While the Tacoma News Tribune has been quick to take credit for breaking the story of Bob's Java Jive's recent closure, due to a slew of electrical, safety, and building code violations found by the Tacoma Fire Department during an impromptu inspection on Wednesday, the truth of the matter is the Volcano's Ken and Ron Swarner first reported the action Wednesday morning on this little Spew.  The Fire Department's inspection was sparked by a report of overcrowding at the Jive, received by the city earlier this year. What the Tribune is calling a "fire official" was sent to the Jive, and noted problems visible from the outside.  It was all down hill after that, and as has been much reported, Wednesday the city swarmed, and the Jive closed.

As I type a brigade of concerned patrons, musicians, roller girls, electricians, and beer lovers are working overtime in attempts to have the big coffee pot back in action.  Originally they hoped to have the Jive up and running in time for this weekend, and the Dockyard Derby Dames benefit scheduled for Saturday featuring the debut of Chris Trashcan's new outfit â€" The Gold Teeth, but news just broke on the Dames' MySpace page that the work will not be finished in time.

As could be expected, many within Tacoma's scene are taking the news hard, but many are also rolling up their sleeves and organizing the repairs.  Bon Von Wheelie, Girl Trouble's drummer, and Chris Trashcan have been involved.  They're also brimming with memories.

"We've got a ton of memories," says Von Wheelie, a quasi-Tacoma music historian.  "Bill Kahuna (GT's guitarist) and Kurt (GT's frontman) first met at the Jive. They were punk rock teenagers.

"And the real live chimps by the pool tables.  Not many people can actually say they were in the joint when the had live apes!"

"When I first walked in the place, I immediately realized that no other place like that existed on earth," offers Trashcan.

"I've always associated the Java Jive as an icon for my city."

Along with the repairs, the Jive is also looking for some pro bono legal help, to fight the city's threats of closure. At this time there's been no word on whether they've found it.

Will the many concerned friends and family of the Jive be able to save the landmark? Does the city care about landmarks?

It all waits to be seen.  Tacoma crosses its fingers. â€" Matt Driscoll