LAUREN NAPIER: OPEN FIRE! IS FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT >>>

Hardcore and the all-ages scene in the South Sound seem to go hand-in-hand: from the local bands that keep the energy alive to the touring bands that bring their own breed of brutality to the venues that keep their doors open so that music lovers of all ages are able to catch a show. Open Fire! has been around for many of the ups and downs of the all-ages scene and will hopefully be around for many more. With a couple of EPs in their repertoire and a new full length, I Am the Curse, in the works, Open Fire! continues to gain momentum and fans.

To read the full column, click here.

BOBBLE TIKI: CELEBRATE KGRG'S BIRTHDAY TODAY >>>

Tonight, KGRG will celebrate 20 years of its “Today’s Rock” format, which has helped shed a national spotlight on bands from Green River to Nirvana to Aiden. KGRG will take over The Viaduct in Tacoma starting at noon Saturday, and offer a day of music including headliner The Classic Crime, along with Brier Rose, I Declare War, Success! James Hunnicut and more.

Read Bobble Tiki's full report on this show here.

[The Viaduct, KGRG 20th Anniversary Celebration with The Classic Crime, Monetta, Brier Rose, Fun Fun Fun, I Declare War, Success! Open Fire, Mirror the Ghost, Cheyenne, Sky Harbor, Saturday, May 9, doors open at noon, $8 before 4 p.m., $10 after, 5412 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.472.1948]

LAUREN NAPIER: ROCKIN' THE CRADLE >>>

Take note. Six Fifteen wants you to know they are “easy on the eyes.” Bassist Matt Huston offered this tasty nugget of wisdom, and others, during a recent conversation regarding his band’s upcoming show at the Viaduct tonight. It was a quote and tone that seems to epitomize the very reason for Six Fifteen’s existence, which is, as far as Huston is concerned, “fun.”

Meeting through various other musical efforts â€" projects that failed and fizzled â€" the current lineup of Six Fifteen is a piecing together of musicians from the South Sound all-ages scene.

To read the full article, click here.

MARK THOMAS DEMING: PLENTY OF POTENTIAL >>>

The next time you feel like shaking your head, shuffling your feet and muttering about hell and handbaskets, don’t. It ain’t that bad. Really. Need proof? Try this: Yet another promising band, Thee Intrepid Young Sleuths, has emerged from teenage Tacoma. (Three members attend SOTA, the other two Stadium â€" all sophomores.) They are smart, talented and charismatic, and steeped in the finest traditions of rock and roll: Elvis Costello, the Ventures, Girl Trouble, Roy Orbison, the Sonics and many, many more. They say they’re working on a concept album set in early ’60s Las Vegas. (What’s not to like about that?) And best of all, you can see them live this afternoon at small, locally-owned and independent Rocket Records. That’s one hell and one handbasket I think we can all be very, very excited about.

[Rocket Records, with Zane Savage and the Rippers and Hippo Crit, 3 p.m., no cover, 3843 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.756.5186]

LAUREN NAPIER: THE OLY ALL AGES PROJECT PRESENTS THE BAND TONIGHT >>>

Music is a powerful medium: it expresses different ideas and collective cultural identities. Music can be comforting or confusing. Music, as an entity, can be housed in conventional venues, people’s basements, or in school rooms. Thus, it makes sense that the Olympia All Ages Project is hosting a show with the intellectual and musically bold Mecca Normal.

The Olympia All Ages Project, founded by Mariella Luz, was created after Luz grew weary of her own complaint that “there hadn’t been anywhere in Olympia for a while that was just a dedicated all-ages music venue.” Complaining about the lack of opportunity for the youth was not helping anyone, but becoming proactive and starting the project was the first step.

To read the full article, click here.

MATT DRISCOLL: CHECK OUT THE 808 AND GUST BURNS >>>

House shows present a dilemma for us. When they happen, the bands set to play typically rival any bill offered by conventional venues. But they’re at someone’s house â€" which makes hyping them in the paper a little weird. Luckily, the folks at the 808 â€" a well known indie music house at 808 North Union run by the kids in Head Bangs â€" have given us the go-ahead on this one. Sunday, amazing experimental pianist Gust Burns along with his buddy Jason Kahn and bands Head Bangs (naturally), L.A. Lungs and Atrophy Wife will get together for one hell of an early, all-ages house show â€" which promises to be one of the best scenes this weekend has to offer. “I’m very excited that Gust is performing in Tacoma again,” says Nathan of L.A. Lungs (known as Afterthought Lung). “One thing that is truly special about the guy is that you can tell he lives for creating and getting creativity from others.”

[The 808, with Jason Kahn, Head Bangs, L.A. Lungs, Atrophy Wife, 3:30 p.m., donations appreciated, 808 North Union Ave, Tacoma, gustburns.blogspot. com]

LAUREN NAPIER: REBUILT AND OPEN FIRE AT THE VIADUCT >>>

“What else do you have to alleviate the stress of real life other than something like the Viaduct?” asks Steve Jackson, the vocalist of the brutal metal band Open Fire. If it comes to a decision to be made between “brainwashing from terrible reality shows and terrible TV” and an enjoyable night out while watching some bands pound it out on stage, the final choice should not be a difficult one.

Tonight the Viaduct will host several bands sure to be way better than crap TV, including Rebuilt and Open Fire.

To read the full article in this week's Volcano, click here.

LAUREN NAPIER: YOUNG GUNS SHOWCASE AT CLUB IMPACT >>> 

Club Impact, closing in April with a final show featuring such local greats as MXPX, has been an active and diligent supporter of the all-ages scene in Tacoma and â€" until its doors shut â€" will continue to provide opportunities to younger fledgling bands in an effort to flesh out the starving scene. It takes venues like Club Impact, and a solid support system, to keep all-ages shows in a constant supply. The demand is there, and tonight the club’s monthly Young Guns Showcase will take place once again. The Showcase gives the venue a chance to feature bands that have “at least half of the band members under 18,” explains Derek Smith, Club Impact’s president.

To read the full article, click here.

LAUREN NAPIER: TEMPLE VIBE JUST FEELS GOOD >>>

Don’t give negative vibes. Just be there for the music, for the songs, for the scene, and for the importance of instilling a positive outlook into the eyes of our youth. Just embrace Temple Vibe â€" the band playing The Den at urbanXchange tonight.

To check out the full article, click here.

LAUREN NAPIER: VALENCIA PLAYS THE VIADUCT >>>

With every band out there in the trendy all-ages scene, or in the pop rock genre in general, sounding homogenous and just plain boring, Valencia, a Pennsylvania product scheduled to play the Viaduct tonight, has a lot to prove.

To check out the full article in this week's Volcano, click here.