OPENING NIGHT >>>

O'Malley's Irish Pub's inaugural Open Stage Mondays night saw a stack of solid talent and a light crowd. Hosted by the female duo Sevens Revenge, the all-acoustic open mic night witnessed rappers, folk songsters, cover acts - and original artists trying out new stuff. Kyle Dufault just happen to stop by and heard the music. He came in and found himself on stage with a borrowed guitar, smacking it like it owned him money. Toss in the working-class crowd of PBR regulars and casual date-night couples and the scene was set.

Open Stage Mondays runs 8:30-11:30 p.m. every Monday with no cover charge. As an added bonus O'Malley's throws in $3 craft beers and $5 hot wings.

Kyle Dufault was strolling by and found himself on stage.

Robo Repp, Emily Strom and Robbie Wirth

Lisa Brown takes a shot on her birthday as Jesseka Bethke watches.

LINK: More photos of the night

O'Malley's Irish Pub

2403 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.383.3144

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER >>>

A cold, rainy night calls for a freaking fun night of live music - or a car with heated seats. But because I don't know how to install heated seats, I give you photographs from a freaking fun night of live music at Bob's Java Jive. Before a fairly full venue, The Ram Rams, Murder Party, MC Mike Kopf and the Tacomen rocked it, playing musical members as they swapped out keyboards and drummers here and there.

I was most impressed with the way the Tacomen worked the Jive's entire stage.

For photos of the other bands, jump into our Photo Hot Spot.

WE SCENE IT >>>

Saturday night, The High Rollers filled Dawson's Bar and Grill at 56th and South Tacoma Way with tight chords, jam riffs and classic rock from the Doors, Santana, and the golden age of rock. The dance floor stayed full.

Check out more shots from the night in our Photo Hot Spot.

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.

STEILACOOM TAKEOVER >>>

After the Dockyard Derby Dames battled it out Saturday night at the Pierce College Health Ed. Center, the women's flat track roller derby league from Tacoma partied it up at the Steilacoom Pub and Grill.

LINK: More after party photos in our Photo Hot Spot

LINK: Dockyard Derby Dames schedule

WE SCENE IT >>>

Editor's note: Harmon Tap Room no longer hosts the goldfish races.

Don't look now, but goldfish racing has hit the Harmon Tap Room every Tuesday night.

The rules are very simple: 1) pick your fish 2) name it something vulgar 3) grab a water spayer 4) dump your fish in the trough 5) spray your fish across the finish line and 6) win $50 cash.

Last Tuesday a mixed-age crowd of flounder fans raced, cheered and pounded Harmon brews.

Losers don't always have to be eaten. I learned that a bit too late. Sorry Sushi, you were a noble racer and a tasty treat to go along with the Vanilla Porter on tap.

Goldfish Races

8 p.m., every Tuesday
Harmon Tap Room
204 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma
253. 212.2725

LINK: More photos from the event

A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND SHOTS >>>

Colin Sannes turned the big 40 Friday with an epic time at Puget Sound Pizza, where he normally hosts weekend karaoke and holds court as king of the mic. The kilted wonder received his share of free shots and well wishes. He also got more tackle hugs than a Seahawks wide receiver, one of which left a knot on his head when he took a digger in the parking lot. But that is a story for another time. Imagine, a birthday party for Colin and only one ambulance was called. That is moderation in Tacoma terms.

Colin also hosts the Tacoma Cult Movie Club 7 p.m. every second Sunday and third Monday at the Acme Grub Cage in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: More photos of Colin's party

WE SCENE IT >>>

You told yourself you were going to participate in 2011, and yet you've already gone into hiding.  Oh sure, you bought that home-version bingo game two years ago and had a fascinating conversation with that guy who is sort of already doing the thing you would love to participate in, but that was last year, and you were a bit drunk and so was he.  So here you are just looking at your shoes going, "Hmm, another year and I still don't know squat about Monday Bar Stool Bingo at the gay-friendly Mix in downtown Tacoma." Now 2011 is looking you right square in the Old Navy T-shirt and saying, "All right then, so what have we here? Are you ready to make the best of me and take me out and ply me with wine and shout outs of B-9, G-24 and the glorious BINGO!, or shall the Weekly Volcano just shrug and sigh and watch you wither and whimper and say hey maybe next year for sure?" 

Dude, really?

We sent photographer Steve Dunkelberger to The Mix last night to check out their Monday Bar Stool Bingo night. He discovered the standard bingo game matched with witty banter between host Charles Jaffries and the crowd felt like Thanksgiving dinner at his house. The sea of mostly gay chaps joked around like they were in their own living rooms, the sort of fun a great bar offers.

Bar Stool Bingo

Mondays, 9 p.m., no cover
The Mix, 635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma
253.383.4327

LINK: More photos in our Photo Hot Spot

BLUES NIGHT >>>

Wikipedia says, "Sunday night blues is an acute condition, mostly affecting nine-to-five workers and students."

Wikipedia is full of crap.

Sunday night blues is an awesome condition, mostly affecting a graying crowd of music lovers. For as long as we can remember, The Spar in Old Town Tacoma, with the help of promoter Ted Brown and his crew, has hosted blues bands every Sunday from 7-10 p.m. This past Sunday, the Dana Lupinacci Band commanded the far left corner, inspiring the crowd to tap their feet as they downed bowl after bowl of chowder.

Dave Macord and Jewel McCart shared a dance Sunday night.

This coming Sunday The Spar hosts the "3 Ms" - Jerry Miller, Jay Mabin and Tom Murphy. That's a helluva blues show right there.

LINK: Live music in the South Sound

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.