HAVE A DRINK WITH THE CULLENS >>>

In the late ‘70s, Goth's association with gargoyle-laden architecture of the Medieval Period and monster novels of 18th century daisy-pushers such as Anne Radcliffe was coffined for the bleak post-punk prophecies such as of Joy Division, dark clothing, androgyny and waif-thin appendages that consumed the definition.

Bela Lugosi's dead - long live Bela Lugosi!

In downtown Olympia Goth means the Cryptatropa bar, or as Olympians call it, the "vampire Bar." It's dark with red lights and black booths, and Pan graces the jukebox.

The joint has a funk of sweat and spilled beer, but frankly so does the street outside. What makes this a killer spot - in addition to the New Wave cranking from the dance floor - are the intimate, dimly-lit booths hiding dweller and their conversations/make-out sessions.

[Cryptatropa Bar, 421 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.754.3867]

LINK: More photos from Friday night at Cryptatropa Bar

WE SCENE IT >>>

What started out as an all-age show at The Red Room in downtown Tacoma last night became one of the best examples of why I love the 253. The concert began at 8 p.m. with a scheduled tear down at midnight, but a noise complaint cut the show off at 10 p.m. Instead of slicing set times for the Dead Peasants and The Taxpayers to squeeze in a headlining set for The Fun Police, the show moved into The Fun Police's neighboring practice space. Mighty cool of The Fun Police, who will drop their new album July 9 at D.O.A. on Sixth Avenue.

Dead Peasants

The Taxpayers

The Fun Police's practice space

The Fun Police

LINK: More photos from the show

WE SCENE IT >>>

Encore Boutique Nightclub in downtown Tacoma hosted Playboy's Ring Card Contest featuring Tacoma's Playmate and former St. Pauli Girl Stacy Fusion as a judge Friday night. The top ladies moved on to last night's EQC Battle at the Boat: 82 where one lucky girl was chosen be a ring card girl at a fight this summer at the world famous Playboy Mansion in California and a chance to be featured in Playboy Magazine.

LINK: See more in our Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped by the Northwest Convergence Zone's 2nd Anniversary Party at The Firwood Rock Lounge Friday night snapping bands High Noon Horizon, the Hardcount and Perry Acker, as well as some crowd shots.

LINK: See more in our Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

Remember when there used to be go-go dancers instead of come-come dancers? No, we're not talking about Circus Circus. We're spitting out all these doubles because there's something seriously wrong wrong with our head after Encore Boutique Nightclub's go-go dancer competition Friday. Our concentration hasn't been the same. "The Beautiful People" swarmed the dance floor, VIP lounges and, well, every nook and cranny.

LINK: More photos of the night

WE SCENE IT >>>

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger grabbed some great pictures at Friday's wacky Artifakt show at Hell's Kitchen. Some of the pics are posted on this page. The rest are in our Photo Hot Spot here.

While there was a good mix of dudes and dudettes, we couldn't help but notice most of the guys stayed in the music room ... where the live body painting was going down. Sip, sip, sip off the Pabst can, quick glace toward the nudity, sip, sip, nod the head toward the band, sip, sip, glance at the nudity - it was almost an aerobic activity.

Ignoring the long gaps between acts, and the long line at the booze counter due to the body painting blocking the upper level bar, it was a fun, wacky night.

Body painting in the upper level

Stoned Evergreen Traveler

Friends

Elbow Coulee

Gritty City Sirens

Pioneers West

Cheers!

LINK: Photo Hot Spot for more pics

TUESDAY NIGHT TEAM TRIVIA >>>

At a typical trivia night one sits around drinking beer, occasionally feeling really smart, and mostly feeling pretty stupid. It's like your average night of drinking, but you can blame the game instead of your social skills. Every Tuesday night, Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue draws a mixed crowd to its trivia night, although the crowd generally has the same interests as Farrelli's posts the night's trivia topic on its Facebook. Last Tuesday's movie trivia session was hot with the younger set.

The cool thing about Farrelli's trivia night is they design it to be interactive and social with a team concept rather than a bury your head into a ballot sort of thing.

Trivia Night

9 p.m. Tuesdays, gift certificate awards
Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza
3518 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.759.1999

LINK: More photos in the Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

By 1 a.m. last night, the rowdies and chit-chatters in Tacoma had begun to thin. My night began at before Martyr Machine inside Hell's Kitchen, then progressed to the Gruv Lounge for DJ1, AC/DC tribute band Soul Stripper at the Backstage Bar & Grill and ending with Kry at The Swiss. I came up short on the phone numbers, although I met a charming lass at the Backstage - until her roommate yanked her away for last call down the street. Oh well, enjoy the photos I snapped during my journey.

Martyr Machine at Hell's Kitchen
Gruv Lounge

Soul Stripper at Backstage Bar & Grill

Backstage Bar & Grill

Kry at The Swiss

LINK: More photos from last night

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE UNICORN SPORTS BAR >>>

Bartenders can make or break a bar. The Unicorn Sports Bar sits in the former category. The folks who hang at the Ruston watering hole do so because of bartender Darrell. He seems to know all of his customers and what they drink. He is Johnny Hustle with those bottles and taps. Added to that, the DJ music, mixed age and race crowd and the way-too-good for-bar-food eats on the menu make this a hole in the wall worth navigating the neighborhood to find it.

[Unicorn Sports Bar, 5302 N. 49th St., Ruston, 253.752.5939]

Tahee Reece

Freddie Ravenell and Jimmy Oquist

DJ Tim Wallen

LINK: More photos of the night

AND THE AWARD GOES TO >>>

As we previously wrote here, last night was the inaugural Tacoma Metal Awards show, which consumed Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma. Congratulations to Unhailoed who took home the title of Tacoma's hard rocking band. The metal band won by a 170 ballot spread over second place.

Here are a few shots of winning band Unhailoed.

LINK: More shots of the night

LINK: Unhailoed on Facebook