Last night the Tacoma skies painted the sidewalks with rain and the moon was reluctant to show its face. These conditions are not ideal for most outings, but they made a night of rock music in The Den's warm backspace more appealing than usual.

After my wife, the 7-year-old and I sunk into one of the few comfortable chairs and couches that casually decorate the space, we waited for the SOTA-bred rock band Womberang to climb the two-inch high stage for the 7 p.m. all-ages show featuring the Gypsies, Paris Spleen and the Wild Orchid Children.

We waited, and waited, and waited.

An hour later the trio set the agenda – the performers must rock hard, thrash about and play to the wet kids on the sidewalk. Womberang lists Dead Can Dance, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Cocteau Twins, and Nirvana as their influences on MySpace. Yes there are. Their debut CD will be ready in a month.

The Gypsies - claiming it was their last Tacoma show - played, well, as if it was their last show ever. The jars along the shelves of the tea bar in the front of the room teetered as the quintet and the crowd became one unit multiple times during the Tacoma indie metal band's set. Vocalist Steven maybe spent 30 seconds on the stage. He spent the rest of the time hugging and bouncing off the floor and crowd. Fun show.

The scared 7-year-old grabbed our hands and ran us out of The Den after Steven collapsed at the end of their last song. The crowd screamed for more. The 7-year-old screamed for sanity.

LINK: More photos from the show