Guides - Weekly Volcano - The alternative newsweekly for Tacoma and Olympia

BEST BEDROOM POP BAND

Coma Figura

It's hard to pin down what's so effective about Coma Figura. They've only been performing in earnest since September, but they really seem to have their s--- down. Part of the appeal is Kyle Gootkin's vocals, which can bounce from a Bryan Ferry-esque croon to a Jonathan Richman-esque deadpan. There's a warmth that permeates their sound, which they describe as bedroom pop. Still, it's hard to find a project that was born in a home studio come to such endearing life in live performances. In a scene that's currently finding its footing with the loss of bands and the gaining of new ones, Coma Figura is a band to watch. - Rev. Adam McKinney

BEST PUNK BAND TOUR EVER

13 Scars

13 Scars had a hell of a recent tour - from Seattle down to So Cal and over to Vegas for Punk Rock Bowling, the five-piece got fists pumping across the states. Tacoman Bradley Petrovich, singer for 13 Scars, recorded the whole damn thing in a journal. From learning to blow fire in San Diego, to raging Eric Wilson's mansion, (you know, the bassist for Sublime) 13 Scars had a lot of freakin' fun. Read the whole thing at facebook.com/13Scars. Here are a few quotes to give you an idea:

"The seventeen acres are filled with art, exotic animals, flowers, trees and plants, sculpture, skate ramps, and nestled in a little valley there is a cabin filled with instruments to make noise and nobody gets bothered at all."

"I got this one girl to take a pic of me and her friend cop car hopping in front of the festival."

"Matt asked me to shave a lightning bolt into his head ... oops. I slipped and shaved across the top of his head and fucked it up good ... Matt was pissed. Ha!"

Will 13 Scars be in next year's Best of Tacoma issue? My guess is yes - 13 Scars is making a new record and touring again in October. They also have a skateboard deck coming out in the next couple months. - Nikki McCoy

BEST IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE PROJECT

The Cave Sessions

Though they've only just gotten started, the Cave Sessions is a wonderful idea that's been brought to Tacoma. The format has been similarly used elsewhere, like the Live from the Banana Stand series in Portland, but it's a welcome addition to the Tacoma music scene: MountainHouse Recordings, a production company in downtown Tacoma, offers their studio to bands for free, films and records the performances, and then releases the material on Youtube and Bandcamp. Run by Andrew Nalty and Jesse Goodrum, the Cave Sessions work great as promotional tools for both the bands and the recording outfit itself. Posted sessions include Not From Brooklyn and Coma Figura's Kyle Gootkin. - Rev. AM

Best Comeback

Bob's Java Jive

One of the most exciting things to witness in Tacoma's music scene, over the past year, has been the rejuvenation of Bob's Java Jive. With a new booker in Brandon Rowley, the coffeepot once more began having weekly shows, bringing in some truly top-notch talent - the sort that had been sorely missing in Tacoma in recent years. A great year for the Java Jive was capped off, recently, with the news that it had been added to the National Register of Historic Places. It couldn't have happened to a better dive bar, whose walls still ring with the volume of a million passing bands. Here's to more great shows. - Rev. AM

Best New Venue

Half Pint Pizza Pub

Maintaining viable venues has always been a bit of a tough thing, in Tacoma. We've lost a lot of good ones over the years, and we're always on the hunt for the next good spot. The New Frontier and Bob's Java Jive have stuck around, but it's never good to have a monopoly. It was great news for me to find out, then, that Half Pint Pizza Pub would be having regular shows in their tiny pizza joint. The intimacy of the venue makes every show a buzz of activity. With weekly shows that are (at least largely) free, Half Pint Pizza Pub is a welcome addition for the music of Sixth Avenue and for Tacoma in general. - Rev. AM

BEST HIP-HOP OKTOBERFEST

Maltoberfest 8: Menace II Sobriety

On a fine October evening last year, men and women dressed in the colorful garb of their forebearers gathered in the giant coffee pot. They'd come to the Java Jive to celebrate just as their ancestors had before them - by listening to a psychotically diverse selection of bands performing from a miniscule stage, while slamming down a (surprisingly tasty!) combination of malt liquor beer and orange juice. "Maltoberfest 8: Menace II Sobriety" melded the heritage of German lederhosen with the brashness of hip-hop iconography to create something ridiculously greater than the sum of those two parts. The Fun Police, "safety rockers" Warning: Danger!, a hip-hop group and a hardcore punk band performed. The highlight, though, was marching band Artesian Rumble Arkestra. After performing, the band went outside to the small, fenced-in beer garden and proceeded to play more music in the deepening October gloom to a delighted audience. - John Kephart

BEST MUSICIANS' RIGHTS ADVOCATE

Jeff Southard

Of all of the people who have remained active in the local music scene, one of the most passionate has been Jeff Southard. As the owner/engineer of Swoon Records, Southard has been a tireless supporter of musicians and artists in general. Those who follow Southard know that one the most important issues, to him, has been advocating for fair treatment of artists and their music. Protesting Pandora, fighting against the world of streaming content, looking for better avenues of just compensation for musicians - Southard has been a righteous advocate for musicians' rights. Southard reports that Swoon finally made a profit in 2013: $37. No thanks to Spotify. - Rev. AM

BEST ONE-TIME ROCK PREVIEW BY A ROCK GUY

Matt Sader

Every once in a while, we get a wild hair up our ass and try something just for the hell of it. How do you think we came up with the ideas for "Metal Home Companion" or "Getting Lucky with Nicky and Adam?" Anyway, here at the Weekly Volcano we love us some Tacoma rock, so when Argonaut's Matt Sader expressed interest in writing a little somethin' for us, we were happy to oblige. Here are a few excerpts from Sader's preview of Chuck Gosk's dirty 30 birthday bash: "One of the endearing things about the Tacoma music scene is the longevity of the musicians and the love the town still has for them. The band that now sports the name of The F---ing Eagles is a prime example ... on the bill are the Bob Mould-meets-Modest Mouse-in-a-blender type sounds of Blanco Bronco ... the heavy and instrumental Raptor Tractor whose sound drifts from straight forward hardcore into a wall of intricate timing and noise rock. ... All metal heads will find something in there to bang their head or stroke their beard to ... expect debauchery and beers. I mean a lot of beers." - NM

BEST FREE SHOWS

Doyle's Public House

Credit cards are what got you into this mess in the first place, America! Cut them up with the scissors you bought to cut your hair and start singing the blues that you won't be singing for long now that you've turned your credit cards into guitar picks. Brilliant! Save more money by only singing songs in the public domain and playing a guitar made out of six-pack rings and old blue jeans. After your show, save even more money by hitting Doyle's Public House every Saturday at 9:30 p.m. for free musical entertainment. Doyle's never charges cover for its music shows that Jesse Turcotte books. Blues, jazz, rock, alt-country - local and regional - for freakin' free. If Led Zeppelin held its reunion show at Doyle's, it would be free - although owners Russ and Dave probably would throw up another tent. - Ron Swarner

BEST BAND NAME CHANGE

Ex-Gods

Mahnhammer has been a stalwart in the Tacoma metal/rock scene, but this year, they switched things up by swapping out their drummer and changing their name to something equally thunderous: Ex-Gods. When I asked vocalist Micah Hembree about his thoughts on the band's new incarnation, here's what he had to say, "As far as Ex-Gods is concerned, we are ready to make love to you the only way we know how. By crushing you. We are in love with our new drummer Israel Hickey. We enjoy what we do. We enjoy melting faces." In the studio this month to record some new tunes, my spidey senses tell me we should all keep an eye on these guys. - NM

BEST COUNTRY MUSIC BAR

Steel Creek American Whiskey Company

The space formerly inhabited by sports bar Varsity Grill has found new life as the Steel Creek American Whiskey Company. If you're a little bit country, you're going to like this huge downtown Tacoma restaurant gussied up with wood and top-shelf whiskeys, including its own label. Thursday through Saturday nights can get snug as a bug when the joint fills with short, short jeans shorts and cowboy boots rippin' up the dance floor. It's as if no one fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. With a mechanical bull and a sexy staff, everyone at Steel Creek is as happy as a puppy with two peckers. - RS

Best Comedy Show

C.F.A.

From backyard wrestling, to butt crack showing, to little people rock videos, C.F.A. could very well stand for Comedic F---ing Antics. But Cody Foster Army's quick wit and good ‘ole boy humor translates very well to the world of rock. Ridiculous costumes, self-depreciation and crowd participation mixed with heavy riffs, crushing drums and throaty vocals make this band a long-standing favorite in Tacoma. C.F.A. should probably have their own reality show, but they don't - which is lucky for us, because each and every performance is our own little web of hilarious memories and anticipated fun. Plus, with their commitment to Tacoma's music community (Foster and friends are behind-the-scenes at Music and Art at Wright Park, for one) C.F.A. feels like everybody's bad-ass big brother. Thanks guys, you rule. - NM

BEST VOICE

Stephanie Anne Johnson

One of the most refreshing things about The Voice is the fact that they blindly sample singers initially. All they get to do is listen, the way it used to be before the dawn of MTV.The show is all about a contestant's ability to sing and capture a moment. Sure, they would all love to find big time success if they can, but, and maybe I'm reading more into it than I should, they sure seem more realistic about their chances than the starstruck American Idol hopefuls. Tacoma has been on the show. Vicci Martinez went from a just-turn-teen singing at Shakabrah Java to third place on The Voice in 2011. Stephanie Anne Johnson went from blowing people away with her voice at intimate venues in Tacoma and on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, to a top 20 place on The Voice in 2013. Johnson told the Weekly Volcano she was disappointed at first, but then happy she could go back to being herself, booking the shows she wants and singing the songs she likes. Today, Johnson's name is in large, bold letters on festival posters and special event nights throughout Western Washington, including several beer festivals. She has gained a larger following, which is cool. I'll never forget her shows at the former Panamonica's when she dropped jaws with her soulful, rockin' voice. She still does, on her own terms.- RS

Best of Tacoma 2014 Staff Picks: Music

We chose Coma Figura, 13 Scars, The Cave Sessions, Bob's Java Jive, Half Pint Pizza Pub, Doyle's Public House, C.F.A., Stephanie Anne Johnson and others ...