Leonard Haggarty of Blue Horizon Records confirmed that Tacoma rock legends, The Ventures and the Fabulous Wailers, will indeed team up for a big show in Seattle, on April 10 at the Moore Theatre. Plus, the promo site for their new album "Two Car Garage" seems to be up and working. Learn more here.

I know I’m amped about Sunday’s Super Bowl game. And even before country star Dierks Bentley called today for an interview about his Feb. 28 appearance at the Tacoma Dome, I figured I knew who he’d be rooting for the day after tomorrow. You know, ol’ Dierks is from the A-Z.

“Mark it down. I think it’s gonna be 38 to 26, Cardinals,” he boasted. “They're gonna light it up. Kurt Warner wears that one glove. He’s adding some rhinestones to it for this game. He’s bringing the special glove to the Super Bowl.”

Click the quote above to hear more. And granted, I haven’t paid too much attention to the media week press conferences, but I think he was joking about the glove. Then again, maybe not. Maybe Bentley got one of the designers that makes all those rhinestone studded jeans country stars wear to make a Nashville-style good luck charm for his favorite QB. Or maybe Kurt Warner's gettin' all Michael Jackson-like on us. Watch and see if his TD celebration is a moonwalk.

"Eeeeee heee! Thank you, Jesuuuuuuus!"

Anyway, the big bummer for Bentley is that he'll actually be working during the game and will have to rely on TIVO. Well, not working in a "shoveling coal" kind of way. He gets to play to some of his fans in West Virginia. And besides, considering how the match up against the Steelers is looking, maybe it's best he not witness the brutality. Heh heh.

Legendary punk band X is coming back for another two-night stand Showbox at the Market, the band's publicist announced today. This tour will bring the quartet to the Seattle venue on April 10 and 11, and hopefully those shows will be as cool as their local stops for last year's 13-31 tour.

X will also play Portland's Crystal Ballroom on April 9 just to give you all another Northwest option since tickets are bound to go fast. And the veteran outfit will be setting up a web site to allow fans to vote on the set list, according to today's announcement.

Country star Taylor Swift, best known for hits "Tim McGraw," "Teardrops on My Guitar" and "Fearless," will headline her first major tour this year, which will include a May 15 stop in Seattle, according to dates just released by her publicist. Other Northwest stops include Portland, Yakima and Spokane. No venues were named in the press release, but opening acts Kellie Pickler and Gloriana were. In most markets, tickets will start at $20.

Stay tuned for more details, or check out what she said last time I interviewed her over here.

Taylor Swift has has had huge, crossover success since she opened for Rascal Flatts last year at the Tacoma Dome (above). Expect Fearless 2009 to be one of the year's most lucrative tours.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

For the past few year’s, downtown Tacoma’s Brick City Club has featured Saturday night rock event, Club Impact, and the hip-hop oriented Club Friday every other week. And lately I’ve been hearing about a new night in the works, an 18-and-up dance event that will take place on Friday nights when Club Friday isn’t in session.

It’ll be called Shorty’s at Brick City. It kicks off on Feb. 20 with a performance by New York-based pop performer Alex Young. And this afternoon I caught up with Brick City volunteer Teresa Mullins who gave me the skinny on Shorty’s.

Lacey Leffler at Broadway Center sent me this regarding the Feb. 17 appearance of Juan de Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All-Stars at the Pantages Theater.

We are working a pretty cool project with Emergency Food Network that we’re just announcing this week. Key Foundation, the performance sponsor, has helped us join forces with EFN to help encourage food donation at a time when they need it most. We’re making $15 tickets available to the show with a non-perishable canned food item donation. We’ll have food bins set up at the Box Office.

Learn more here.

The band's keyboard player was only 56. No cause of death has been announced. Read more here.

Those 50th anniversary shows for the Ventures and the Wailers I mentioned on Jan. 8? Well, the first one looks like it will take place on April 10 in Seattle, with the details being finalized as we speak. Leonard Haggarty of Tacoma's Blue Horizon records also tells me that "Two Car Garage," the new album featuring both influential Tacoma bands, will be out soon. No kidding this time. The release has been slightly delayed as the label works on its promotional web site and aspects of the packaging, he said. Stay tuned.

Rising country star Jason Aldean will help kick off the Puyallup Fair on Sept. 11. Organizers just announced that the rising country star – best known for hits “She’s Country,” “Hicktown” and “Why” – will headline the Puyallup Fair & Events Center grand stand on opening night of this year's fair, after the PRCA Rodeo.

Tickets for Aldean's performance are set at $30 to $50. The rodeo series continues through Sept. 13, and tickets for all of the above go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 7. Show times and prices are as follows.

Puyallup Pro Rodeo PRCA Playoffs
Friday, Sept. 11, 1 p.m.
$5* / Golden Saddle $18.00
* $5 rodeo does not include Puyallup Fair gate admission. Opening Day Bonus: Enter Fair on 9/11 between 10 am and noon and receive free Fair gate admission. Entrance after noon requires gate admission purchase.

Puyallup Pro Rodeo PRCA Playoffs, followed by Jason Aldean
Friday, Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m. rodeo
$30.00 / $40.00 / Golden Saddle $50.00

Puyallup Pro Rodeo PRCA Playoffs
Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 p.m.
$15.00 / $20.00 / Golden Saddle $30.00

Puyallup Pro Rodeo PRCA Playoffs
Saturday, Sept. 12, 6:30 p.m. rodeo
$15.00 / $20.00 / Golden Saddle $30.00

Puyallup Pro Rodeo PRCA Playoff Finals
Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
$20.00 / $25.00 / Golden Saddle $35.00

In a kinder, gentler moment before last year's infamous Tim McBrawl incident in Auburn, Jason Aldean paused to let a fan snap a shot of his tush. You know, even though he was a little busy. Between this and what made national news later, we're thinking there may be a barricade for the Fair show.
ERNEST JASMIN

Just got done interviewing Chuck D for a preview of his appearance next week at UPS. And among the many topics we covered were Crew Grrl Order, a group on his Slamjamz label, and the disparity between male and female success in hip-hop. While lots of folks have penned songs about Barack Obama, C.G.O. pays musical tribute to Michelle with "First Lady." Check it out here.

And it goes without saying that you should check back for clips from the interview in the next few days. Cheers!

Freddie Stone, co-founder of legendary rock n’ soul group Sly & the Family Stone, will headline a benefit for the IFG Foundation of Tacoma on Feb. 13 at the King Oscar Restaurant, 8820 Hosmer St., Tacoma, the foundation announced today. The event will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. that day, and tickets are $50. Call 253-581-0227 or click here for more info.

Island Def Jam has announced Fall Out Boy's spring tour dates, which include an April 10 stop at Seattle’s WaMu Theater. The Believers Never Die Part Deux tour, in support of the pop-rock band’s new disc “Folie à Deux, kicks off on April 3 in Phoenix. Cobra Starship, All Time Low, Metro Station and Hey Monday will add support. Find more details, including info about some new app that lets you buy tickets on your iPhone, on the band’s fan site.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! We wanna be Pete Wentz's BFF! At the Tacoma Dome in 2006.
ERNEST JASMIN

Chuck D -- the man who lent his booming baritone to such Public Enemy hits as "Fight the Power," "Welcome to the Terrordome" and "Bring the Noise" (where I got the name for this blog, actually) -- is coming to the University of Puget Sound. He's been booked to appear at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Schneebeck Concert Hall for Black History Month, UPS announced today. It's a speaking engagement, not a rap performance; and maybe he'll touch on his more recent careers stints as a political pundit, Air America radio host and head honcho of his own record label, Slamjamz Recordings. Tickets are $10 and are only available through the university; 253-879-3419 for details.
WALTER LEAPHART

The local artist of the week is Tacoma crooner Dwayne D'Arby, who records with South Sound R&B/hip-hop label One Famm Records. This clip is from a show in Seattle, but Friday (Jan. 30) you'll be able to catch him at Jazzbones.

Lately, I’ve written quite a bit about how things have taken off for Crystal Aikin since the Tacoma singer finished first on BET's gospel-themed reality show, "Sunday Best." She's the topic of a story I wrote for Sunday's paper, and finally I’ve got some interview clips posted for you, too.

On Jan. 13, Zomba Gospel released Aikin’s self-titled debut album, and I caught up with the 33-year-old singer when she was on the road making a string of radio promotional appearances that took her all over the eastern U.S. Here's some of what she had to say, followed by clips from a few of her new tracks.

Part 1: She misses being a nurse at St. Joe's

Part 2: On the road, a marriage proposal

Part 3: Listening to role models, being one

Part 4: Showcasing her versatility, working with Natalie Grant

And just so you have a better idea of what we’re talking about, a few clips from Crystal Aikin’s new album …

"Breathe on Me" with Natalie Grant

"I Desire More"

"The Clouds"

Travis McCoy (shown here at the Tacoma Dome in 2007) will be at KeyArena with his Gym Class Heroes band mates on Sunday (Jan. 25). Good money say’s “Cupid’s Chokehold” will be on the set list. But I wouldn’t bet on Travis’s recent ex, Katy Perry, being on the tour bus.
ERNEST JASMIN

Gym Class Heroes will be at KeyArena Sunday night with Lil Wayne’s I Am Music tour. And recently I hooked up with Matt McGinley, the band's drummer and co-founder, for some quick phone time. Click on the links to hear some of what we talked about and a few clips from the band’s new album, “The Quilt.”

Part 1: Being cool with never fitting in

Part 2: Meeting Travis and bonding over Tool and KRS-One

Part 3: Recording "The Quilt" with their homie, Patrick Stump

And a few new cuts you may hear in concert ...

Cookie Jar

Blinded by the Sun

Drnk Txt Romeo

Tacoma needs more live music venues, what with all the talented bands we have bouncin’ around these here parts. And lo and behold, there actually is a new joint getting started this weekend.

Well, it’s actually an old joint, but the music part is new over at Seafarer’s Sports Bar, at 3878 Center St., in Tacoma. On Saturday (Jan. 24), the bar will host its kick-off rock show with the Plastards and Electrolux. And on Feb. 7, Jackmove will open for CFA (Cody Foster’s Army) and the Broken Oars. Action starts some time after 9. And the best part is that there’s no cover charge for either show. Hmmm. Why don't more local club owners try this strategy when they're just getting going? No clue.

New manager Matt Steele tells me that these two shows will be the first of many. “We've just started doing it again after a several year hiatus,” he wrote when he e-mailed me a while back. “I am planning on having live music every 2 weeks. The Plastards show is our kick off on Saturday night, and Cody Foster's Army along with the Broken Oars show on the 7th is our official get going.”

Recently, a reader e-mailed with this query:

Hey, I read something online from you about clubs in Tacoma. Pretty good info, but here's my question...Where in tacoma does the 40-50 year-old crowd go? I'm from Eatonville, a young 50-something single guy who can't find a place to meet women my age. So frustrating. Where do they go? Can you help me? Steve

I suggested that, depending on his tastes, he might start with the Emerald Queen Casino, which draws the full range, from whippersnappers to grandmas, or Dawson's Tavern over at 5443 South Tacoma Way, which in my observation skews towards middle-aged blues-rock types. (Sorry, didn't immediately find a link for Dawson's).

But I must confess. I mostly focus on stuff that appeals to the 20- and 30-something set, an occasional nod to classic acts like AC/DC and Stevie Wonder aside. Where would you all suggest our friend go kick it without feelin' all geriatric-like?

The block rockin’ beats are comin’ to Tacoma's Robert Daniel Gallery.

On Jan. 31, the art spot will host Fresh Air, a showcase of regional DJs and visual artists organized by South Sound Collective and Pacific Fusion Productions.

Tacoma and Seattle DJs Jimmy Hoffa, Jeromy Nail, Mr. Clean, Big Chuck and D:Fi will give you something to listen and groove to as they man the wheels of steel (or laptops and Kaos Pads, and whatever DJs lug around these days.) Meanwhile, artists Jeremy Gregory, L. L. Eklund, HERA, PFP, Jeff Olson, GRYM and Alice Engelhardt will give you something to tantalize your eyes. The event kicks off at 10 p.m. and is open to 18 and older. There's a flier posted on the NW Tekno site with more details.

But my fault. I'm actually kind of burying the lead. The potentially big news, is that organizers are hoping to put on some sort of monthly event along these lines. “My partner and I are currently working with the owners on doing a monthly event there,” Matt Eklund of Pacific Fusion wrote me the other day. Click the links for more info, and stay tuned.

I'd hoped Eddie Vedder might show up to support his buds in X during the legendary punk outfit's two-night stand at Showbox at the Market last year. (X's John Doe told the crowd that Ed was sick, in case you didn't make it.) And I kind of wondered if Pearl Jam's mouthpiece might surface for the Knitters, X's Americana-flavored side project, which headlined the Tractor Tavern last night. Well, this report from the show removed all doubt.

Any of you guys catch it? Any details you want to add that Rolling Stone missed?

Things are definitely happening for rising Tacoma gospel star Crystal Aikin, who just got back from a cross-country radio promotional tour in support of her self-titled debut album for Zomba Gospel. She tells me she'll only be home for a minute before she takes off for another flurry of dates, which include an upcoming appearance on BET's 106 & Park Presents: Generation Gospel program. But after she catches her breath, she'll at least take some time out for her hometown fans. You can catch her at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 24) at Dightman's Bible Center, 2941 S 38th St. Suite E, where she'll sign the new album, which came out last week.

But before you go to that, check back here. I interviewed Ms. A for a story that's running in Sunday's SoundLife section, and hopefully I'll have some audio from that posted along with clips from a few of her new songs.

Here's some good news and bad news about next month's Wintergrass festival. As some of you may have already heard, the Hotel Murano lobby won't be available for those impromptu jam sessions that the festival's faithful love so much thanks, I'm told, to a handful of unruly knuckleheads last year. But festival co-director Patrice O'Neill tells me that a jam area will be set up in the hotel's pavilion area. And she also just informed me that the theater at Tacoma's Museum of Glass will be open for jamming, too, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 21.

For more festival updates, ticket info and a schedule of this year's performers, check the Wintergrass site here.

Today, we celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama. And in honor of that occasion, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the musical cheerleaders that helped get him get across the finish line. And of course, I have to start with the one, the only ...

... Amber Lee Ettinger, a.k.a. the Obama Girl, who first made a splash with "I Got a Crush on Obama" ...

=> Read more!

What’s the best way to unwind after a long day of nail-biting NFL action? Try watching Madmat the Indestructible man getting cinder blocks smashed on his back by a 6-foot-tall, sledge hammer wielding drag queen; some freakishly flexible Peacock gal; women wielding power tools a little too close to their naughty bits; and one super freaky girl Prince impersonator. All of the above scenes are from Sunday night’s Pure Cirkus performance at Hell’s Kitchen. And you can learn more about the Seattle troupe here.
ERNEST JASMIN

Junkyard Jane will be at Jazzbones on Friday (Jan. 23). And make sure you tell lead singer/harmonica Leanne Trevalyan happy birthday.

Sanjaya's new book and album, that is. Both are due in stores on Tuesday (Jan. 20). Hope they don't eclipse that other thing happening that day. You can read more here. And you know what? I'm gonna have to find the tape from my last interview with the kid from Fed Way. I don't think I ever posted any audio. Stay tuned, Sanjayaphiles.

Our hero, Sanjaya Malakar, mugging it up with admirer, Raelhiya Fulmer, at the Commons Mall in Federal Way in 2007.
JANET JENSEN

Not going out this weekend, you big homebody? Then you might as well check out Seattle's breakout band of 2008, Fleet Foxes, making their first appearance as musical guests on Saturday Night Live, some time after 11:30 p.m. Saturday on NBC. Added bonus: Host Rosario Dawson. RAWR!

The Decemberists’ new album, “The Hazards of Love,” will be released on March 24, Capitol Records announced today. It will be the arty Portland rock band’s fifth album, its first since 2006 breakthrough, “The Crane Wife” – a disc which found the band making several appearances on national TV, including the faux feud between guitarist Chris Funk and Comedy Central pundit Stephen Colbert.

=> Read more!

Covered windows? A notice that somebody’s applied for a liquor license taped to the glass? People going in and out with tools and stuff? Hey, something tells me Sixth Avenue is about to have another addition to it’s nightlife on the 2300 block.

The nightclub that’s under construction at 2309 Sixth Ave. will be called Sax, to be specific. I just spoke to co-owner Jennifer Yee, who also owns the North China Garden next door with her husband. And she tells me the plan is to feature live jazz, as the name implies, beginning in April or May. They’ll have grub, too, but unlike her other spot she said Sax will specialize in bar food, like burgers and sandwiches. That’s the skinny, and I’ll let you know more as I learn it.

Legendary rock band Fleetwood Mac will headline the Tacoma Dome on May 16, Live Nation announced today. It’s the only Northwest stop that the veteran outfit, best known for “Go Your Own Way,” “Rhiannon” and other hits, is scheduled to make on its forthcoming arena tour. Tickets are set at $49.50 to $149.50 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Jan. 26.

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Grammy nominees Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne and Katy Perry were the first performers announced for the 51st annual awards show, which will be broadcast by CBS on Feb. 8. More here.

Last summer, recently re-formed Seattle rock outfit Sweet Water snuck into Tacoma, adopting a fake moniker, the Cupcakes, for an opening slot for Duff McKagan's Loaded at Hell's Kitchen. But this time, the popular alt-rock band is letting its presence be known and coming equipped with a brand spankin' new album.

Sweet Water will return to the Kitchen on March 14 where to deliver songs from "Clear the Tarmac," the group's first full-length album in nine years, due from Golden City Records on Jan. 20. Below is a clip shot for "Rock Steady," one of the new cuts.

Some of you will remember Tacoma gospel singer Crystal Aikin from BET's reality show "Sunday Best." Her self-titled debut album drops tomorrow (Jan. 13) on Zomba. Meanwhile, you can check her out in the clips below.

This is Jet City Fix. Catch 'em at Hell's Kitchen next Friday (Jan. 16) with Mos Generator, Blood Hunger and Vista Switch.

Fans of the Ventures and the Fabulous Wailers can expect to hear their joint album “Two Car Garage” within the next few weeks, according to sources close to the project.

=> Read more!

Burn the Floor has been extinguished. Yesterday, management called off the big ballroom dance gala's stop at the Tacoma Dome, which was scheduled for Jan. 24. Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase or automatically credited if ordered by phone or online, said Dome marketing director Steve Brown.

Burn the Floor is choreographed by Jason Gilkison and its cast includes Giselle Peacock and Henry Byalikov, all members of the Australian team on the new NBC reality TV show "Superstars of Dance." I sat down with Gilkison and dancers Patrick Helm and Sharna Burgess Tuesday when they were in town doing press, and I'll try to get some audio clips describing behind the scenes action on the set of the "Superbowl of dancing" before the next episode airs Monday night.

If you like jazz fusion and you’re a fan of Santana, this week’s hot ticket is for Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder, the main attraction Saturday night at Jazzbones. Shrieve’s place in rock history was secured at a young age, thanks to his stint with Santana and an epic performance at Woodstock, as captured in the legendary concert film. Click the links below to compare and contrast how the guy played back then and the prog' sounds he'll showcase this weekend at the Boneyard.

Andrew Bird's "Armchair Apocrypha" was one of my favorite discs of 2007. And if you're like me and can't wait for follow-up album "Noble Beast," due on Jan. 20, you should click this link to listen to NPR's exclusive preview. The melodies are gorgeous. That haunting whistling is back. I like what I hear so far.

As you Stooges fans out there may have already heard or read elsewhere, guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan last night. Read the Rolling Stone report here.

Sad news for sure, but I'm glad that I at least had the privilege of catching up with Ron before the Stooges' comeback tour brought the infamous and highly influential outfit to Seattle in 2007. Click here to listen to what he had to say on that day about his band's legacy, being a musical outsider and hooking back up with Iggy Pop and brother, Scott, for the tour in '07.

Those who have followed his Purpleness over the years know he doesn't like to be confined to that whole "release a disc every 18 months" schedule most major labels seem to favor. And lo and behold, he's tossin' three new albums our way in '09. They'll be dubbed "Lotus Flow3r," "MPLSOUND" and "Elixir," according to Rolling Stone's report.

Of all the genres I cover I can’t say that bluegrass is my strongest suit, even if do I hail from the Bluegrass State. So every year I learn a bunch from the organizers of Tacoma’s Wintergrass festival, which will take place from Feb. 19 to 22 at Hotel Murano and surrounding venues in 2009.

=> Read more!

Maybe you were snowed in by all the pre-Christmas snow we got in these parts. But not only did Seattle's Blue Sholars manage to dig themselves out. All that white stuff served as a muse for a new song and video, directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi. Guess they had some free time, though, since they had to cancel their homecoming gigs at the Showbox.

Is 2008 over already? Sweet sassy molassy! That went by fast! And, um, happy New Year! Let's hope this year brings as many killer concerts to Puget Sound as the last. And to remind you of what I'm talkin' about, here are just a few more live images I managed to capture when I had my camera in tow.

Better late than never. By many accounts, rapper Lil Wayne had the biggest year of any pop star in 2008. And after a long delay, blamed on a late flight, he eventually showed up to bask in the love of 20,000 fans at KUBE 93’s Summer Jam, “Lollipop” in hand.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

British rock gods, Radiohead, made their first local appearance in five years at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre on Aug. 20 (top). The band was surrounded by lots of LED light tubes, and the effects were quite breathtaking, overshadowed only by Nine Inch Nails high tech set at KeyArena a few weeks earlier (below).
ERNEST A. JASMIN

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