 9 p.m. every Monday Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots and $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs.

LINK: Monday, June 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, JUNE 9 2013 >>>

1. The Tacoma Comedy Club presents Comics Under The Influence where five comics perform a set each sober, and then while the other comics are performing they pound booze and return to the stage wasted to do another set. Jubal Flagg from Movin 95.5 FM tries to keep the thing flowing, beginning at 8 p.m.

2. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Pacific Avenue Community Street Fair and Car Show will consume Stewart Middle School with vendors, food, classic cars, skateboarders and entertainment.

3. Author Richard Blumenthal will discuss his new book, Maritime Place Names: Inland Washington Waters, at 2 p.m. in Quarters 2 at Historic Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood.

4. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi's sound derives from the classic, free, often enthusiastic tradition of Joshua Redman as filtered through Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, all of whose shadows can be traced-Redman in Kandi's funky organicism, Gordon in his dynamic harmonics, Stitt in the intensity that coats his every note with a Gritty City finish. Kandi has been hanging with organist Delvon Lamarr and drummer Adam Kessler, which has added groovy innovation to Kandi's sound. Catch Kandi's trio with three Northwest jazz legends will guest appear:  Bill Ramsay on sax, Jay Thomas on trumpet and Julian Priester on trombone at 5 p.m. as part of the Jazz Live at Marine View series in the Marine View Church.

5. Professional storytelller Elizabeth Lord's original The Swimsuit Area stage play "explores reproduction in today's modern age.  What it means to be a parent, and more importantly what it means to choose not to be a parent." Apparently Lord will explore the hard issues such as deciding not to have a child - and what someone does about that - and the finality of hysterectomy surgery which results in never being able to conceive a child - all with her trademark humor lined glow. The show hits the Midnight Sun stage at 8 p.m. through June 9.

LINK: Sunday, June 9 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

2nd Cycle Tacoma - Hiltop.Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat Dan Ainga, MTNS, DJ Urine, the Nadines. 8 pm. $5.

• If Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat Dan Singa is a mouthful of a name, then his music does well to invade every other one of your senses. For years, de Dionyso has been making a name for himself as one of the premier practitioners of experimental music in the Northwest. Unlike other experimental artists, whose work consists of beauty in chaos, de Dionyso is conceptual and thought-through in the extreme. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat Dan Singa in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

Buzz's Tavern Olympia - Westwide. Eclectic State, benefit for Partners in Prevention Education with auction. 8 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Aaron Daniel's One Man Banned. 9:30 pm. NC.

• The Weekly Volcano has raved about Aaron Daniel before. Daniel and his "One Man Banned" takes a few cues from minimalist composer Steve Reich to create intricate pieces based on cyclical guitar loops. While his loop pedal is a main part of his guitar rig, he also builds intricate jams with beatbox and distortion pedals to change the textures and colors of the guitar while the delay pedal determines the tempo and pattern. Daniel comes to the stage as only a single dude, but typically leaves seen more as a phenomena. It's to be seen live. - Weekly Volcano
  

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Champagne Sunday. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Sweet Water, The Guessing Game. 8 pm. $10.

• Every so often, a band comes along that blows you through the flaming hoop of innocence and hangs you out to dry on the tattered trapeze of days gone by. Sweet Water is one such band. In June 2007, the band - under the disguise The Cupcakes - prepared for their big reunion show in Seattle with a tune-up show at Tacoma's Hell's Kitchen. Four chords into its first song, I was transported to Seattle's RCKCNDY in the '90s by these four guys fully in control of everything - the air, the audience, the sound, the unknown. Adam, Rich, Paul, and Cole ran through their pop-punk hits before a packed crowd. I found myself unexpectedly roaring and pumping right along, caught up in memories and rock star singer Adam Czeisler's dance moves. Sweet Water picked up on the crowd intensity and worked it like seasoned pros. I felt outside of myself, carried, nay, pushed along on opener "Cake And Strychnine," then "Feed Yourself," "Big Rock Show," "Win," "Slide," "Everything Will Be Just Fine," "Losing," "Sleep," "Superstar," "Head Down" and closing with "Crawl."  The band's shining ultra-hooky and supercharged show injected ecstasy into everyone around me. I fell in love with the audience and thanked them for taking me back to a place I had almost forgotten existed, a place of total immersion in the music and the moment, and fie on anybody who has a problem with that. I'm ready for a repeat Saturday night at Jazzbones. - Ron Swarner
  

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. SuperNothing. 9 pm.

Little Creek Casino Shelton. John "Scootch" Cungo. 7 pm. NC.

Louie G's Pizza Fife. Garrett Whitney, Rane Stone, JT Phillips, Lady Justice. All Ages. 8 pm.

Northern Olympia - Downtown. Broken Water, Vex, Voices, Dr. Sleep. All Ages. 8 pm. $5.

• "Sitting down to write about Olympia's Broken Water, I'm tempted to get stoned first. Listening to the three-piece and their fuzzy, shoe-gazing drone-rock, I'm nostalgic for contemplative thoughts that roll with the crescendos and crashes of the music. But I don't have to get stoned. They take me there anyway. With mesmerizing vocals - both male and female - and sometimes heavy, sometimes sweet guitar riffs, Broken Water has an almost grunge-pop quality ... but not quite. They are too busy being their own sound." I wrote those words a year ago - almost to the day - and I still feel the same about Broken Water. And while last time I was reviewing their album Tempest, this time I'm writing about their homecoming show. After launching their spring tour April 22 at Dumpster Values in Olympia, the band has played a show every single day since. From Austin to New Orleans, from Ithaca to Calgary, Broken Water has been making waves. Celebrate the band's homecoming Saturday at an all-ages show at Northern. - Nikki McCoy
  

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tumblin' Dice (Rolling Stones tribute). 8 pm.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Shyan Selah's Republic Of Sound, Xola Malik, Monica-Crystal & The Beat Bandits, Stephanie Anne Johnson. 8 pm.

Westgate Bar and Grill Tacoma - Northend. Steve Stefanowicz. 9 pm. $5.

LINK: More live music tonight in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 2013 >>>

1. If Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat Dan Singa is a mouthful of a name, then his music does well to invade every other one of your senses. For years, de Dionyso has been making a name for himself as one of the premier practitioners of experimental music in the Northwest. Unlike other experimental artists, whose work consists of beauty in chaos, de Dionyso is conceptual and thought-through in the extreme. Catch Malaikat Dan Singa with MTNS, DJ Urine and the Nadines at 8 p.m. in 2nd Cycle on Tacoma's Hilltop. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's full feature on Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat Dan Singa in Northwest Military's Music & Culture section.

2. Older homes are typically loaded with character, and some people love nothing better than to stroll through a neighborhood and check out the architecture. For them, there is the Steilacoom Historical Home Tour. The outing, which is hosted by the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association and hasn't happened in almost 40 years, features six privately owned historic homes dating from 1858 through 1895, including five built when Washington was still a territory. The tour runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If there's one thing we know, it's Tacoma like to run, and drink. The Tacoma Runners prove it every Thursday night. Metro Parks knows this fact too. At 6 p.m. in Wright Park it will host its Sneakers to Suds - the first of four 5k events in its Pub Run Series. Each 5k is open to ages 21 and older and includes post-race festivities, which means drinking in local watering holes. Participate in trivia contests and post-race fun at Parkway, Tap Room and Amocat Café.

4. Shyan Selah & The Republic of Sound will headline a night of live music featuring Northwest hip hop legend Xola Malik, aka Kid Sensation, rock and blues act Monica-Crystal & The Beat Bandits and local acoustic songstress Stephanie Anne Johnson at 8:30 p.m. in Stonegate Pizza.

5. Future Bass dance party brings a little dub, some Dirty South bounce, some mini-backpack drum 'n' bass, sassy house, badass soul, squiggly squeaks, breaky beats, distorted hip-hop samples and wobbling bass lines - like pathological gamblers through paychecks - at 9:30 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Saturday, June 8 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 2013 >>>

1. What Tiny Tim was for Tin Pan Alley-era singers, Tommy Dean is for rambling folk of the '50s and '60s. Like Tiny Tim, Tommy Dean is a self-stylized revivalist, an encyclopedia of long-forgotten tunes. He's a jukebox - pop a quarter in him and he'll go. Armed with a six-string and a harmonica around his neck, Dean has traversed the entirety of the country, soaking in the dust and the highway hypnosis that defined the lives of those wandering folkies he so strives to emulate. Even when he's standing on a stage, Dean is unmistakably a busker, a man made to peddle his songs on the street, guitar case open and waiting for passersby to grace it with coins. Catch him with Tortilla Flat and RowHouse at 9 p.m. in The New Frontier Lounge.

2. The Mark Olympia will host a fine art opening within the gallery space for the work of Seattle digital photographer, Jesse Young. Inspired by the brilliance of Ansel Adams' black and white aesthetic, Young primarily photographs his subjects in the same way. His photographs explore light and shadow within contemporary cityscapes, though more recently some of his portfolios feature color photographs of the natural world. Young's work is exhibited in many venues in the Seattle area and is featured in several photography magazines including Shutterbug. The event will start at 5 p.m.

3. Jon Tartaglia knows nightclubs. He has held court at Tacoma hotspots The Loft, 21 Commerce, Big Whisky Saloon Tacoma, Varsity Grill and Encore Boutique Nightclub. All but Encore have been sold - most recently Big Whisky, which will soon be a martini bar called The 502 Downtown and Varsity Grill, which wasn't sold but converted into a 12,000-square-foot steakhouse and country-rock club called Steel Creek American Whiskey Co., which opens at 6 p.m.

4. Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction and Gabriel Teodros will put on one helluva hip-hop show at 8:30 p.m. in The Evergreen State College's Recreation Center.

5. Violinistextremist Kytami, billed as "perhaps Canada's most diverse and engaging fiddle player" will battle a DJ in what is billed as "Kytami: Violin vs. Vinyl" at 10:30 p.m. in Jazzbones.

LINK: Friday, June 7 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area