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We here at the Weekly Volcano have determined that good music rooms are more a state of mind than a physical place. Good rooms share similar attributes: not just plentiful drinks, but an atmosphere that suits your mood and purpose on a particular night. If you're looking for serious talk, you need a spot that's relatively quiet but has TVs and attractive people to help stimulate conversation during uncomfortable pauses. When you're looking for more casual contact, you need a mass of humanity to help mask the inappropriate comments you make as you notice those attractive people who stimulate conversation during uncomfortable pauses. Given the right mood and booze supply, just about any place can be a good music room â€" your couch, a sports bar, a dance club, a wedding reception, or even a hair salon.
We put this theory to the test when we partook in Satellite Coffee’s Grand Opening party Friday night at Supernova Hair & Tattoo. Walking in, I knew we belonged there. Supernova was small, packed, donned with local and national rock posters and alive with Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies and Eddie Spaghetti and Rontrose Heathman of The Supersuckers.
There is something about Supernova’s no-frills small-room environment that represents the true spirit of rock and roll better than any cavernous, flashy club ever could. There’s something righteous about seeing the band members lug in their own gear from a battered van; there is something heartening about seeing the lead singer grab his own drink; and there is something inspiring about being able to walk up to the musicians between sets or after the gig to express your admiration, to ask about a specific chord change or lyric. And this energy flows both ways, because musicians feed off their crowds, and having the crowd in such close proximity makes for better communication all around. Musicians are regular people who do what they do because they love it.
In this case, they also love it because they own it. Satellite Coffee, which opened in November 2007, is owned by Pat Brown and Ron Heathman who pull espresso shots by day and rock in the Outlaw Carnies and The Supersuckers, respectively, at night. They love coffee, they love music and they are well loved as shown Friday night’s overflowing crowd, which included many long-time Tacoma music scenesters.
Brown and Heathman waited the winter out to celebrate their opening above Supernova in the tiny spot once occupied by the popular Temple of the Bean in the ‘90s. They did a soft opening, but wanted to work out the kinks before announcing to Tacoma that they rock the bean. Pat Brown also co-owns Supernova with former bandmate (Camarosmith) Donny Paycheck, who’s an Outlaw Carnie in Bob Wayne’s band, too.
It’s confusing, really. There are many more relationships involved with Satellite Coffee, Supernova and Friday night’s bands. What’s not confusing is both performances rocked the crowd.
It was a celebration of many things â€" great coffee, great music and great friends â€" but I also believe it solidified that tiny Supernova is a worthy music space.