Did Charles Grodin write this article? Yikes! This is written with the same attitude that keeps things where they are in Tacoma. This is not a competition it is just on the same weekend at the heart walk. Eddie Spaghetti is playing on Sunday too! the Film Festival is at the Varstiy Grill (one of the sponsors) at 5 pm. Most if not all of the bands are Tacoma bands that don't have a chance at playing bumbershoot, the sonic bid event that even if you go through the process and pay to play you still won't play. This article could have been so much more positive...

Oh well,

I don't think it's negative to acknowledge how unfortunate it is that several equally worthy events should happen to fall on the same day.

But you do bring up a good point: Where the hell is Charles Grodin? I miss that old crank.

--Rev.

Instead of a fluff piece, Adam writes with some grit, heart and decent sarcasm.... and caring as well. It IS unfortunate that so many things are going on in Tacoma this weekend.... OR it is indicative of a burgeoning music scene. Take your pick, they're both valid.

why so negative about Tacoma?? I thought your paper was also one of the sponsers. And why the coment that you know people are sick of hearing abouth the 253 fund raiser??? who said we were??? We should all support these good causes in whatever way we can!!

Jeanette,

I am not negative about Tacoma. I don't think the article implies such.

And I did not say that people are "sick of hearing about the 253 fund raiser." I say that people may be sick of the actual "253 Heart": the symbol that shows the 2, the 5, and th 3 coming together to form a heart.

I agree that we should support causes.

--Rev.

So as a member of Bone Flower, a long time, [1992] Tacoma band, I just want to thank Ben for doing this and all the shows he does and gets nothing in return for but the concistancy of his beliefs. I don't personaly care if we play to five or five hundered people on Sat. but no matter what it will be more of Tacoma music for a good cause, and grit doesn't descibe Tacoma, the rotarooter hair and muck pulled from a clogged drain is the real Tacoma music.

"Most if not all of the bands are Tacoma bands that don't have a chance at playing bumbershoot,"

Uh, could it be because no one at Bumbershoot wants to hear hits-less bands?? I mean, all those bands do have myspaces and if they were going to catch on they would have by now!! Rotarooter hair and muck indeed. Tacoma just is never going to be able to get past the first phase in the 5 phases of grief. Its too scared to. So it just throws up a grit screen instead and thinks the rest of the world doesn't get it. F'ing weird.

Wow. So I am sorry you have to brow beat the 253heart in your inner coffee circles of the office. The fact that these guys have put together such a fantastic event for the local area for such great causes is commendable. These are the types of great thing this city can have more of. I took a look at the event line up and was amazed to see that Jerry Miller will be a part as well as Eddie Spaghetti from the Super Suckers. Maybe they were a late addition but how did they not make your list.
I suppose i am more sick of a hardly energetic and supportive local media then I am local groups trying to do good and have a bit of fun for great causes. Try decaf!

"As long as we're stuck in this city together"

Ah the plight of the "non-scene".

No one is brow beating the charity here, we just would rather watch a Jerry Lewithon than listen to another Tacoma hit-less wonder band play a song. Thank you!!

Hey "No Scene" - If you think Seattle has a "Scene" you live in another dimension. What's the last Tacoma show you went to and what's the last Seattle show? Tell us.

"Hit-less band" - who cares what's played on the radio these days chump. It's almost entirely corporate crap - Just like Bumbershoot - So I guess you've laid out your "tastes" to us all. Nice work.

Really?

Are you so in tune with Tacoma that you speak for what it "may be sick of?" With an alias like "Rev" one would think you would choose to 'preach' about a city you allegedly have pride being a part of- in a positive light, instead of not-so-backhandedly insulting a brand, symbol, with people behind it- that ARE true to the city.

What "baggage" of the 253Heart are you referencing? Surely, when being so dramatic, there must have been something that made national headlines that I missed?

I'll bet the people who made great efforts to put on a festival for your city (well, you are it's spokesperson at least, right?) really appreciate the Volcano's sponsorship in the form of an article that undermines and insults- written for all to read.

Preach on "Rev" aka Tacoma's Champion.

TacomaGuy,

Reverend is not an alias. You can be one, too!

http://www.themonastery.org/

Reverend TacomaGuy...

--Rev.

Hey Justin, the last Tacoma show I went to was Art and Music in the park I believe. And it was BORING, and full of not so interesting, low level operating stereotypes. At least the stereotypes in Seattle are a bit more intriguing. But my opinion doesn't matter, I do how ever think that the entire city of Tacoma suffers from the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Just because something is a hit, and some kid in japan buys an mp3 of it on big bad corporate iTunes, doesn't mean the hit is any less of a hit. Unfortunately the truth is that all the Tacoma bands can sell on iTunes but don't because they suck at song writing. Which is not a crime, but what is a crime is the constant bragging that Tacoma does about itself and it's bands when clearly the lack of mp3 sales and coverage on blogs evidence points towards the truth: that it's a biased scene. A bullshit crowd at bullshit shows. But what ever makes you happy at the end of the day while you waste your life in a dead end city like Tacoma is fine by me, and in fact I applaud each and every Tacoman whether they be oblivious or not, to have found a niche for themselves. Even if its only for themselves. It a bit like retards at a county fair who think they are in Disneyland instead. Ignorance is bliss indeed. Thanks for the easy pitch Justin!

no scene my ass... And if there isn't one then why are you so intrigued by this thread? If sales indicate good songwriting then why try? Also, if that is your ridiculous barometer then what about someone who doesn't have a label or PR Behind them. I challenge "no scene" to look up every band on the bill of the 253Heart Festival and listen to all the songs posted by every band just as I did and come back here when he is done and make that same ignorant blanket statement! Remember, I'm not hiding my name, Mr. No Scene!

Hi Ben, it would be a blanket statement if my claim wasn't supported by evidence. But, there are no buzz bands coming out of Tacoma, there is no buzz because the song writing just isn't there. Good songs don't need PR or a label, as bands like the Arctic Monkeys are famous for getting their start on myspace. No labels, no PR, just myspace. I have listened to most of all the songs posted in the internet of these Tacoma bands and you can tell by the amount of plays that I am not the only one NOT digging their tunes. Those are the numbers Ben, btw, your music isn't very good either. But making good music is not what it is about in the 253, its just about making music to play on the bars while everybody goes nowhere together. Going nowhere sucks. But going nowhere together is a great thing. I am not intrigued by the thread, I am intrigued by Rev's melodramatic writing. Its like blog opera. A blog opera of a nowhere town trying it's hardest to be somewhere. Some days it's endearing, other days, is just plain sad. And if 253Heart bull crap festival was so great, then Motopony would be there right? After all, wasn't it Daniel Blue that started all that 253 melodrama bullcrap? GFYS.

No scene,

Brad Oberhofer is making buzzworthy music. Tacoma native, and all.

Ugh, this thread is giving me a headache.

--Rev.

Really? Because I think his band is having a hail from identity crisis on myspace. They can't figure out what'll get them more opening acts for real bands like No Age or Japandroids: saying they are generic brooklyn hipsters or clever fame eluding tacomans. At this point bands can't save Tacoma. It's going to have to be something big like a SXSW.

hey no scene! take it somewhere else!

tacoma is tacoma. you are you and, man, i'd hate to let my real name slip if i were you. pitchforks.

i hope you read this in four months and look back realize that you're a total moron. go move to spanaway. maybe you can write music review for all those people.

nice write up rev.

I agree Trevor, the twerps a little coward.

Ah but you two geniuses were bright enough to let your real names slip though. I think I am entitled to my opinion with out being threatened by a couple of troglodytes from Tacoma. It only goes to prove I'm right about you knuckle walkers. Garage rock, so easy a caveman can do it.

What new Seattle band has ‘hits?’ If you are ‘local,’ you have no ‘hits,’ as ‘hits’ are solely in the realm of the few dozen bands cycling through top 40 pop/rock/alt radio stations. Thus, ‘hits’ and ‘great songs’ may be correlative, but certainly are not causative. I would argue, based on what I’ve heard at 253 Heart fest and elsewhere in Tacoma, there is no shortage of talent. Tacoma may not have the critical mass of attendees needed to elevate bands to the ‘next level,’ ala Seattle, but you make it sound like there’s something in the water making South-Sound musicians sucky! If I may, I would like to ask ‘No Scene’ if he is a failed musician, harboring jealousy and contempt at those who haven’t the short-comings that have dashed his ambitions â€" he certainly comes across that way.

Talk about having seattle-envy. I didn't say anything about Seattle. If you can't read properly Rob, how can I or anyone take your attempts at finding the motives behind my criticisms seriously? Btw the tap water in Tacoma does taste a bit funny. Also, good music hasn't been on the radio for quite some time now Rob, it's all gone to the blog-sphere, which in regards to Tacoma's talent, is silent about it. Please stop ignoring the facts. Thank you.

brightness? is that what it takes to fill out a form labeled 'name'?

you are obviously very passionate about your argument. You're well written and obviously educated. But you make very broad generalizations with little (if any) facts. I assume your involved in the local music scene in some way- either as a performer or booker- and that is the experience you're drawing from to make your case.

we're all wondering what the 'motives behind your criticisms' are at this point.

No Scene - I mention Seattle as that is the nearest city with large music scene, and one that arguably churns out some talent now and then. Substitute my 'Seattle' example with any other city of your liking, and my challenge to your assertion remains the same. I'm having a hard time debating you, as your assertions are so vague, but hilarious at the same time. Kinda like the guy who walks into 31 Flavors and says 'there's no good ice cream in here.' Everyone knows that the PB and Chocolate is yummy except for you.

Spoken like a true dunning-kruger Rob! Nothing vague about myspace play stats or the absence of Tacoma buzz band activity on the blogs! Rob, you're like the Inspector Clouseau of Tacoma's music scene, missing every piece of hard evidence about the bands you stick up for sucking like no other to the rest of the country.

Ever heard of the term 'media bias'? I swear, the volcano's Tacoma network writers are like fox news reporters of the north west scene, reporting on the response to faux rock events that have 'true grit' and 'original scrappy-ness' to them, but are absolute biased, self flattering, bullcrap stories about amateurish local liquor for venue salesman who happen to play instruments to the rest of us.

Write something about the Tacoma music scene when you have actually earned bragging rights Tacoma. Too bad the world hasn't come to an end yet. I bet when Armageddon arrives there is going to be a 253Heart festival ready to let all the dumb kids from school play their guitars and drums in support of it.

My motive is I am sick of crappy Tacoma shows, and the alcohol isn't working anymore to mask how bad they all truly are (to me).

Ok, Eeyore (aka No Scene) - everything sucks. Volcano sucks. Every band in Tacoma sucks. Its always raining. Your butt is hurt.

Is that what you do when you run out of comebacks Rob? Make yourself look like a 'can do' person? What I am doing is called art criticism. You should get a college education and maybe try it some day, instead of trying to deflect the facts with a uber boring pseudo Dr Phil tone. Btw, rain never caused anyone to write bad songs, in fact I would say the rain helps (but not in Tacoma apparently). Thanks!

I have run out of comebacks! There's only so much one can reply to the same vacuous charge! You've cursed me with the morbid curiosity that you may actually cite an example at some point.

Contrary to your charge, I've earned my Bachelor of Science degree, in part, by being able to formulate the following challenge - I'll let you fill in the variables: "these hyped bands (band a,b,c) played at this (v) venue and, despite the locals' love for them, they sucked in the following ways: x,y,z." Fill in the variables, and you'll have formed a cogent argument. Then you'll get a cookie and a sticker on your forehead.

I know the rules of argumentation, I've given you the stats on Tacoma bands. Now its your turn to look at the data. Have fun. Look on music blogs where band material gets vetted. Unfortunately you won't find data on Tacoma bands, so there for you will xyz that they suck to the rest of the country and then concluded that we are dealing with a local bias in Tacoma and in the media reporting on said scene. Is it just me or are you looking more like the Mitch from Real Genius in this thread?? Look Rob, just quit now before you bore the crap out of everybody with your superiority complex. You don't have to solve a freaking mental rubics cube to understand that most of the locals are either drunk or high when they hear these bands. Hell, pass me the dutchie and I may even start liking the music too! You can keep all the cookies, stickers and other failures to patronize me in the eyes of the other readers. Thanks! Oh and thumbs up on the BS degree!

No scene,

For the last time, Brad Oberhofer is making waves on blogs. I think that problem is not that Tacoma bands are somehow inferior to bands from other cities. Rather, it just may be an issue of drive and geography.

Now, please, children, stop fighting. I have a show to get ready for.

--Rev.

I'm not saying that Tacoma bands are inferior to acts in other cities. I'm saying I am tired of the self flattering hype, like these bands are in some way adding to the coolness of Tacoma when in reality they are not. They're just helping local venues sell booze. That's going to be the sum of all the efforts they spent learning chords and what not. And even with all the cross polination of band members they STILL can't write any good songs.

Pray tell dear Rev, what show did you get ready for? Probably one where you go and give a local band an appearance out of sheer pity. I criticizes the Tacoma music scene regularly, but I always feel sorry afterward for the same reason you don't go into an old folks homes and diss old people.

In the end, the owners of places in Tacoma that have a stage and a liquor license laugh all the way to the bank. I don't call that an art festival, I call it business as usual. And to think Justin was getting all self righteous about Bumbershoot being a corporate device. I wouldn't go to Bumbershoot just because it's lame.

Thankfully though Tacoma does have tons of potential and I do think that a lot of this has to do with the recession and the fact that culturally America is in a period where town's like Tacoma aren't attracting the necessary creative gene flow that results in capable song writers moving to and living in up-and-coming cities. The real talent is currently holed up in places like NY and LA, waiting for the recession to break. That's when artists will be free to move about the country again. But right now they can make the most money living where the rich do who support their craft and pay for their talents. That's my theory at least. I mean, you get done with 4 years of liberal college, have a pretty good taste and ear for music, can write songs, and look for people who can do the same. Are you going to head for Tacoma, Wa? Nope. I bet your next stop is London, Paris or Amsterdam these days. Or if you don't have that kind of money, NY or LA.