I am sad to report I was unable to attend the grand opening of T-town's newest all-ages venture, The Conquering Lion, this past weekend. I've been told it was awesome and hope to make it there soon. Why don't one of you youngins go check it out and email me? Just sayin'.

No, my weekend was chock full of rocking goodness starting last Friday at Hell's Kitchen. Pioneers West got the small early crowd's collective head bobbing with solid, moody music from the band's CD, Move West. The Fucking Eagles got the crowd right up to the front of the stage, as Tacoma's garage-rawk kings shimmied and stomped through a kick-ass set. With harmonica blazing, the F-in Eagles brought the ever-building crowd to a screaming fit!

NoMeansNo, Canada's Prime Ministers of Thinking Man's Punk, sure do rock for three guys old enough to be MY dad! With so many LPs under their belt, the band's 90-plus-minute set Friday night ebbed and flowed with sing-along brilliance and tongue twisting perfection, spanning nearly three decades of off kilter jazz punk. One onlooker stuck outside in the cold peered in on the throbbing scene and said, "It's like the Grateful Dead, Primus and the Dead Kennedy's all had a baby!" (Ha!)

After a steamy set the band signed tons of autographs, and I was lucky enough to get in one question.

"What is your favorite memory of any Tacoma show you've played over the years?" I asked.

They sat there for a bit, throwing out stories of the Community World Theater and even the original Sixth Avenue Hell's Kitchen. But, after reflection, one show stood out for the band.

"Playing the Tacoma Cone with My Name," they all answered.  It made me chuckle, as it's one of my favorites too. The Tacoma Cone was actually The Rotunda at the University of Puget Sound back in the late 1980s. It WAS an incredible gig, and makes me wonder why more shows don't happen there.

Saturday brought Rocktoberfest, as six bands showed there is still undiscovered life in our local scene. Burn The Harbor got things started early before the very young and energetic Fox and The Law jumped ALL OVER the stage, bringing some funky, dirty rock like I haven't seen in many moons! Palooka had cool jackets and a party rock Motley Crue/early A.I.C. feel. Deth Proof from Portland kicked ass with heavy metal ala Metallica's Kill ‘Em All LP. Headbanging was a must! Mahnhammer played a set that made me think Soundgarden and St. Vitus hired Henry Rollins to sing. Brutal!!! And The Screaming Starts ended the fest with no-B.S. pop punk with tons of songs played balls out. Overall, I liked what I saw and hope there are more undiscovered gems about to explode onto our scene. New bands!!! Where you at??

'Til we meet again.