Spew

Peek inside Hell’s Kitchen

RON  SWARNER: A FISTFUL OF FRESH >>>

I dropped by the new Hell’s Kitchen last night. Snapped a few photos. The new downtown Tacoma location rocks.

LINK: More photos on our Photo Hot Spot

LINK: Story behind the new Hell’s Kitchen

NIGHT MOVES: Xylophones, Brandon Beauchesne and Hell's Kitchen

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don’t know what to do tonight? Don’t worry, we have you covered.

Xylophones are vocalist/guitarist David Bilbrey and drummer David Nichols. Both are Tacoma music veterans. You may recognize them as members of Destruction Island, Some By Sea, Tex., Claymore, Foray, Time to Fly, San Juan, and a slew of other crews. Small and mighty, ready to slay the lion or the giant Phoenician or any other great obstacle tonight at The New Frontier Lounge with Wheelies, and Piko Panda at 9 p.m. Read Matt Driscoll's interview with the band here.

Helping us to finally embrace glam rock is Brandon Beauchesne (pictured). He’s got real pop chops to back up the persona. He's at Jazzbones at 9 p.m. with DJ Switch. Read the full story here.

Hell's Kitchen's Grand Reopening Weekend continues with One Last Look, Psycho 78, I Defy, The Them, and The Jack Trippers at 8 p.m.

LINK: More live shows in the south sound tonight

5 Things To Do: Saturday

MICHAEL SWAN: SATURDAY, JAN. 2, 2010 >>>

1. The Northwest Wedding Show consumes the Tacoma Dome from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. The 14th Annual Model Train Festival ends today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Washington State History Museum.

3. There Was A Time In History … Tacoma living history presentation goes down at 2 p.m. inside the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum.

4. Chasing Aurora holds a CD release show with Burning Twilight, Keeping Secrets, Girl On Fire, Theme For Murder, Monsters Screw You and Alive Through Love at 6 p.m. inside the Black Lake Grange.

5. The Viaduct hosts an all-ages cancer benefit show featuring The Damage Done, Destruction Island, Coccyx, The Wheelies, Death First and Social Steal at 7 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Holdin’ Down the 253

GEOFF READING: I LOVE SUSHI! >>>

I hated sushi until I was 29 (Read: never had it — and didn't know how or what to order that wouldn't, and it would arrive to the table looking and tasting like snotty eyeballs, and I didn't know anything about the ritual that is the mixing of soy sauce and wasabi or the joyful madness that comes with a sake buzz).

I've been in Tacoma for four years. A month ago I finally found my sushi place — Sapporo & Sushi Roll Teriyaki Restaurant in Fife. 

Sushi places seem to fall into three categories: 1) They either suck, you know you'll never be back after your first bite if it takes that long; 2) They're OK, nothing you eat overwhelms you, but for lack of a better sushi scratching post, it'll do — you don’t eat sushi very often; or 3) They fucking own you, from the first bite. Sapporo falls into the latter column.

PHOTOS: First Night Tacoma 2010

WEEKLY VOLCANO: TACOMA MAMA GOT UP EARLY THIS AM >>>

Jennifer Boutell, or tacomamama to most of the free world, posted some great photos of last night’s First Night Tacoma. Click here to see more.

5 Things To Do: Friday

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, JAN. 1, 2010 >>>

1. Wackos take the plunge into the icy waters of Long Lake in Lacey as part of the Polar Bear Swim beginning at noon.

2. The 14th Annual Model Train Festival continues at the Washington State History Museum from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3. Bundle up and stroll Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium as it comes aglow with more than a half-million lights during Zoolights from 5-9 p.m.

4. It’s Day Two for  the new Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma. Tonight they host The Jump Off New Year's Day Party, a hip-hop show featuring with Island Trybe, Jay Barz, Motamouth Jones, Blokkstaz, Originale, Short E featuring TR3-Nut, DJ Spinatracc, and DJ B.O.I. at 9 p.m. 

5. New Frontier Lounge Tacoma. The Juice Internet Radio Relaunch Party featuring Q Dot, Parker Brothaz, and Rockwell Powers goes down at 9 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Happy New Year

WEEKLY VOLCANO: PASS THE CLAM DIP >>>

Ah, the sweet artificiality of the New Year — the reassurance of a clean calendar, of resolutions for self-improvement.

You won't see much us on the blog for the next few days. Why? Because we are already drinking and don't plan to stop until early Monday morning.

We here at the Weekly Volcano hope you had a nice holiday season and we wish you the best all year around.

Drop by the grander Grand today

CHRISTOPHER WOOD: FOURTH SCREEN MEANS MORE MOVIE MAGIC >>>

Santa/Jesus/James Cameron (take your pick) certainly filled Hollywood’s celluloid-lined stocking this year, with the holiday weekend lineup drawing movie lovers to theaters in record-busting numbers. Meanwhile The Grand Cinema had its own gift to present Tacoma. A chilly Christmas morn saw our town’s indie-flick hot spot unveil a posh new theater space to a host of proud patrons. The biggest Grand supporters made an almost Magi-like pilgrimage to take in the freshly-painted walls and untouched seats, and to inaugurate the room’s maiden screening of The Young Victoria. Sitting there in that transformed place, viewers must have felt a bit like royalty themselves.

“This new addition is a part of Grand history,” notes Director of Communications Emily Alm. “This is big for us … it’s probably one of the biggest things we’ve had since we existed.”

Size definitely matters when conceptualizing a location in which to show movies.

NIGHT MOVES: The Paperboys, Kashmir, Q Dot and Hell's Kitchen

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

The two usual options for the last merrymaking night of the year are a) party hats and a knockout date, or b) slippers and knocked out before midnight with Dick Clark. But there's a third option: live music. We list several options below. For the full list, click here.

The former team behind many a worthy Jazzbones’ show have paired a three entrée option dinner with champagne and The Paperboys (pictured), Canada’s famous stomp band inside The Shrine Center at 815 S. Vassault in Tacoma. Their mixture of Latino, bluegrass and Americana with a Celtic jolt will excite your feet. Former Paperboys fiddle extraordinaire Kendel Carson will open the show. Call 360.951.7449 for details.

In the South Sound, there isn’t a better Led Zeppelin tribute frontman than Terry Mriglot. When he snaps his fingers and tosses his mike over his shoulder draped with long golden locks — communicating a confidence unique to the rock deity who once proclaimed “Valhalla, I’m coming home” — it’s damn close to the golden Robert Plant experience. His Zep tribute band, Kashmir, will perform tonight at Kamel Toes’ New Year’s Eve party. The guys from AC/DC tribute band SoulStripper will drop by for a little Angus and co., too. Check it at 14422 Pacific Ave. in Parkland.
 
Q Dot, a.k.a. Quincy Henry heats up the hip-hop stage at First Night Tacoma tonight. He’s a multi instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and performer, and made the ballot-cataloguing semi-finalists in five different categories for this past year’s Grammy Awards. He performs with J2, DV, Josh Rizeberg, We 2 Fly, Evergreen One, Toddy Sykes, and Strik-N-Krusal inside the old Moroccan Treasures spot at Ninth and Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

Hell’s Kitchen — Tacoma’s quintessential rock club — is coming back, set to return with a free, New Year’s Eve show with The Jet City Fix, Atomic Outlaws, Mom’s Rocket and Wide Eye Panic. It’s kind of a big deal. Read the full story here.

Be safe everyone.

Photo of The Paperboys by Tom Landa and Petra Zulke

5 Things To Do: New Year's Eve

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 2009 >>>

1. First Night Tacoma 2010 will include a 15-foot-long illuminated tiger puppet, burning trees and a 12-foot-tall fire-powered steel clock beginning at 6 p.m. in downtown Tacoma. Scan the full schedule here.

2. Speakeasy Arts Cooperative in downtown Tacoma stages The Dirty Change Up, Voxxy Vallejo, Dr. Stephen Bucklew, Deborah Page, Beehive, and Oscillator X beginning at 7 p.m. The last band will perform after everyone kisses during First Night.

3. The second floor space (915 Broadway) between Theatre on the Square and the Pantages hosts a killer show featuring The Tacoma Round No. 8 with Jason Dodson (8 p.m.) and Noah & Abby Gundersen (9 p.m.) followed by Goldfinch (10:30 p.m.)

4. Pacific Grill hosts a cocktail hour at 8:30 p.m. followed by crooners Dennis Ford and Chris Anderson at 9:30 p.m.

5. The Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia presents a New Year's Eve party with DJ Dead Air spinning ’80s rawk, punk, disco and more at 9 p.m. Fifty percent of the $3 cover goes to Safeplace.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

First Night: Short shorts and you

SUZY STUMP: 10-MINUTE PLAYS AT FIRST NIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE >>>

Maybe you’re one of those fiction writers that wondered what the hell you’re doing in fiction — that you should be writing a play. Maybe you’re one of those playwrights in embryo that have never written a play but always knew you had it in you. Maybe you’re one of those people who hate plays and want to write a play giving full expression to that hatred.

You need to figure this out — before the year ends.

First step, grab a taste of how it’s done. First Night Tacoma presents “Short shorts” — 10 minute plays on the downstairs library stage at Sanford and Son Antiques. After the Zubin Hensler Trio lays down some righteous jazz, the follow short plays will be read on the stage:

8 p.m.
You Are Special by Max Lucado adapted by Claire Teague (Tacoma Baptist High School)
A Play, by Sarah Ann Rickner and Martin Stewart

9 p.m.
All in the Timing, by David Ives with Kaylie Rainer and Taylor Richmond
Life in Theater, by Bryan Willis
Delia's Declaration, by Diane M. Crews
Time Flies, by David Ives w/ Galen Wicks and Melanie Cole

(At 8:15 p.m., the playwrights take a break for one of the best singer-songwriters in this state, Larry Murante.)

After you witness the creativity you know what your next step is. Let your creative juices flow, unleash your writing itch, get down with the sickness (without getting down with Disturbed, of course). You know you want to. Write. It.

[Sanford and Son Antiques downstairs library, 743 Broadway, Tacoma]

Xylophones, part deux

MATT DRISCOLL: DISPATCHES FROM VACATION >>>

Xylophones. What’s the deal with this band? After recently playing Colonies’ CD release show at The Den, Xylophones will plug in again this week for a 21-plus show at The New Frontier Lounge on Saturday.

Even on vacation, cranberry sauce stains on my warmup pants, I still have questions — like where did Xylophones, this band releasing plums of economical indie pop on Tacoma, come from?

Before I checked out for my week of laziness, I was able to catch up with David Bilbrey, half of Xylophones. Here’s what I learned.

NOTE: This is part two of an interview with David Bilbrey of Xylophones. Read the first part here.

VOLCANO: Explain your relationship with Rural Wolf — and, for those playing at home that aren't in the know — describe Rural Wolf to the masses. What does it mean — if anything — to have their backing and be part of that scene?

BILBREY: My relationship with Rural Wolf is like looking into a mirror — literally. It's my record label; so to have the support of myself means the WORLD to me. If I didn't have me as a support system for my music, I don't know what I'd be doing right now, although I'm sure it would involve being curled up in the fetal position and lots of shivering. But in all seriousness, Rural Wolf started as myself and Mike Cooper (Canon Canyon) wanting to put out our own albums, and friends albums, too. We want it to be like a family of bands and artists, not just someone footing a bill, so we put out music we make and music our friends make. We also really like vinyl, so we've been releasing vinyl with digital download for most of the albums we've released or are planning to release next year. We're in a good amount of debt already, so it's fucked up our release schedule. But we've been talking to a number of excellent local bands and hope to line up some more great releases in 2010.

VOLCANO: What's the deal with the cassette release with Piko Panda? Where'd that idea come from, and why was the pairing with Piko Panda a natural one? What happens if I leave my copy of the cassette out in the sun?

PHOTO: MOG Pole

MICHAEL SWAN: WEEKLY VOLCANO FLICKR GROUP >>>

Duaflex shot this cool photo at the Museum of Glass, then posted it in our Flickr Group. Click here to see Duaflex's photostream.

LINK: Weekly Volcano Flickr Group

Wednesday Reading

GEOFF READING: IT STARTED WITH STEVE JONES, PART THREE >>>

Editor’s Note: This is the third part of musician Geoff Reading’s “It Started With Steve Jones” story. For a refresher, click here for part one, and here for part two.

Billy Duffy and Martyne LeNobler of The Cult and I arrive at the front door of the strip club, but they won't let me in. I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt, and apparently that’s a no-no in Las Vegas strip clubs. Never having really understood the appeal of going into a candy store that prohibits you from putting the candy in your mouth, without missing a beat I was ready to jump back in the cab solo, and see what trouble I could muster up back at the Hard Rock Hotel. But Martyne took off his jacket and let me wear it, so in we went.

The place was done up like a harem — linens and tapestries hanging everywhere ... whatever. I’m really not a fan of strip clubs. I mean, some of my best friends are roofers, but I do everything in my power not to hang with them at work.

The foreman stripper leads us back through a maze of fake tits and dudes in fancy suits till we arrive at our party. My entire band (New American Shame) is there, as is Ian (Astbury), Matt Sorum, his drum tech Mike Fasano (aka Sack), members of The Cult's crew and my new best friend — Steve Jones. All the good seats are taken, leaving me ever less enthused about being there, rock legend shoulders be damned. I also have no intention of spending $20 before tip on a drink I can go make on our bus — for free.

NIGHT MOVES: Maia Santell, Kimya Dawson, Dave Randel, Brandon Beauchesne

WEEKLY VOLCANO: MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

Don’t know what to do tonight? Don’t worry, we have you covered.

The holidays are intended to incite love, merriment and cheer. But with celebrations of Baby Jesus’ birth beginning months in advance, jazz/blues singer Maia Santell understands that the season’s overextension can instead provoke something else entirely — such as aggravation and a general sense of dread. Of course, this in turn triggers guilt — and by the time one resolves to just be happy, goddamnit, Christmas is over. That must be why Santell and her band, House blend, add holiday tunes to their jazz and blues show tonight, post-holiday, at 6 p.m. inside Johnny’s Dock. God bless everyone in that band.

Olympia mama Kimya Dawson’s (pictured) sweet, throaty voice highlighted the hit movie Juno, and ever since has warmed hearts across the nation. Let her warm yours tonight at the Capital Theater Backstage in Olympia during an all-ages show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Joining her feel-good performance will be Japanther and Broken Water.

Brandon Beauchesne joins Chehalis singer-songwriter Dave Randel at the Mandolin Café for an all-ages show beginning at 7 p.m. We dig Beauchesne’s glam rock.

LINK: More live shows in the South Sound tonight