IT'S STILL LIKE WELCOME BACK, KOTTER >>>

In case you haven't received the heads up yet, Portland's Drew Grow and Pastors' Wives are headed back to Tacoma this weekend for a show at the Warehouse on Saturday. With Tacoma ties, and having made plenty of connections in our beloved T-Town, the occasion will be celebrated not just for Grow's amply provides, skuzzy blues, but as the return of a friend.

In preparation for Grow's Saturday show at the Warehouse, I caught up Grow this week to chew the fat about T-Town, singles, Conan and the marrying habits of pastors. Check it.

(Note: This interview posted in two installments. The first installment hit Spew on Wednesday.)

VOLCANO: What do you have on tap (musically, anyway) for 2010? Is there anything in particular fans can look forward to?

GROW: We will be steadily continuing with the A/B singles throughout 2010.  The next one looks like it will be a very spare acoustic recording, which is demanding because no filigree, great songs or you suck.  and then the next will be a decidedly studio recording.. a good friend in Seattle, Buddy Ross from Motopony, has produced a track that I am very happy about.  Maybe we'll pull the best of them all together to make a "Meet Drew Grow" compilation by the end of the year.

VOLCANO: Do you care about Conan?

GROW: Yes, yes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A98_-EeXS_I

I always liked Letterman the best, though.  You ever see his skit "Is this anything?"

Come on, where are Dave and Paul weighing in on the Decemberists?

VOLCANO: In an underdog city like Tacoma, it's easy for people like me to be jaded about an uber-hip spot like Portland. Reassure me, friend. It's not all ironic facial hair and pomp in PDX, right?

GROW: Hip is perception.  I really hate how "hip" makes us all feel.  We have a lot of transplants here.  The freshest off the boat are usually the, in quotes, "hippest".  Chuck Palahniuk wrote a book called Fugitives and Refugees about Portland.  I'm one too.  I'll tell you what, though; I haven't been anywhere (and I'v been some places in my life, kiddo) where there is such a feeling on the street that things. can. happen.  Music, film, politics.  This town gives the feeling that it can be done. Whatever your stupid crazy dream is, you might as well get started.  Hip is for magazines, but happy is the man who findeth people like Portland people.  You may not be great, you make suck balls, in fact, but we'll come watch.

VOLCANO: Seriously, though - how do you explain the bounty of good music coming from Portland? How does an environment like that impact you as an artist? Is it inspiring? Is it overwhelming? All of the above?

GROW: I'm not impacted by other Portland musicians the way I once was by Seattle musicians. Portland is subtle, like a tremor.  You don't set out to be like Viva Voce, but they snake into your neurosis somehow. I definitely

don't give a rat's ass anymore.  That's freeing..  (Shit, what was that Viva Voce song... "We Don't Fuck Around"?

VOLCANO: Should pastors marry?

GROW: Should gymnastic coaches keep taking a paycheck?