Come Play Music in Tacoma - We Will Not Shoot You
The South Sound area has no shortage of homegrown music. Perhaps only Brooklyn, Nashville and New Orleans can rival the Northwest in terms of frothy fan-fetishization. But better writers have addressed the topic at length, and I am satisfied to keep my ruminations on this proud history to myself.
In fact, I am only cautiously approaching the subject of music. I am perhaps more qualified to address issues of dirt and concrete; but if I am to be perfectly frank, my career in dirt and concrete began when I discovered that someone in my band needed to be gainfully employed. We needed microphones, whiskey, cables, cigarettes, practice monitors, guitars and recording equipment. So to fund our horrible blend of inexperience, hubris, and melodic monotony, I learned how to run a Geodimeter. I am sure bartenders all over Colorado breathed a collective sigh of relief when my pursuit of the surveying profession eventually consumed the time I had once dedicated to the performance of amateurish rock.
Three years spent in ardent pursuit of the perfect gig made a deep impression on me. I gained a new appreciation for small-time bands – struggling to record, fighting for gigs, sleeping on floors, shuffling new members and opening for jerkwad groups from out of town. I also soon understood the rarity of the giftedness that animates the art of a truly good band or musician.
In short, I became a fan. So, as I stood in the crowd at the Sunny Day Real Estate show at Hell’s Kitchen last year, I was a little disturbed by the odd sensation of incongruity. It didn’t seem natural to be in Tacoma – within walking distance of my house – watching a national act perform. Of course, local musical talent is diverse and plentiful enough to keep any music fiend satisfied; But I’ve lived in less fertile artistic confines (Aspen, Denver, Boulder, Hollywood) and had much more frequent local access to touring national acts.
Why do so many national acts come to the Pacific Northwest without playing in Tacoma? One common-sense response to my question is the clustered proximity of Portland, Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle and Vancouver. It is simply established convenient touring tradition to make the Portland, Seattle and Vancouver circuit before heading eastward. But why is this so? Couldn’t Seattlites just as easily traipse their happy asses southward? We certainly have enough parking in Tacoma to handle the traffic.
Suppose you doubt the veracity of my statement about touring acts. Aside from casinos and the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma lacks the appropriate venues for mega-acts. So I did not concern myself with the touring trends of top-40 artists. Instead, I surveyed seven of the top so-called “independent” record labels in the US to see if any of their touring bands are scheduled to play dates in South Sound venues: 4AD, Kill Rock Stars, Barsuk, Sub Pop, Merge, Matador, and Saddle Creek. While this selection is admittedly genre-specific, the majority of bands on such labels are medium-draw, and could sell sufficient tickets to fill a small or medium venue. Excluding Sasquatch performances, 37 groups from those 7 labels will be playing in the Pacific Northwest this spring and summer. Out of all of them, only one – Aqueduct – will be playing in Tacoma. None will play Olympia – even though Kill Rock Stars is traditionally associated with Olympia. Last year, as far as I can recall, only Neko Case, The Helio Sequence and Sunny Day Real Estate represented these same labels in Tacoma. It should be noted Ms. Case’s performance was her first solo concert in Tacoma.
One might say that perhaps the South Sound is not a major market for these labels. But this is not a good argument. There were more shows scheduled for Boise, Eugene and Spokane than for Olympia and Tacoma. Heck, one band was playing Davenport, Iowa – but not Tacoma. Surely, these areas could not be greater markets than Tacoma or Olympia. Tacoma can compete with these cities in every category: it has large university campuses, a growing young population, and a preponderance of local talent. Yet a quick scan of The Stranger’s concert postings yields several recognizable acts every week – more than enough to share with her lovelier southerly sister. So, it stands to reason that the short distance from Tacoma to Seattle is the main factor in the current touring pattern.
While I certainly don’t mind making the drive to Seattle to see my favorite groups perform, I think Tacoma has the venues and the audience to become a greater draw for touring acts. And if bands have happily forced Tacoma fans to drive to Seattle, they should just as happily force Seattle fans to drive to Tacoma. What impedes this kind of occasional reversal? I can’t think of a single reason to NOT advocate for expanded use of Tacoma’s theatres and musical venues. Local artists would undeniably gain greater exposure. The embryonic university culture of Downtown Tacoma might develop flagship musical hotspots. Revenue might come to the City from Seattle and Olympia.
I’ve read in the Volcano about Seattle bands making the drive south to play the New Frontier Lounge. This kind of migration is encouraging. The contrast between the crowded, oft-snobby Seattle music scene and the wild-west openness of Tacoma makes a brilliant excuse to get out of Belltown. Furthermore, I’m pretty sure musical genre dress-codes are the same here as they are in Seattle – a noteworthy wardrobe cost-savings. What remains to be seen is if this phenomenon becomes more commonplace, and if it might lead to greater awareness of Tacoma venues. But that’s assuming a lack of awareness is the problem. Are there other factors keeping these acts out of Tacoma? Would Tacoma audiences support an increased touring presence? Are Tacoma’s many theaters open to the prospect of booking acts similar in draw to Neko Case? How many bars or clubs in Tacoma have adequate fire-sprinkler systems to host larger concerts? These are questions that need to be answered. Tacoma’s music devotees — myself included — should begin to seek out the answers.
For the benefit of the hipsters and hipster-haters out there: I am aware that my survey was narrow. So what? It is representative of an undeniable trend. I didn’t say you should go buy music from those labels. Conversely, I am aware that those labels licensed music for car commercials, and I still sleep very soundly at night. You are welcome to drop by my house and watch me sleep soundly. But if you take me up on that offer, you are more compromised and sold-out than I am, man
Filed under: General
14 comments
K KAC April 6, 2010
Great acts that have played Tacoma in the last year (or so):
David Bazan (Barsuk), Damien Jurado (Secretly Canadian), Cave Singers (Matador), The Dutchess and the Duke (Hardly Art), Hey Marseilles, Rocky Votolato (Barsuk), Telekinesis (Merge), Jason Dodson (of the Maldives [Mt Fuji Records]), John Van Deusen (of the Lonely Forest [Atlantic Records]), and Trespassers William. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few other great ones (and, of course, we have a few great hometown bands).
Also, Olympia gets a lot of great “indie” shows at The Northern. (Recently, they’ve hosted Citay, Zach Tillman, Tune-Yards, Xiu Xiu, and Bowerbirds.)
Even though we’ve had some really good shows in the last year, you’re definitely right that we don’t have as many as we should. I think we could really use a few more venues downtown that can hold 100-300 people. Hell’s Kitchen and the New Frontier reach their targeted audiences and that’s great, but we need more. I understand Urban Grace will be hosting some more concerts and that’ll be really good and we should all be keeping our eyes on whatever The Warehouse does.
R Razorhoof April 6, 2010
well, many of the booking agents of certain clubs have clauses in the band’s contracts that say that bands may not play another venue within so many miles for so many days before or after the show at said venue. If you are a touring band and your choice is Tacoma or Seattle, where do you think you stand to make the most money from a show? (While on tour, the difference between making $100 and $200 is a vast one.) So the band plays Seattle and moves on.
Against Me! at Hell’s Kitchen was one of my favorite shows…EVER! While I would love to see more Nationally known acts play Tacoma, We’ve had a problem with having a club with the capacity to book those bands and a promoter who knows the right people. Jazzbones is big but do they have the contacts to get acts like you want? The industry is still about who you know and that’s why Hell’s Kitchen can swing acts like Guttermouth, Early Man and Agent Orange, while Jazzbones gets Coolio.
Gangster’s Paradise! ;)
K k April 7, 2010
Love this sentiment Dan. I have often bemoaned the sad-making music scene in Tacoma. It is one ONE AREA I will begrudgingly admit that Seattle kicks our asses in.
I get that bands can make much more cash up north, but why not stop by T-Town once in awhile for some gritty street cred? We did birth the Sonics after all. They have hipsters but we have cool kids.
D dolly varden April 7, 2010
I agree that we should get more touring indie bands. However, since I moved here a few years ago from Seattle, booking at the New Frontier (which didn’t exist when I moved here) and Bob’s Java Jive has been pretty good — it’s not hard to catch an interesting show here. And the lack of oppressive, stifling hipsterdom here is refreshing (Tacoma’s hipsters are friendlier than Seattle’s). The Den at UrbanXchange is a nice development as well.
Booking at Broadway Center has also improved a little bit, but with the exception of the Neko Case show last year its booking has been middle of the road at best (better than totally cheesy, as it used to be). The Pantages and Rialto should compete with the Moore, Paramount, Showbox and Olympia’s Capitol Theater. Maybe the performance space at the Elks will help when it opens in two years.
T Thorax O'Tool April 7, 2010
“Come Play Music in Tacoma – We Will Not Shoot You“
Who said that I won’t?
C captiveyak April 7, 2010
There are regularly very good concerts in Tacoma – jazz, blues, chamber, hip-hop, world, rock, etc… all of it happens here. Our arts community manages to be diverse without becoming impressed with itself. It ought to stay that way.
I hope that the thrust of my sentiment is clear: there’s no deficiency innate to Tacoma. The disparity I’m addressing is only evident when comparing to other areas. I am not even sure if the disparity is necessarily a bad thing. I wanted to provoke a discussion and hear some opinions.
Thorax: I will try to refrain from putting words in your mouth. I will talk to Derek about changing to headline to “Come Play Music in Tacoma — You Might Get Out Alive.”
T Thorax O'Tool April 7, 2010
Works for me.
Some alternatives:
“Come Play Music in Tacoma — Way less dangerous than Oakland or Stockton“
“Come Play Music in Tacoma — We will shoot you… with our cameras!“
“Come Play Music in Tacoma — We don’t have a 600-foot needle up our s$$“
“Come Play Music in Tacoma — We’re more dope than hempfest“
“Come Play Music in Tacoma — Can you shred hard enough to break our glass?“
“Come Play Music in Tacoma — We still have a soul.“
But we could spin this better. Make it seem like a privilege to be shot by my camera. Who doesn’t want to be in the lens of my Nikon Coolpix?
S Sean Alexander April 12, 2010
SQUEAK AND SQUAWK MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010. Presented by Le Meth and The New Frontier June 10th through the 14th. Lots of great music headed this way. Stay tuned.
M Mike G April 12, 2010
Dude. Are you getting paid by the word?
C captiveyak April 12, 2010
Mike G:
I don’t get paid.
Your observation is correct. This piece required extensive editting, and has caused regret. I should have slept on it and slimmed it down in the morning. It was also devoid of humor.
On the other hand, this isn’t the New Yorker.
C crenshaw sepulveda April 12, 2010
Daniel Blue writes 2000 words a day (most of which you will never read, sorry). He couldn’t keep us from reading them all but he seems to have known where to draw the line. As far as I can tell Daniel Blue and Motopony have never been shot at. Much can be learned from Daniel Blue. Sadly we are bereft of his wisdom, Tacoma pushed Daniel Blue away. We hope the same fate doesn’t happen to captiveyak.
A Altered Chords April 12, 2010
Too long.
Can not read it all.
Poor focus.
A Taiku poem by altered chords reflecting upon Exit 133 readership, their preferences and struggles.
C captiveyak April 12, 2010
Exit 133 readers respond to Captiveyak’s articles (as performed in the style of Kanye West):
“We’re gonna let you finish, but… wait nah. Screw it. I ain’t gonna let you finish. [back to main-page]
David Boe had the best articles EVER!”
T Thorax O'Tool April 12, 2010
Much words;
Daniel Blue leaves town.
Crenshaw cries.
A Taiku by Thorax Z. O’Tool, co-creator of the poetic format.
…hey, AC:
We ought to push this Taiku a little harder. Check the Feed later today, I’m going to post about it. That or email me. It’s thoraxotool at gmail dot com.