Spew

Open letter to Tree In Our Office Parking Lot

BOBBLE TIKI: A SAD DAY >>>

Dear Tree In Our Office Parking Lot,

We see each other every day, sometimes twice a day. You know Bobble Tiki. You know that Bobble Tiki works below you. You sometimes whisper strange things to Bobble Tiki when he’s forced to take out the garbage. You whisper endearing things such as "Your spring is a perfectly medium length," or strange things such as, "You and I are headed for the wood chipper soon."  Bobble Tiki must tell you that he is saddened to see that you tried to take your life today.

Why Tree In Our Office Parking Lot? Why did you throw half of yourself to the ground?

Bobble Tiki takes a little blame for the situation. Bobble Tiki should have listened more closely. Bobble Tiki should have paid more attention to the signs. You tossed pine cones at Bobble Tiki daily. You covered his car with debris. You place your needles under Bobble Tiki’s car wipers irritating the hell out of him.

Remember that Bobble Tiki has only shouted at you once. But now, Tree In Our Office Parking Lot, this game has gone too far.

You nearly crushed Bobble Tiki’s car this morning. Why? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life spread below a jungle gym? You realize children will not respect you. They will pee on you without a second thought.

Bobble Tiki doesn't want to hash out all of the other recent troubles you have caused; Bobble Tiki believes we might still be able to work this out since half of you still stands.

One last request: could you stop throwing pine cones at Bobble Tiki’s social worker when she comes to visit? It’s not helping.

Kind regards,

Bobble Tiki

Be a holiday helper

BOBBLE TIKI: SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY FOOD NETWORK >>>
 
Are you indecisive?  Do you find grocery shopping frustrating because of the number of options? Are you rich?  Do you wish you had less money simply because it would reduce your options in life?  Well, Bobble Tiki can help you, friend. Help you and help those who can’t afford to eat during the holiday season. 

The demand on the food bank system in Pierce County is up nearly 40 percent this year, according to Jeff Klein, development director for the Emergency Food Network in Lakewood. EFN is on pace to distribute 14 million pounds of food valued at $21 million in 2009.

“We supply food for 65 food banks and hot meal sites and do it with an overhead of less than 4 percent,” says Klein. “We’d love more community support for our efforts in terms of donation drives and food drives at local shows and events.”

Now there’s a rad idea. If you’re hosting a show or community event, consider adding a food drive or donating part of the profits to EFN. Give Klein and his crew a call at 253.584.1040.

Hope this has been helpful.

Tonight: ska, reggae, punk, jazz, surf, and rockabilly rolled into one band

BOBBLE TIKI: MAD CADDIES PLAY HELL'S KITCHEN >>>

Considering the amount of time Bobble Tiki spent listening to KGRG in the late ‘90s and early part of this decade, Mad Caddies have practically burned a sonic impression in Bobble Tiki’s brain — in oh such a good way. Bobble Tiki knows it’s a Monday, but Mad Caddies at Hell’s Kitchen is destined to be one of this week’s best. — Bobble Tiki

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Johnstones and Walk The Plank, Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m., all ages, $12 advance, $15 door, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

Threats and Promises

BOBBLE TIKI: RONTROSE QUITS; KRISTIN CONNELL OPENS THE SPEAKEASY >>>

It’s a new week, which means it’s time for a new installment of Bobble Tiki’s South Sound music news and notes column. Check out my column in today's Weekly Volcano on the streets or online for news regarding Ron “Rontrose” Heathman leaving The Supersuckers; the Speakeasy Art Co-op opening featuring Kristin Connell; and Blame it on the Girl at Bob’s Java Jive.

Paris Spleen calls it quits

BOBBLE TIKI: TIKI LOGIC >>>

On the sad news front, Bobble Tiki recently learned that one of his favorite Tacoma bands, Paris Spleen, will be calling it quits at the end of the month. No word on exactly why the indie rockers are moving on to hopefully bigger and better things, but Bobble Tiki suspects those Paris Spleen pants finally just got too tight.

Read the sad news regarding Bobble Tiki's health and the Spleen split here.

Bier ist gut, yo

BOBBLE TIKI: MALTOBERFEST AT THE JIVE TONIGHT >>>

If you’re new to the Maltoberfest game — here’s the brief lowdown: It’s like Oktoberfest propped up with copious amounts of Mad Dog 20/20 — think ghetto culture spliced with lederhosen. It’s the most unique of parties, and it seems to be getting stronger by the year.

For this year’s Maltoberfest, which will be held tonight at Bob’s Java Jive, event co-creators Craig Egan and Jen Orr have booked quite a musical lineup, including Q Dot, Paris Spleen, Ten Miles of Bad Road, Faraca, Dandelion Junk Queens, 508 Disturbance and Darrren Selector.

“I must say that our event has been blessed by the gods of intoxication. For inviting Tacoma’s craziest people and feeding them 10,000 ounces of gnarly brew, we’ve had surprisingly little trouble,” says Egan.

[Bob's Java Jive, Maltoberfest IV, Saturday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., $15, $10 in Maltoberfest attire, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

Tacoma bands to play covers

BOBBLE TIKI: LIVIN' ON A PRAYER >>>

Saturday, Oct.3 The Fucking Eagles, Girl Trouble and The Plastards will play only covers at The Acme Grub Cage. It will be the kind of event that, if your expectations are calibrated correctly, could be epic.

Will they play the rock anthems: “Livin' on a Prayer,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “I Can't Drive 55,” “Rock 'n' Roll All Night” and “Highway to Hell”?

Or will they play the classic hip-hop hits: “Rapper's Delight,” “Just a Friend,” “Insane in the Membrane,” “Me, Myself, and I,” “The Humpty Dance” and “Baby Got Back”?

Here is what Bobble Tiki hopes they play: “Sweet Jane,” “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Radio Free Europe,” “Take the Skinheads Bowling,” “Touch Me I'm Sick,” “Cut Your Hair,” “Teenage Kicks” and “Sooner Or Later.”

What do you hope to hear?

[The Acme Grub Cage, Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 p.m., $6, 1310 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.272.1892]

Coheed and Cambria and Sanchez

BOBBLE TIKI: KILL AUDIO >>>

Bobble Tiki thinks this band is frenetic, herky-jerky, and musically a little confusing. Sure, Coheed and Cambria are lyrically introspective, but when the hell did “poor me” replace “fuck you” in rock music? 

There’s no questioning this band’s talent — or motives for that matter — but Bobble Tiki thinks there’s a little too much thinking going on here, that’s all. Let’s get some of that uncontrollable urge back.

Anyway, Coheed and Cambria’s music consists of swift prog-rock tempo shifts that still soothe the neck they threaten to break. Interesting, but though it occasionally rocks out, the music is next to impossible to dance to. Give it a shot tonight at the Puyallup Fair.

By the way, it’s not surprising that Coheed and Cambria's heady concept albums paint dark scenes of desolate stretches tainted with wilted grain and black barbed-wire propped up against blank skies like charred skeleton fingers. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez writes a couple sci-fi mythological comic books series, including The Armory Wars, and his new series, a goofier Kill Audio — complete with scary self-portrait vinyl toy. As part of the band’s tour Sanchez will be popping into comic book stores before concerts to sign Kill Audio, which includes Comic Evolution in Puyallup Wednesday from 4:30-6 p.m. If you purchase the scary toy Wednesday, you’ll receive special VIP status at the concert. Just so you know, it doesn’t bobble. Just sayin’.

[Comic Evolution, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 4:30-6 p.m., no cover, 206 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253.770.6464]

[Puyallup Fair, with Brand New, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., $25-$37 at Ticketmaster, Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, 253.841.5045]

Masa's pancakes rule

BOBBLE TIKI: GRITTYSHOOT — LABOR DAY WEEKEND IN TACOMA >>>

Spending Labor Day weekend enjoying the sights, sounds, tastes and smells from our own backyard:

Masa
2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.254.0560

Breakfast hours: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There's almost nothing in the world Bobble Tiki loves as much as a plate of pancakes. Bobble Tiki's wife, Silver Oak wine, sashimi, listening to Led Zepp at deep, ear-massaging levels — they all edge out pancakes, but not by much. Pancakes are definitely in his top five.

And why not? A tall stack of flapjacks is basically an American excuse to eat cake for breakfast. As a tiny tiki, Bobble Tiki would get a furtive thrill whenever his folks took him to the diner in the morning and told him to order whatever Bobble Tiki wanted. Bobble Tiki ask for pancakes, of course — beautiful, warm, perfectly round pancakes, slathered in butter and drizzled with warm syrup from a sticky jug — and eat them quickly, shoveling them down like Bobble Tiki was getting away with something.

This morning Bobble Tiki shoveled a plate of Masa pancakes — very quick.

Masa pacakes — two large cakes with two eggs to order, 12 very thin, fried potatoes and choice of sausage or bacon — arrive light and fluffy, yet dense, concentrically browned on the flat grill and served with butter balls and strawberries — each in their own tiny cup — are subtly sweet, delicately starchy. They taste like you imagine pancakes would taste when you see perfect pictures in magazines, on menus, how you might remember pancakes tasting when you were a tiny tiki: a pure indulgence, dessert made into a meal.

As you read earlier on Spew, Masa now serves breakfast on the weekends. Click here for all the details.

Bobble Tiki invaded the next table to snap a few shots of other Masa breakfast items.

LINK: Masa's Web site

Java Jive TV commerical shoot Sunday

BOBBLE TIKI: BE A STAR BUT STAY OUT OF BOBBLE TIKI'S WAY >>>

Several things have occurred to Bobble Tiki since he stopped watching television:

1. Bobble Tiki still sees the Brady Bunch when he closes his eyes.
2. Poor Gilligan was kept down by the man.
3. Rosie O'Donnell killed Bobble Tiki’s Betty Rubble fantasy. (Mostly)
4. Everything useful Bobble Tiki knows he learned from watching cartoons.

Bobble Tiki is here to tell you, tuning out can be a real eye opener. If he hadn't stopped paying his cable bill Bobble Tiki never would have known.

However, Bobble Tiki will come clean and tell you he’s always wanted to be on TV. Bobble Tiki thinks he’s got what it takes.

Bobble Tiki will prove it Sunday at Bob’s Java Jive.

Justin Peterson and Dave Graham will be shooting a TV commercial for Bob's Java Jive Sunday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. Those interested in being an extra should show up and represent.

Warning: Don’t be trying to step in front of Bobble Tiki when the light goes on. Bobble Tiki has springs!