THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Look outside
Saturday: Rain, hi 49, lo 40
Sunday: Cloudy, hi 45, lo 33

>>> FRIDAY, JAN. 28: ARTIFAKT @ THE NEW FRONTIER

Artifakt shows are traditionally off the hook. If you've never been, you'll simply have to trust us on this one ... or better yet, get your ass down to The New Frontier Lounge tonight. We're talking live art by Dave Bloomfield, Jeremy Gregory (solid Motopony story in this month's Tacoma City Arts), Xavier Lopez and others. On the musical side, Kalex, Dyonysys, Big Chuck, The Matthews Dave Band and more will keep everyone inspired.

• The New Frontier Lounge, 9 p.m. to close, $5, 301 E 25th St., Tacoma, artifaktart.org

>>> SATURDAY, JAN. 29: FALL FROM GRACE (AND THE SEXY ASS MCDONALD BROS)

Fall From Grace is a band that's seen more than most. Even before emerging from the Seattle area music scene - kicking, screaming, thrashing and hand-clapping with the best of them - each member had already overcome odds and dealt with experiences that might have buried most. Then, after winning the Fuse TV Bodog Music Battle of the Bands competition in the middle of the decade, which included a $1 million recording contract with Bodog Music, the band has also dealt with all the crap that comes along with that kind of "success." Today, T-Town ass-kickers and Jet City Fix alums Justin and Ty McDonald have joined the Fall From Grace mix, making the benefit Saturday at Stonegate Pizza all the more intriguing. All money raised will go to benefit the family of Bill Jordan, who passed away far too young last November.

• Stonegate Pizza, with Atomic Outlaws, Plaster, 8 p.m., $5 minimum donation, 5421 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.473.2255

>>> SATURDAY, JAN. 29: VOXXY VALLEJO @ CHEER'S WEST

Voxxy Vallejo is few in numbers but formidable in power. On stage, the numbers don't matter - as the blues heavy guitar licks of Gene Vallejo spliced with the awe factor of Voxxy’s vocals is more than enough to carry the show. Saturday, the band will play one of its last local shows in a while, as they plan to hunker down and finish work on the next record after what should be a memorable night at Cheer's West.

• Cheers West, 9:30 p.m., $5, 7102 27th St. West, University Place, 253.267.1382
  

>>> WHERE OUR STAFF IS GOING

MATT DRISCOLL Editor (the guy to blame)
We've got a wedding to attend Saturday (and OH how I LOVE weddings), and then I accidentally signed up to help my sister move Sunday. It's crazy how that stuff happens. I vowed in the the early oughts to never help with another move as long as I lived -- even if it was family. Since, I've helped friends and family move aproximately 27 times.

BRETT CIHON Meat Market Correspondent/Features Writer
I'm heading to the Old General Store Steakhouse & Saloon on Friday night. I'm looking to get a juicy burger and a nice beer while I sit back and listen to the live country music. Yee Haw!

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: Music Writer
My only plan for the weekend is to attend the Apache Chief album release show on Saturday (sorry, Miles). It'll undoubtedly be a fun show, being that it also features such talents as the woozy psychedelia of the Drug Purse, the pounding acid rock of Night Beats, and the giddily noisy punk-rock of Red Hex (sorry, Sam).

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Plans. Yes, yes I have them. Friday night I'm headed to the all-ages, Slowwave CD release party at the Peabody Waldorf (8 p.m.) with my little son in tow. Saturday night I'll be attending/reviewing Tacoma Musical Playhouse's production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Sunday will be spent at church, napping and cleaning the house.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL: Theater Critic
This is the penultimate weekend for Frost/Nixon at Tacoma Little Theatre, plus drunken karaoke Friday night. I will not only be a creep but also a weirdo, yet may also take a long ride on my motorbike.

STEPH DEROSA  Person, Place or Thing Correspondent 
This weekend the Weekly Volcano hired a babysitter for me by the name of "Anne," who happens to also be one of the SOTA interns at the WV offices.  I plan on taking her through a traditional hazing by making her push a penny with her nose through a puddle of urine and french kiss a goat. Then I'll tell her I'm doing a feature story on first-time heroin users and make her "chase the dragon" off a sheet of heated tin foil while I take pictures.

ALEC CLAYTON: Visual Arts Critic
 I'm going to sit in the front part of the hairdresser and read old magazines while my wife gets her hair cut.

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STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Artifakts show at the New Frontier and geocaching around Tacoma because that is how I roll.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

Filed under: Arts, Bad Habits, All ages, Comedy, Events, Tacoma, Music, Theater, Olympia, University Place, The Weekend Hustle,