One of Tacoma’s most unique and venerable record stores will have a new home next month. Golden Oldies owner Jeff Miller just called to report he’s being forced out of 3016 Sixth Ave., his location of five years, and will reopen a few blocks down at 3521 Sixth Ave., on Sept. 1.

Miller opened Golden Oldies in 1986, and for years his shop has been a destination of choice for classic vinyl and memorabilia from the likes of the Sonics, the Fabulous Wailers and the Galaxies. But his is not the first vintage record shop to be …

Read more »

A new nightclub called Vanity is headed to 5602 S. Washington St., in Tacoma, previously the home of rock club Station 56.

Local entrepreneur Ali Mehdizadehkashi – who owns Cheers Bar & Grill in Puyallup and has been affiliated with the Sixth Avenue Bar & Grill, Area 151, Cheers West and Lipstix, among other local establishments – is leasing the space. He applied for a liquor license for Vanity last month and has revealed tentative plans to open by mid-September.

Among the entertainment he said he may showcase are live rock bands, comedy, jazz and salsa. …

Read more »

A few events worth checking out in the week to come.

Music and Art in Wright Park benefit show

Earplugs are not optional on Saturday. At least not if you want your ears to survive the epic metal sludge and hardcore mayhem that Mico de Noche and C.F.A. will unleash on Tacoma’s New Frontier Lounge. The bands are looking to raise about $2,500 to help finance the MAWP festival, which will also feature the F-ing Eagles, Gold Teeth, Lozen, Girl Trouble and more on Aug. 21 at Wright Park.
Read more »

The Fabulous Wailers had been out of commission since December as front man Kent Morrill battled serious illness (related story here.) But the godfathers of Northwest rock roared back into action this weekend with a pair of crowd pleasing and sometimes emotional performances, the first Saturday in Issaquah and the second last night capping off a Gulf coast benefit at the Swiss Tavern. Morrill sounded great, and shaky camera work aside, I managed to record this garage-rock classic for those of you who missed it.

…

Read more »

A couple of weeks ago at Hell’s Kitchen I ran into Big Wheel Stunt Show’s Evan Nagle, who was excited about an all-star jam he was putting together for the finale of the inaugural Tacoma Hempfest, which took place Saturday at Wright Park. On site, Legend of Bigfoot’s Jason Flom hinted that they’d practiced a song by a band that played Woodstock. So thinking about the styles of music that LOB and Stunt Show play I figured … Hendrix? The Who? Uh, Sha Na Na?

You could say I …

Read more »

This comes from the Dignitaries’ set last weekend at the New Frontier Lounge.

Leave it to the Fun Police to bring actual grits to Grit City Fest. A guy introduced to me as simply “Fryin’ Ryan” is the newest member of their posse. And while the band served up “We Don’t Want No More” and “Bar Fly,” ol’ Ryan was busy whippin’ up the most mouth-watering batch of cheesy grits I’ve ever had. That’s no exaggeration, my friends. And I’m from down South!

Guitarist and lead singer Kevin Schulz tells me free food will be a regular part of the ever-expanding Fun Police experience. As if you needed another …

Read more »

Encore will open in downtown Tacoma on July 23, according to co-owner Roger Rahil. [Note: Date updated from earlier version of this post.] As reported last month, Encore is the new nightclub that he and partner Jon Tartaglia are constructing at 1025 Pacific Ave., formerly the location of the Vault.

Rahil and Tartaglia also worked together on the Loft and 21 Commerce, adjoining nightclubs that were among the city’s most popular dance destinations before closing, under different ownership, in 2008. Encore will build on the aesthetic the duo developed at that complex, which was located at 21st …

Read more »

If you read today’s local section you know Tacoma rapper Roderic was down at Classy Chassis Car Wash & Detail in Lakewood yesterday shooting a video for his song “Freshman,” a cut that’s generated a little buzz on a few hip-hop sites. He’s already appeared on B.E.T. and a national ad campaign for the U.S. Census. So could 2010 be a breakout year for the Curtis High grad?

Check out this clip I put together to get a better idea of what went down. Hell, watch if a few times. You might pick up …

Read more »

So, yesterday I ducked into the Red Hot where I ran into Swampy Draws drummer Mudd Butt Mysterioso (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Mike from Tacoma hardcore band South 11th.) And he tells me last Sunday’s gig at the Spar would be Swampy’s last “for a long time.”

Needless to say, that inspired me to quit slackin’ and finally chop up a couple of clips I shot from a previous gig at the New Frontier Lounge – you know, to tide Swampy’s fans over while he’s on hiatus.

Read more »