Here's how I first knew the Strypes reunion show was an important piece to write about: Ron Swarner, our fine, fedora-wearing publisher/editor at Weekly Volcano, sent me an email pitching me the story. "Please, please, please!" he pleaded. It is not often the man begs.

Here's how I next knew the Strypes reunion show was an important piece to write about: research.

Listening to their music, checking out feedback from fans on the reunion page, and talking to Regan Lane, front man for Strypes (current front man for Strangely Alright), was great - I feel I got a real sense of who Strypes were then, and who they are now. (And forgive me, dear Tacoma, for not knowing sooner.)

Beginning in 1981, Lane, along with keyboardist Robert Richholt, guitarist Jesse Seales and bassist Bob D'Angelo (now of Mechanism) brought a certain power-pop, boy-band charm (complete with '80s hair) and danceable, relatable stories and music to their hometown of Tacoma, and then to the world. Fans in Japan, Korea, Philippines and Guam witnessed the new wave glory of Strypes, and L.A. welcomed them many times over.

After a successful run in 1990, the band members went their separate ways.

"It just kind of ran its course," said Lane, who also partially attributes the disbandment to their lifestyle.

"We were so enamored with the elegantly wasted thing," he said, "so eventually that catches up with you. There are a lot of parties and shenanigans better left not in print, but on the other side, there were lots of good experiences."

Now, the band will re-visit the good side of things, and what the band has at its core - great chemistry, and, of course, great music. Saturday, Strypes, (with Strangely Alright's Preston Darvill on drums) will reunite to play one powerful night at Jazzbones.

Lane says the idea for a reunion show came as a simple act of intuition while visiting an old friend, followed by a concurrence from the rest of the band members. As soon as the reunion was announced, the idea took hold in the T-town community.

On the reunion Facebook page, fans have posted about rare Strypes memorabilia from Japan and have shared pictures of a pink shirt with The Difference full-length album cover pictured on it. Many others have simply said that Strypes was the best local band ever, or posted their favorite Strypes songs.

"I don't think I appreciated how much people liked us when we were in the middle of it," said Lane. "It's like, ‘wow we were really a big part of their lives.' It's 20 years after the fact, and they are still excited."

STRYPES, Strangely Alright, Vividal, 8 p.m., Saturday, May 24, Jazzbones, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, $10-$15, 253.396.9169.