Cup Check
In honor of the close of the NFL season, here's one more Cup Check entirely dedicated to the pigskin ... As I've noted before, the absolute truth is rarely black and white. The world is full of subtleties and shades of gray, and nothing is as simple or straightforward as it
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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
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
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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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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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,"
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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,"
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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
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
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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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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Good things come to those who wait. Or, in Girl Trouble's case, good news has come to those who waited - specifically news that the lawsuit hanging over the band's head in Ohio for almost two years has officially been dismissed. Judge Joan Synenberg ruled Nov. 22 to toss a lawsuit
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The Volcano has sung the praises of Roman Holiday many times before (as recently as last September, in fact, when the band released its second full-length, Move Your Heart/Shake Your Bones). With a localized brand of seemingly arena-ready pop rock, the band - led by longtime friends Shane Lance (lead
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Olympia's Christian Mistress, purveyors of old school metal of the purest and most potent kind, will release their sophomore LP, Possession, on Relapse Records Feb. 28. Expect it to be scorching, and like a literal flashback to the glorious 1980s. Anchored by the darkly feminine vocals of Christine Davis, Christian
Cup Check
Some people might try to tell you this column is almost entirely about football. And they'd be right. At least most of the time. But, like everyone, even Cup Check is forced to look elsewhere for its entertainment (and fodder) once the NFL shuts it down for the season. After the Super
Ragnet
In every issue of this fine rag my hack team of wannabe journalists and I tackle some of the most laughable criminal acts that have recently happened in our area. Then - if we're doing our job - we write about those crimes in a way that makes you chuckle,
Cup Check
We're smack-dab in the middle of the holiday season. Which for most Americans, of course, is just a less confrontational way of saying Christmastime. And believe me, the last thing I want to inspire is confrontation - at least as it relates to national holidays and the sanctioned distribution of candy canes. That's
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Networking is important. These days, you can't really get anywhere without rubbing a few elbows and kissing a few babies. The powers behind the Northwest Convergence Zone podcast and NWCZ Radio know this - and in an attempt to lift our entire scene up created the annual Tacoma Musicians and
Cup Check
ESPN analyst Craig James may not have killed five hookers while playing for SMU in the early '80s, but it appears the much-despised commentator is running for US Senate. No, seriously. It was reported Tuesday by Dallas Morning News political reporter Gromer M. Jeffers that James - who starred as a running
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Christmas in Tacoma is synonymous with a number of things. Half-racks of Pabst adorned with bows. Eternal darkness. Mediocre gift exchanges. Heavy drinking. Loneliness. Depression. They all have their place on the Tacoma holiday mantel. Luckily, T-Town also has the annual (or somewhat annual) Girl Trouble Countdown to Christmas show,
