Seattle may have planted the flag as the capitol of grunge, but Tacoma quietly nurtured the movement's raw, unpolished sound long before it became mainstream. The scrappy DIY music scene was fueled by Tacoma’s house parties and all-ages venues, which gave early grunge musicians a place to experiment, grow, and meet other artists. Whether grunge is nostalgia for you, or if you're from the grunge-renaissance generation, make the pilgrimage to Tacoma; We’ll show you where it all began, take you to must-visit spots for music lovers, and provide the soundtrack for your earbuds while you visit.
Part I: Tacoma’s Rock History + Birth Place of Grunge
“Walk, Don’t Run” - The Ventures
Soundtrack for this leg of the adventure: The Sonics, live at the Red Carpet in Tacoma, 1964
To understand why grunge took hold in Tacoma, we have to go back a few decades further to two Tacoma-based bands in particular: The Ventures and The Sonics. Known as “the band that launched a thousand bands,” The Ventures actually popularized the electric guitar with their 1960 release, “Walk, Don’t Run.” If helping bring electric guitar to rock and roll isn’t enough of an origin story, we’re not sure what qualifies. The Sonics formed in Tacoma not long after, headquartered at the Crescent Ballroom which would later be renamed Legends (more below). Everyone from Eddie Vedder to The Boss himself have named The Sonics as a major influence. Their label, Ace Records, captures their legacy well: “back in the mid-1960s, the legendary Sonics took rock'n'roll by the scruff of the neck and thrashed it to within an inch of its sorry life, leaving a legacy of some of the most savage, visceral recordings ever made.” Now that you’re salivating, here’s “The Witch” from their debut album.
The Sonics, pictured in The Kitsap Sun newspaper in 1965
In addition to this royal rock lineage, Tacoma contributed to the culture of the grunge movement itself. Similar to the working class youth who built the punk scene in the UK, Tacoma and other Pacific Northwest towns with blue collar populations set the scene for grunge. Our infamously wet and gray weather, paired with practical working class attire, helped birth the preference for Doc Martens, flannel, and well-worn and ripped denim. Sub Pop Records co-founder Bruce Pavitt believes the area’s overall affordability also encouraged the culture: “grunge flourished here in part because its artists weren’t stressed about cost of living — and that included finding their next meal.” While many things about Tacoma have changed since then, the availability of great, affordable food and the prevalence of flannel have not.
Where to go:
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Hi-Voltage Records. Find originals and represses of your favorite albums. May we suggest The Sonics Boom by The Sonics, Hit It Or Quit It by Girl Trouble, and Stoner Witch by The Melvins—all bands who got their start in Tacoma.
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Antique Row. Head to downtown Tacoma and wander the labyrinth of vendors to thrift your own grunge look, from used Pendleton flannels to very on-trend 90s denim.
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Eat good and cheap. Follow the grunge tradition of affordable, nostalgic food in Tacoma and visit Frisko Freeze for a burger, Marcia’s Silver Spoon Cafe for big-portion cafe eats, and MSM Deli for an excellent no-fuss sandwich. Each of these places has been open throughout the grunge era and beyond.
Part II: The Legendary Venues of the Past
“Here we are now / Entertain us!” - Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Soundtrack for this leg of the adventure: Nirvana, live at Legends in Tacoma, 1990
The historic venues of Tacoma were the launchpad for many bands in the scene throughout the Pacific Northwest. Bands based in Seattle, Olympia, Portland, and elsewhere would journey to Tacoma specifically to visit these affordable-to-rent venues with a supportive community.
Community World Theater
Closed late 1988
Location: 5441 South M Street, in the same building but now a church
Originally built in 1924 as a movie theater, the Community World Theater was an all-ages venue that crammed in a huge legacy into just over a year. A new group called Skid Row was known to play at Community World Theater, but you probably haven’t heard of them—that is, until they changed their name to Nirvana at a Community World Theater show on March 19, 1988. So yes, that means that the band played their first-ever show as Nirvana in Tacoma.
Crescent Ballroom / Legends
Show posters for Legends, courtesy of Pacific Northwest Music Archives
Closed 1990
Location: Corner of 13th and Fawcett, near downtown
The building eventually known as the Crescent Ballroom hosted acts from the jazz age in the 20s to the birth of rock, all the way through the grunge era. It was briefly renamed “Legends” in 1989 before closing the following year, but not before Nirvana, The Melvins, Soundgarden, Suicidal Tendencies, Dr. Know, Butthole Surfers, Alice in Chains, and countless others took to the stage.
Hell House
Still standing, but empty
Location: in Tacoma’s Southside, a few blocks from Community World Theater
Young musicians were making music just minutes from each other in Tacoma, Olympia, and Seattle in the mid-80s, but they remained segmented due to lack of places to play—that is, until three Tacoma musicians rented a house, dubbed Hell House, in Tacoma’s Southside. One of those musicians was Bill ‘Kahuna’ Henderson of Girl Trouble. Now Tacoma had an all ages hub where friends could trade and play music. On YouTube you can watch a slideshow of images from the house’s heyday with John Purkey, an old friend of Kurt Cobain’s, narrating over the footage.
Bob’s Java Jive
Still open!
Location: 2102 S Tacoma Way
Originally built in 1927, the coffee-pot-shaped bar and music venue has been family-owned for multiple generations. Though they’re mostly known for karaoke nights these days, Tacoma bands The Wailers and The Ventures played there often, as did Nirvana. Indie rock musician Neko Case also tended bar at Bob’s in the late 80s.
Where to go:
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Visit the above historic sites to see where it all went down, ending at Bob’s to try your hand at belting your favorite grunge standard.
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Read more about Tacoma’s impressive musical history—including Nirvana’s connection to Tacoma—on local professor Kim Davenport’s website, tacomamusichistory.org.
Part III: Tacoma’s Music Scene Today
“I changed by not changing at all” -Pearl Jam, “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town”
Soundtrack for this leg of the journey: Check out these current Tacoma-based bands!
The fertile ground that gave us grunge is still churning out music today. Though you’ve come in reverence of the past, Kurt Cobain would remind you that good music is good music: "No band is special, no player royalty. But if you've got a guitar and a lot of soul just bang something out and mean it." So where can you watch a band with a guitar and a lot of soul?
Porchfest
If you’re charmed by the DIY music scene and ethos of grunge, Tacoma Porchfest is pretty ideal. The annual festival literally takes place on the porches of dozens of today’s Hell Houses, except there’s structure to the whole thing; organizers provide a detailed map, schedule, and parade route to guide you. Check out the Tacoma Porchfest official website for dates and the lineup once announced.
Where to Go: The Venues of Today
If you aren’t in town for Porchfest, head to one of Tacoma’s many music venues and catch some live music. Here are some great places to start.
New Frontier
This cocktail lounge hosts live music from up-and-coming local and national bands. It’s a small stage, the chicken wings are solid, and locals love it.
Airport Tavern Music Hall
Locals are calling this newly-renovated spot Tacoma’s answer to Seattle’s historic Showbox and Crocodile venues. Older music fans will appreciate the stage’s proximity to bar stools.
Real Art Tacoma
In the spirit of Community World Theater, Real Art hosts all-ages shows with an intimate vibe. You can also score a sandwich and play some pinball while you visit.
Spanish Ballroom at Elk’s Temple
For a bit of polish on your local music exploration, head to the historic Elk’s Temple building to see a show at the Spanish Ballroom—and maybe snag a cocktail and some dinner at one of the many McMenamin’s establishments before the show. We recommend The Old Hangout, a tiki bar in the basement, with low neon lighting and stiff tropical drinks.
Tacoma's fingerprints are all over the grunge movement's inception and rise to glory, and though the heyday of grunge is behind us, the heart of Tacoma’s creative music scene still beats. If you doubt it for a second, bask in the shrieking feedback at a live show and feel the energy of the room. Let the goosebumps on your forearms be confirmation. “Come as you are, as you were / As I want you to be.”
