Anyone who has acted in even the most amateur community theater knows that on nights when the house is half-full, it’s hard to muster the same energy for performance that comes with the adrenaline of a sold-out show. X Japan is one of the biggest bands in the world. They’ve filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times. On Friday they played for 1,200 people in the Paramount Theatre without a hint that this wasn’t their biggest night yet. more ›

Take Guns-N'-Roses, add a dash of Queen theatrics, throw in some Aerosmith and U2 arena-rock charisma and you’ll have X Japan; superstar glam rockers, poised to blow your mind with sweeping metal-pop-punk. They’ll be at the Paramount tonight on the third show of their first ever North American tour. Beyond huge in Japan, (they’ve filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times) X Japan is venturing onto American soil to see how hard we all can rock. more ›

When asked to explain himself, “The Office’s” Dwight K. Shrute replies, “How would I describe myself? Three words: hard working, alpha male, jackhammer…merciless…insatiable…” That just about sums up the character’s distorted and hilarious vision of himself. In reality? The guy’s a total nerd with a terrible haircut and incapacity to comprehend basic human relations. And that’s why we love him. Through all the absurdity and surveillance and pranks, Dwight’s cluelessness shines through light a blinding, awkward beam of sunlight. And now you have the chance to see the man behind those brown suits in person! That’s right, Seattle-born Rainn Wilson is coming home for a special, fundraising event. more ›

Entering the Historic Paramount Theater, born two years before Sonny Rollins in 1928, the majestic grandeur of the space inspires an almost spiritual reverence. The setting Monday night at the Paramount was the church of jazz and Sonny Rollins was preaching the gospel as he returned to Seattle on Monday following a fifteen year absence. This tour, being billed as his eightieth birthday tour (his birthday is in September), marked a rare opportunity for Seattleites to witness the genius of a master tenor saxophone player up close and personal. more ›

Add this to the list of things that make us feel like slackers: Sonny Rollins was recording with Babs Gonzales, J.J. Johnson, Bud Powell and Miles Davis before he turned twenty. Now, after a 15 year gap, Sonny Rollins is bringing his tour through Seattle again. more ›

ONCE UPON A DREAM: Tchaikovsky is the King of Ballet. There is none higher. He composed three of the most widely loved and artistically immaculate ballets in history -- Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and, of course, The Sleeping Beauty -- and it’s difficult to imagine anyone ever topping the contribution that he made to the art. We all know the classic story of Sleeping Beauty; Fairies flit wild, girl gets cursed, boy meets girl and lifts curse, girl meets boy, wedding bells chime. But beginning tonight, we have the opportunity to see it all unfold as the ballet is performed by one of the country’s most acclaimed production companies. There’s no better way to celebrate the season of Love and springing out of the winter doldrums. The Sleeping Beauty was Tchaikovsky’s first major success 120 years ago. We would have loved it then too. more ›

Jules Verne was a veritable prophet. Before automobiles hit the road, he imagined electric submarines, journeys to the moon, global communication, television, and dozens of other zany advances. But his greatest creation has got to be Captain Nemo, a hero for both the 19th and 21st centuries. The courageous captain of the Nautilus, Nemo is an anti-imperialist who creates a sustainable underwater community, his blue and green paradise away from the gray industrial revolution (The Nautilus, it has been said, was a zero emission, VOC-free vehicle). Nemo is a vengeful self-exiling cynic, irrevocably heartbroken and purely ingenious. In other words, Literary Perfection. But best of all, he is his own master, removed from our messy, nefarious, landlubbing world. more ›

The 4th Annual Care for the Market luncheon, held yesterday at The Paramount Theatre, was a wake-up call for us. When we think of Pike Place Market, we picture ourselves gorging on Beecher's macaroni and cheese. We envision ourselves carrying bundles of ginormous dahlias, sampling oh-my-god-these-are-good peaches, and listening to the funky sounds of street musicians. We don't necessarily think of meals and housing for low-income senior citizens, childcare for those who can't otherwise afford it, and a food bank that gives a quarter of a million bags of groceries to neighbors in need each year. But yesterday, were asked to think of the historical and social importance of the market. more ›

The Paramount Theatre's Silent Movie Mondays during February are actually concerts in disguise. Yes, yes, silent movies are great. Seattlest laments the advent of the talkie on a daily basis. Yes, yes, seeing one of Hollywood's first stars, Gloria Swanson, on the big screen is a great opportunity that shouldn't be missed. But the real reason to be at the Paramount on Monday is that Dennis James will be providing live musical accompaniment. more ›