Spew

The Prefunk

MATT DRISCOLL: BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>

Ah, the prefunk – a calm before the storm and a time to prime yourself for the coming party. Whether you specifically refer to it as a “prefunk” or not, nearly everyone – or everyone the Weekly Volcano rolls with, that is - engages in some sort “prefunk” activity.

It reminds me of the time my dad started chugging his beer at the Gorge right before the Who came on – he said he wanted to “reach his peak” right as Townshend and Co. hit the stage.* He was over fifty, severely balding, and he didn’t know it – but he was prefunking.

The aim of this column, like my dad’s chugged beer at the Gorge, is to get you ready for the coming weekend.

Here’s a look at a couple events down tonight and tomorrow night in the South Sound, and some advice on how you might want to consider getting ready for them.

Friday Night

Poona the Fuckdog at Midnight Sun in Olympia

First of all, it’s a play – not a cheaply made adult film produced in Enumclaw. The dedicated folks at Theater Artists Olympia – who pride themselves on producing theater that’s not boring, regurgitated, cliché garbage – are unleashing this beast on non-offendable minds just in time for the holidays – and it couldn’t be more appropriate. Expect copious amounts of aliens, shrubs, salesmen and vagina references. Poona the Fuckdog opened last night, and runs through Dec. 20. Tonight’s show at Midnight Sun (113 N Columbia St., Olympia) starts at 8 p.m.

Prefunk Suggestion: Smoke out in your car right before walking in. You’ll smell like most people from Olympia, and the filthy jokes will be all the more hilarious.

Saturday Night

Motopony and Battersea at Jazzbones in Tacoma

Daniel Blue seems to be the most controversial dude in Tacoma these days – or close to it, anyway. Our late October cover story on the new Motopony record has the Internet comments to prove it. It seems nearly everyone has an opinion on Mr. Blue, which makes Motopony’s Saturday night show at Jazzbones all the more interesting. Will Blue ride to the stage on his scooter, like he did at the CD release show at Urban Grace? Or will he show up with a sleazy bachelorette party in a stretch Hummer limo and make his way to the stage only after stumbling on his face thanks to a pair of slutty high heels – as is the usual entrance at Jazzbones? Only time will tell… Saturday's show starts at 7 p.m.

Prefunk Suggestion: Snort lines of irony off the 253 Heart and then head to the Boneyard to get wasted on PBR and Carlo Rossi out of a smuggled in Nalgene bottle – not because you can’t afford any better, just because it’s the cool thing to do.

5 Things To Do: Tuesday

MICHAEL SWAN: TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 2009 >>>

1. The Strange Boys will lean a little heavier on the R&B side of things, which nicely balances their requisite fuzz clatter with The Drug Purse and Jetty Cats at 8 p.m. inside Olympia’s all-ages venue Northern.

2. With classical forms and an almost revolutionary approach to media, Jill Nordfors Clark has become synonymous with Northwest basketry. Her work can be seen alongside drawings and prints by her daughter, Erica Nordfords Applewhite, at The Sandpiper Gallery in Old Town.

3. Jazzbones’ Ha Ha Tuesdays hosted by Ralph Porter features MC D Lamont Hall at 8 pm.

4. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi hosts an open jazz jam at 9 p.m. inside Sax on 6th.

5. Muckleshoot Casino hosts an ‘80s Night featuring That ‘80s Show beginning at 9:30 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

5 Things To Do: Thursday

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2009 >>>

1. South Puget Sound Community College art faculty — including Carol Hannum ‘s work pictured above — is showcasing its wide range of works in a show opening today in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Gallery. Check it out from noon to 4 p.m.

2. Creative writing students of Tacoma's School Of The Arts will read their poetry and prose as part of Writers Bloc at 7 p.m. inside King’s Books.

3. The newly remastered 1982 Godfrey Reggio film Koyaanisqatsi will screen at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center.

4. The semi-finalists for 30th Annual Seattle International StandUp Comedy Competition will hit the Liberty Theatre stage at 8 p.m.

5. Fulcrum Gallery hosts a fundraiser featuring MC Alleon, Bobby Galaxy, Sax & Synth and DJ Broam at 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

5 Things To Do: Friday

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, OCT. 16, 2009 >>>

1. Viva Oz Vegas, the Vegas-style floor show extravaganza, hits Olympia’s Capitol Theater stage at 8 p.m.

2. The Gig Harbor Film Festival with more than 60 features, documentaries, shorts, and foreign films begins its three-day run today.

3. Tacoma mayoral candidates Jim Merritt and Marilyn Strickland will discuss questions posed by the public and CIVITAS, a student group, about urban issues facing Tacoma at The University of Washington Tacoma in the William W. Philip Hall’s Milgard Assembly Room from 5-6:30 p.m.

4. The Heroes of Improv Comedy performs at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at the Midnight Sun Performance Space in Olympia.

5. Andrew Vait & The Lonesome Pioneers and Danny Godinez play an 8 p.m. gig at Krickett’s Family Restaurant in Parkland.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Hot times at The Royal tonight

JOSE GUTIERREZ JR.: DEVON THE DUDE IN OLY >>>

One of the most underrated MCs on the map will slinkily and smoothly make his way to the stage tonight at Olympia’s Royal Lounge, when Devin The Dude headlines a strong show and line-up featuring Tac-Town’s Jay Barz, Olympia’s party crew, Junkyard Gang and DJ Luvva J (yours truly) on the 1s and 2s.

Since his days with Houston’s Odd Squad in the mid-‘90s, Devin has captured the minds and hearts of his listeners with blistering comedy, wordplay and an uncanny ability to tell stories — many of a sexual nature (check for his verses on “F**k Faces” with Scarface and “F**k You” with Dr. Dre).  Still for some reason or another, one of the most respected and sought after talents in the rap game is still slipping in and out of the mainstream radar. That’s OK though — those who know — KNOW.  Those who don’t can come and get a dose of the Texas legend tonight at the Royal in Oly. 

Devon The Dude plays Tacoma's Station 56 tomorrow night.

[The Royal, Devin The Dude, Jay Barz, Junkyard Gang & Luvva J, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 9:30 p.m., $15, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760]

5 Things To Do: Tuesday

MICHAEL SWAN: TUESDAY, SEPT. 29, 2009 >>>

1. Local restaurants compete for Best Soup Award 2009 from 4-6 p.m. at the 6th Ave. Farmers Market. All proceeds ($10 tastes) go to local honey farmer Shanetta Ludwig, a.k.a. The Bee Lady, who lost her husband a few weeks ago.

2. Check out the work of nature shutterbug Keith Lazelle who snagged 14 beautiful shots of the Hoh River ecosystem in the Olympic National Park. They’re on display at the Washington State History Museum.

3. Seldon Edwards, author of The Little Book, will discuss the book's extraordinary tale of Wheeler Burden, California-exiled heir of the famous Boston banking Burdens, historian, philosopher, rock idol, recluse, writer, lover of women and Harvard baseball hero at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library’s downtown branch.

4. Tobe Hixx is the guest comic for Ha Ha Tuesday hosted by Ralph Porter at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

5. It’s Team Trivia Night at 9 p.m. at Farrelli’s Pizza on Sixth Avenue.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

5 Things To Do: Friday

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, SEPT. 18, 2009 >>>

1. Goldfinch, Cotton Jones and Tall Girl will perform at 8 p.m. inside Urban Grace in downtown Tacoma.

2. Northwest Erotic Comedy Competition hosted by Riggs begins at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

3. Tacoma Pyrate Punx presents Rum Rebellion, Red White & Die, Crouton Cartwheel Crusaders, Cuntry Cuntrol at 6 p.m. for an all-ages show at Hell's Kitchen.

4. Neil Simon's The Star-Spangled Girl will hit the Tacoma Little Theatre stage at 7:30 p.m.

5. Prodigal Sun Productions hosts a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet at 8 p.m. inside The Midnight Sun Performance Space in Olympia.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Photo by Adam Ydstie

Clean and sober and funny

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: IS THIS ON YOUR RADAR? >>>

Last Saturday I dropped by Applini's Two Clean & Sober Club in Puyallup to catch local comedian Tk Kasnick kill the otherwise sober crowd. Susan Jones, the upcoming star of Living Large headlined the show, supported by the cute and twisted Jaqi Furback.

Have you been to Applini’s yet? Ironically, it's in the same building that used to house Mugs and Jugs sports bar.

Tomorrow night the club continues its Applini Idol contest from 7-10 p.m. A DJ spins every Friday night. Classic rock band Legacy pops in Saturday night. Check out their upcoming events here.

[Applini's Two Clean & Sober Club, 1015 N. Meridian, Puyallup, 253.604.4307]

5 Things To Do: Tuesday

MICHAEL SWAN: TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2009 >>>

1. Author Michael J. Vaughn will read and discuss his book OUTRO, which uses Gig Harbor’s karaoke scene as a backdrop, at 7 p.m. inside Tacoma's Wheelock Library.

2. The Tacoma Mountaineers 7th Annual Photographic Exhibition opens today at 9 a.m. at the Tahoma Center Gallery in Tacoma. It runs through Oct. 30.

3. Saxophonist and host Kareem Kandi is ramping up the jazz open mic every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Sax on 6th.

4. Comedians Jesse Case and Brett Hamil join host Ralph Porter at 8 p.m. for Jazzbones' Ha Ha Tuesdays.

5. Tempest Lounge presents iPod Tuesdays where you bring your MP3 player and become the DJ beginning at 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

No better way to spend a Sunday

MATT DRISCOLL: DK ROSS BENEFIT TODAY AT MECONI'S >>>

Life really fucking sucks sometimes. I don’t know how else to say it. When you look at a picture like that of David-Kenny Ross, the young boy struck by a boat while kayaking on American Lake earlier this year, and think of the severe brain damage and broken bones this young man sustained, there’s really nothing else you can say. As a parent, it makes my heart simply ache. It also makes me wonder if there’s any way — even small — that I can help Ross and his family.

Meconi’s in Tacoma was thinking the same thing, and today they’ll be holding a benefit for Ross to show their support for a boy who didn’t deserve the cards he was dealt, and help his family deal with the mounting medical costs.

Music will be provided by Loose Gravel & the Quarry, Chrome Molly — an AC/DC tribute band, 2112 — a Rush tribute band, and many more.

Comedians Chris Brannon and Riggs will also be on hand.

The event runs from noon to 8 p.m., and — really, truly — there’s no better way to spend a Sunday.

Donations small and large will be accepted and appreciated.

[Meconi’s Tacoma Pub & Eatery, with Glenn Harrell, Relentless, Grease Guemsey, Loose Gravel & the Quarry, Dave Roberts, Chrome Molly, Riggs, 2112, 709 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.3388]