Last week, in a resolute effort to clean up my act and attend more shows in Olympia, I stumbled upon a band while plotting my way through Northern's website. My efforts were rewarded in the form of Math the Band, a high energy, "electro-punk spazz duo" from Providence, RI. They were scheduled to play at the Olympia all-ages club last Saturday night, and having already heard several of their songs online, I decisively made the band's show part of my weekend plans.

But just as readily as your aspirations can be set high, they can be left in the lurch. I found out via a disappointing Facebook post that Math the Band's bus had broken down, and consequently its Olympia show was cancelled. Fortunately car trouble is not a formidable opponent to the band's unwavering dedication, because Math the Band is already back on the road and hitting the West Coast.

Math the Band was founded by Kevin Steinhauser (vocals, guitar) in the early 2000s. While performing at Fitchburg State University in 2005, he met Justine Mainville (vocals, keyboard), who was attending Fitchburg for film. By 2007, Mainville had joined Steinhauser in Math the Band to create the duo that they are today.

To break it down, Math the Band is an incredibly well-orchestrated mash-up of punk guitar, enthusiastic vocal harmonies, synth, and an energy level that is second to none. Sharing the influences of Piebald, Big D and the Kids Table, and Converge Steinhauser and Mainville have created a sound entirely their own. Math the Band has now played all over North America and the UK, and has opened for Matt & Kim, Japanther, Afrika Bambaataa and MC Frontalot. Reading about their vast experience in music scenes all across the country, and having played shows both large and small, I saw it fit to get in contact with them and hear their opinions on matters that hit close to home for us in Tacoma.

Last week's installment of The Rockford Files focused on the intimacy of the house show scene in Tacoma. Math the Band's high-energy, driving music fits into that scene. Its effort to create "the most party-est music they can imagine" is a welcomed endeavor. And the band does it all with an improvised set up of "old video game systems, analog synthesizers, and energy drinks" - an approach very much in the "anything-goes" spirit of the Northwest.

"We really love playing in the Northwest. It's a totally unique scene here and we look forward to it every tour," says Steinhauser.

It gives me a certain sense of hope to know that Tacoma's makeshift-yet-effective way of making music exists elsewhere, that ingenuity is not lost and that necessity really is the mother of invention. When I asked Steinhauser about the importance of music in a community, he hit some key points that are very evident, particularly on the local level.

"Music does so many things for communities, especially young people. It can be an escape, or an aid in experiencing and processing emotion, and such an excellent thing to bond with one another over," he said.

We're getting to the part of the article where I'd ordinarily have to tell you about the band's hopes to release an album sometime next year, or that its currently working on an EP. But this week that is not the case. Because you can now purchase Math the Band's full-length album Get Real on CD or vinyl at anchorbrain.com, or download your digital copy from maththeband.bandcamp.com. It is also available on iTunes, Amazon and is streaming on Spotify.

As the first weekend of December approaches, remember to look out for great music in your neighborhood, and carry with you the wise words of Steinhauser of Math the Band:

"Being at a concert together, everyone's emotions sync together with the music, and it's one of the most powerful communal feelings I've experienced."

LINK: Math the Band tour dates