Critics' Picks
[HIP-HOP] + SAT, JULY 5 The first annual Northwest Freedom Fest is upon us this weekend. Not the big hoopla along Tacoma's waterfront, but rather an Olympia festival of music, food and fun, founded by Heidi Rosetta, a behind-the-scenes musician and self-described music lover. With the goal to raise awareness for female survivors
Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts performing in the Puget Sound this week. SECRET TICKET CODE TM =
Viva South Sound
Look, there's no point in pretending that this whole article is anything other than an excuse to publish a singles classified ad for myself, so let's go ahead and get that right out in the open. I enjoy whiskey, comedy podcasts, whiskey, dialogue-heavy films, whiskey and having long, intimate conversations
Features
You may have cranked your head while whizzing toward downtown Tacoma along Sixth Avenue. You break into a cold sweat. The Hob Nob looks different. The charming diner across from Wright Park has new outdoor signage. Has your favorite Tacoma hang for breakfast with the seedy intimate Side Door Lounge
Food Matters
BEER BEER BEER Tacoma Stadium District burger joint Shake Shake Shake (124 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma) has added beer beer beer. Wine, too. Beers on tap include Tacoma brewing Company's Broken Window IPA, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Coors Light. Rainier is available in can. Gig Harbor's 7 Seas Brewing's brews
We Recommend
San Francisco duo Callow are inordinately preoccupied with mood. Everything they do is measured and drawn out, lending unbearable proportions of tension to every song they make. Composed of Red Moses on guitar and Sami Knowles on drums and keyboard, with both singing, Callow describe their music as "ghost western,"
We Recommend
Around the mid-'00s, a cavalcade of bands arrived on the scene as blissed-out purveyors of art-pop - off-kilter melodies and shifting time signatures giving nods to progressive rock, without going so far as to approach the uncommercial. Groups such as Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear and Local Natives are on the
We Recommend
B-Lines are very much not in the mood for fancy-pants subgenre naval-gazing. No hifalutin descriptors; just "stupid punk" emblazoned on their page. One thing does pop up, though: they refer to one of their albums as "post-proto-hardcore," a designation so colossal in its meaninglessness that it approaches the sublime. There needn't
Military Life
Oh Canada! Our neighbor to the north celebrated its national holiday yesterday. While Canadians across their country showed pride in their history, culture and achievements, some assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) did so as well at Heritage Hill. "Whenever we move, I bring my country with me," commented Kim Dorion as she
Archives
Tacoma scenes shine in the latest Tacoma Contemporary installations in the Woolworth Windows. In the Broadway windows, the city is represented by reflections-within-reflections and grids-within-grids in painted constructions by Paul McKee. I don’t know who wrote it, but someone sent out on an arts listserv an intriguing description of McKee’s
Archives
If there’s one thing Bobble Tiki likes, it’s a good sales pitch. Scratch that. If there’s one thing Bobble Tiki likes, it’s free Scotch. If there are two things Bobble Tiki likes, they are free scotch and a sales pitch. Upon visiting the official Duke Robillard Band Web site — www.dukerobillard.com
We Recommend
The first annual Northwest Freedom Fest is upon us this weekend. Not the big hoopla along Tacoma's waterfront, but rather an Olympia festival of music, food and fun, founded by Heidi Rosetta, a behind-the-scenes musician and self-described music lover. With the goal to raise awareness for female survivors of traumatic events such
Listings
BLUES Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Billy Shew Band Open Jam Session. 8 pm. NC. Charley's Pub Fircrest. Chicago Blues Thursdays. Real Chicago blues with Richard Molina. 8-11 pm. NC. Eagle's Hall Olympia - Downtown. OlyBlues Dance Night. Third floor, no partner necessary. All Ages. 9
We Recommend
While many people would associate water or Gatorade with exercise, those people would be wrong, and the Tacoma Runners know it. Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., for the last four years, waves of runners head out from a Tacoma pub, following a 5K route announced at the
Listings
BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Hambone Blues Band. 8 pm. Ruston Way Waterfront - Tacoma. Tacoma Freedom Fair Dukes Blues Stage, featuring Alyx Phippen, The Cody Rentas Band, CD Woodbury Band, Brian Lee & The Orbiters, Emily Randolph & Oaklawn, Ayron James & The Way, King
We Recommend
It's Back to Beale Street time again - which for Bobble Tiki feels a little more like Back to back to back to back to back to Beale Street. Every year the Back to Beale Street competition, which is sponsored by the South Sound Blues Association, is one of the highlights
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Matrix Coffee House Chehalis. The Rogue Scoundrel, Willow & The Wolf, Tim Goodwin. All Ages. 7 pm. $6. BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Hambone Blues Band. 8 pm. B Sharp Coffee House Tacoma - Downtown. Richard Allen & The Louisiana Experience. All Ages. 8 pm.
We Recommend
He's not the new king of pop yet, but Ben Union makes a pretty good Adam Levine. Union frames his prodigious and rock solid talent - soulful vocals, a danceable funk groove, irresistible pop hooks - with passion and showmanship. Imagine the music of Maroon 5 and Train being forced
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Charlie's Restaurant Puyallup. Acoustic Jam Night. 6-9 pm. NC. BLUES Dave's of Milton Milton. Blues Jam, hosted by Doug McGrew. 7:30 pm. NC. Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Blues Jam, hosted by Tim Hall. 8 pm. Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Sunday Blues
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Steilacoom Pub and Grill Steilacoom. Monday Music, featuring Kurt Lindsay. 7 pm. BLUES Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Blues Monday with Black Rose. 7 pm. NC. The Swiss Restaurant & Pub Tacoma - Downtown. Steve Cooley and The Dangerfields. 8 pm. NC. COMEDY/GAMES The Hub
