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Matt Driscoll on February 2nd, 2012
The Songwriters Composers Music Conference (SCMC), based out of Washington D.C. and coming to Tacoma Feb. 4, bills itself as a nationally-travelling event designed for unsigned artists, bands, songwriters, producers and independent labels. The SCMC says it offers lessons for success in the music business along with a chance for
Cup Check
Matt Driscoll on February 1st, 2012
There's not a country on the map at this point where the Super Bowl isn't a big deal.
OK, maybe Moldova. I have no idea what goes on in Moldova.
But everywhere else this Sunday's big game, pitting the Tom Brady-led, Bill Belichick-coached New England Patriots against the Eli Manning-led, Tom Coughlin-coached
Cup Check
Matt Driscoll on January 25th, 2012
Even though CBS Sports, the Huffington Post and the Penn State student news website Onward State jumped the gun just a wee-bit on breaking the news, it's now very official.
Legendary college football coach Joe Paterno died last weekend from complications related to his treatment for lung cancer. Paterno was 85.
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Matt Driscoll on January 19th, 2012
I'm not Catholic, but my dad was. Or at least he grew up Catholic. From what I understand it involved a lot of guilt. And nuns.
At any rate, one year, back in the day, he and my mom went to see some version of Late Night Catechism in Tacoma -
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Matt Driscoll on January 18th, 2012
Funny thing happened along the way. Thanks to the evolution of popular music, a whole generation of current rockers became dated faster than at any previous point in history. These days, if it doesn't include a Pitbull sample, a Casio keyboard line or even the remote chance of "going viral,"
Features
Matt Driscoll on January 18th, 2012
Funny thing happened along the way. Thanks to the evolution of popular music, a whole generation of current rockers became dated faster than at any previous point in history. These days, if it doesn't include a Pitbull sample, a Casio keyboard line or even the remote chance of "going viral,"
We Recommend
Matt Driscoll on January 18th, 2012
The Black Swans, in Olympia next Thursday for a show at Olympia's Guest House, is not the type of band that lifts you up with bouncy, hopeful energy. The Black Swans don't dabble in sunshine pop or carefree smiles without caveats. What the Black Swans do deal in - led
Cup Check
Matt Driscoll on January 18th, 2012
Last week's column was probably the second most popular Cup Check of all time.
And if you consider that the most popular Cup Check of all time, dedicated to ESPN college football analyst turned US Senate candidate Craig James not killing five hookers, will never be touched - having shattered Weekly
Cup Check
Matt Driscoll on January 11th, 2012
As hard as it may be to believe, I'm going to avoid the compulsion to dedicate yet another column to Tim Tebow. There's literally nothing left to say on the matter. I'm out. I'll let everyone else take it from here.
I am, however, going to focus on being a Denver
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Matt Driscoll on January 11th, 2012
I've raved about Aaron Daniel before. I've trumpeted his skill and uber-unique style. I've urged one and all to see the mastery of Daniel and his "One Man Banned" live and in person. Friday at Olympia's Royal Lounge, you'll get another chance to do just that - and those searching
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Recent Blog Posts
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on November 3rd, 2011
TUNE IN FROM 8-9 PM OR REGRET IT FOREVER >>>
Last night was big for us. Tonight will be even bigger.
Crossing a long-desired item off our collective bucket list, last night the Weekly Volcano recorded the very first episode of Volcano Radio - the Volcano's new Internet radio show and podcast.
It
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on October 14th, 2011
ZEROING IN >>>
Sure, it may seem easy to scoff at miniature golf, or "Putt-Putt Golf" as it's been called (and trademarked).
But that wouldn't be doing the sport justice.
Yes, I did just call miniature golf a "sport."
While that classification may seem debatable (and, OK, it probably IS debatable), there's some
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on September 9th, 2011
THE FAIR OPENS FOR BUSINESS >>>
More than simply cows, crowds and cotton candy, the Puyallup Fair has grown up alongside the town it calls home. Featuring a vast array of livestock, rides, booths, games, foods (of course) and big-name concerts, the 17-day Puyallup Fair, Sept. 9 - 25, promises enough
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on June 6th, 2011
TRANSPARENCY IN MEDIA >>>
Making editorially decisions for SPEW isn't always easy. Sometimes, tough ethical and practical situations arise that require careful contemplation.
For instance, sometimes Robert "the Traveller" Hill sends me a press release.
What to do? Post or ignore? Acknowledge or disregard?
The predicament is tricky, and a number of factors
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on November 11th, 2010
SCORE ONE FOR OLYMPIA >>>
Last night at Northern in Olympia, Wild Flag - perhaps at least momentarily better known as Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss and Rebecca Cole - played its first show ever. As Brownstein noted (herself and Weiss Sleater-Kinney alums) most of her bands have played their
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on November 8th, 2010
CHECK IT >>>
On the first Sunday of every month I visit the Northwest Convergence Zone - a South Sound based podcast orchestrated by the venerable Darrell Fortune. It's "kind of a big deal," for lack of a better description, as the pro bono, weekend warriors behind the Northwest Convergence Zone
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on October 15th, 2010
BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>
Admittedly, I'm sick. I'm snotty. My throat hurts. And I'm not even at the office today.
Yet, The Prefunk - a regular weekend primer for you and your liver - waits for no one ... not even the sick. The show must go on - and so
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on September 24th, 2010
BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>
Last week I was on vacation. There was no Prefunk. Your weekend still happened, of course, and I assume you still figured out a way to occupy yourself. But, you didn't start things off with tasteless whip-it jokes from the Weekly Volcano, and there was no
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on September 3rd, 2010
BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>
Well, O. M. G. The workweek is drawing to a close, and not only is the weekend upon us - but it's of the THREE-DAY variety! That's cooler than the other side of the pillow, as they say; the bee's knees (so to speak). It's groovy,
Spew Blog
Matt Driscoll on August 27th, 2010
BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>
Honestly, it would probably be best to let this week slide - to mysteriously (and probably unnoticed) duck out of my regular Prefunk obligations. The South Sound has already been forced to endure nearly 10,000 words from me this week (most with the expert help of
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Matt Driscoll on May 6th, 2010
The Oly Rollers are badasses. There's no doubt about it. You don't become a national champion roller derby team without having a little badass up your sleeve.
Filmmaker Bob Ray, from Austin, Texas, is also kind of a badass. Ray, though, just happens to be the kind of badass that
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