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

RED SCENE IT >>>

When the country outlawed alcohol in 1920, millions of Americans turned to a clandestine network of speakeasies and bootleggers in search of a stiff drink. The 18th Amendment, which banned the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol, ushered in an era of prohibition and gave rise to organized crime, whose bootlegging operations flourished over the 13 dry years.

Dec. 5, 1933, passage of the 21st Amendment, brought an end to Prohibition. Last night at the Capitol Theater, Olympia celebrated Repeal Prohibition Day with a night of drinks, burlesque and music.

Photographer Red Williamson of Newspin Photo captured last night's gratuitous debauchery, lavish carousing and general tomfoolery. Below are a few of his photographs. To see his whole album of shots, which include many NSFW shots of the TUSH! Burlesque troupe, click here.

Olympia, you look awesome.

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.

HOT TIME IN THE OLD SWISS LAST NIGHT >>>

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... a night of burlesque. And by "true love" I mean "my wife." She stayed home with the child so I could check out the official debut of the Tacoma burlesque troupe, Gritty City Sirens. Ava D'Jor, Tizzy Van Tassel, Rosie Cheexx, Funny Face Fanny and Polly Puckerup combated the cold weather with a hot show last night in front of a packed - and I do mean push, shove and wiggle your way through - mass of people.

The creative and beautiful women stripped through self-choreographed sets down to skivvies, stockings and pasties. The crowd loved it, and so did the performers.

I posted a few photos in our Photo Hot Spot.