I'd normally check out a club before I recommend it to you, but Tacoma is a ways down there, and honestly, I didn't know the Junkyard existed until just this week. Nobody tells me anything. Anyway, down in South Tacoma there's a new all-ages venue called the Junkyard that's being "run by kids who care about this music scene." You'll find it at 6402 South Tacoma Way, and this weekend there are plenty of chances for both of us to see if the club is a gold mine—or a pit that lives up to its name. To find out more about the venue, visit www.myspace.com/thejunkyardvenue.
On Friday, January 19, the Junkyard hosts the America's, Stationary Legs, Patient Patient, and Post Harbor. Patient Patient, in case you've overlooked any of my recent praise for the band, are an impressive local quartet who play slightly experimental indie rock that'll no doubt sit right for fans of Muse and Radiohead's more guitar-heavy material. They have a couple songs posted on The Stranger's Bands page, so click your way over to www.thestranger.com/bands and search for Patient Patient (duh) to check 'em out.
Sunday, January 21, is also a good night to visit—Seattle's all-star hardcore team Iamthethorn headline with Behold, Owen Hart, This Time Tomorrow, the Helm, and Strength to Endure (what's a hardcore show without at least six bands on the bill, after all). Not familiar with Iamthethorn? Well get with it, kid. It's a new band boasting some old favorites: Johnny Pettibone of Himsa, Aaron Edge of Harkonen and Grievous (as well as, ahem, this paper), Joe Axler of Skarp and Book of Black Earth, and Jerad Shealey of Receder. They play hardcore, but with tinges of heavy rock and thick metal. (If you can't make it to Tacoma, they're also playing an all-ages show on Thursday, January 18, at West Seattle's American Legion Hall.)
In other just-breaking news, EMP has announced the 12 finalists for their 2007 Sound Off! battle of the bands. That's right, there are 12. This year, for their sixth year, EMP has decided to host four bands during the Saturday semifinals, instead of the usual three. Playing on February 3 is Don't Tell Sophie, Four Years Blue, Halfbreed, and the Oregon Donor; February 10 is Dreamwright, Emi Meyer, Left at the Castle, and Natalie Portman's Shaved Head; and finally, February 17 features the Army Corps of Architects, Black Swade, the Freetown, and Skullbot.
The finals will take place February 24, where the three winning bands from each semifinal competition will duke it out for the grand prize and title of Sound Off! champion. All the artists have bios and songs posted on www.emplive.org, if you want to scope the talent. Congratulations to the final 12, and good luck to all in the upcoming competition—may the best band win.
