But the show I'm really looking forward to features Black Smoker, Weep Wave, and Serpent Foot! Not only are all three of these bands fantastic, but this mini psych-rock fest will also be our first chance to check out the brand-new Overkill Lounge!

Overkill Lounge is the new incarnation of the space that used to be the Plaid Pig. Zach and Mandi Raphael, former bartenders and patrons of the old Pig, are now the proud owners of the Overkill Lounge. Congratulations to them! After a thorough cleanup and a slight remodel, The Overkill will be open five nights a week and will feature art gallery events, pop-up stores, comedy and dance troupes, game nights, and, of course, live music. They say the calendar is booked solid up to July.

While we are on South Tacoma Way… there’s some more exciting news just down the street at everyone’s favorite all-ages music venue, Real Art Tacoma. They will now be serving alcohol! Yes, for all those who need a stiff drink to enjoy the show, there will now be a 21+ area sectioned off in the back of the venue, where you can sip your booze and still catch the performance.

The president of the Real Art/Beyond ThunderDome Cafe collective, Tom Long, who is a non-drinker himself, stated that the organization realized they were limiting their potential reach and decided the time had come for change. They now look forward to providing a place where everyone can come and enjoy live music. This seems like the perfect setup for you Gen X parents who want to attend the same shows as your kids!

"I’m from a cloudy place where the sun doesn’t shine and the rain never sleeps / Where the freaks run free from the drugs they take till they R.I.P.”  These are the words of local horrorcore rapper Diggy Graves on his track "Pac Ave." Horrorcore mixes trap beats with ominous atmospheric sounds like harpsichords, theremins, and sampled screams. His love for slasher movies and the occult is evident here, and honestly, it’s not my favorite genre. But in a field that can sometimes feel repetitive, I believe Diggy Graves stands out and is worth a listen. His beats are crisp, and his lyrics aren’t overly transgressive but still manage to be creepy enough. Personally, I’ve been bumping "Circus Psycho," "Straight Jackets and Roses," and the aforementioned "Pac Ave." His video for "Pac Ave" has garnered over 2 million views in the last five months, and it’s only a lyric video! With those numbers, it is a little like when someone steps out of the forest wearing a hockey mask—it’s not something you should take lightly or ignore.

 Speaking of music videos, Victoria Faragosa and local filmmaker Donovan Wilson have teamed up to make a captivating film noir video for Victoria’s sultry, bittersweet song "No Moon." The video is currently in the process of being submitted to various film festivals, so It might be a minute before everyone can see it. Once it's available, I’ll be sure to inform you all. In the meantime, be sure to check out Victoria's fantastic live Instagram music show titled "Tuesdays with Toya," and look out for shows with her new band, Ghost in Glass.

Hope to see you all out at Bleak Outlook!