Almanac

There’s a lot happening in Tacoma.

Music, visual arts, literature, printmaking, performing arts, public art, treasure hunting, found object-finding,

and more. The Almanac brings them all together as a weekly digital publication.

Make It To The Show: Ruckus in Tacoma - Summer Smoke Out Aeroplane Icon
Adam McKinney
June 29, 2023
Follow: instagramProfile
Screen Shot 2023-06-29 at 8

SATURDAY JULY 8th at THE VALLEY


The Valley has quietly (and, frequently, not-so-quietly) become one of the most reliable music venues in Tacoma, thanks in large part to the eclectic stream of bands that come through its doors. At its heart, though, the Valley is most suited to bringing in the kind of barroom bands that fit the venue’s classic Tacoma aesthetic – which will surely be represented when PNW record label Ruckus In The Boonies presents the Summer Smoke Out. Along with barbecue and vendors, the Summer Smoke Out will feature a cavalcade of bands; at the time of this writing, there are 10 in total, perfect for partying throughout the humid day and into the night.

Valley regulars like Stoned Evergreen Travelers, Old Dirty Buzzards, Ghost Train Trio, and James Hunnicut are just some of the acts that will be performing, but the event is unofficially a celebration of the Pine Box Boys and their 20th anniversary. The San Francisco-based outfit has been practicing doom-laden, murder-obsessed alt-country for two decades, honing their craft to a razor-sharp edge. Few modern country acts have the same flair for storytelling that the Pine Box Boys have, spinning blood-drenched yarns packed with a kind of charismatic foreboding. With nine other bands performing – most of whom also make their homes at the intersection of country, rock, and punk – and the sweet smell of barbecue smoke perfuming the air, the Summer Smoke Out seems like the perfect way to kick the hot months off in style.



SATURDAY JULY 8th

The Valley:

Summer Smoke Out, w/ the Pine Box Boys, Old Dirty Buzzards, Stoned Evergreen Travelers, James Hunnicutt, Blood Fire & Rainwater, Ghost Train Trio, Emery Villains, The Selfish Bastard, Yotes, The Hoods Open Mic Challenge with Billy Hood

Doors at 4pm, $15

1206 Puyallup Ave


instagram.com/ruckusintheboonies

Screen Shot 2023-06-29 at 8

More from Almanac

Screen Shot 2023-03-21 at 7

Umi Wagoner’s Tacoma: Croissant Crescendos

Corina BakeryWhen it comes to pastries in the morning there aren’t very many independents you can go to that will provide both variety and quality. What usually happens is they have the quality but they sell out of everything before they even make it to the midday rush. As a small business owner it’s a good problem to have but as a consumer it can be devastating. There may be no worse feeling than thinking all day about the taste of a delicious treat and when you arrive it’s no longer there, it’s enough to make you skip your morning meetings to ensure to get that bite or slice of happiness to push you through a tough or busy day. If you can’t tell yet, I have been a victim of this. The other side of the coin is the cafe that only does one thing right, so every time it's the same thing and variety goes out the window. Corina’s really does both exceptionally well, what isn’t baked in house is sourced with intention and care and I usually learn about a company that I would want to be in the know about anyway. 

Screen Shot 2023-01-27 at 4

Meet The Band: Denial Of Life

There hasn't been too many bands in recent memory to burst on to the scene quite like Denial of Life. Composed of Logan Miller on guitar, Brenna Gowin on vocals, Nicky Cody on drums, and Spencer Russo on bass, the band formed in 2019 and hit the ground running quickly releasing a demo and playing shows around Tacoma. I feel lucky to have been able to witness one of the first ones. Since then the band has shown no signs of slowing down even in the face of a global pandemic. I caught a DOL show this summer and the live shows have grown so much since I last saw them. They bring arena rock energy to a hardcore show and nowhere is that more apparent than their debut full length. No Reason was released August 13th and has quickly elevated the profile of the band. Since then the band has completed a full North American tour as well as a killer in studio performance on what most would consider hardcores biggest youtube channel, hate5six.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Logan from the band to get a little more insight into how they got started, what they've been up to and where they wanna go next!

Screen Shot 2023-06-02 at 8

Make It To The Show: SOFT PALMS

In 2006, a few things were happening in the greater indie rock landscape, including the ever expanding tendrils from the past few years’ rediscovery of previously discarded genres like psychedelia, garage rock, and goth; the excitement of hundreds of bands scrambling to see where everything was going next; and the birth of two bands: the Growlers and the Coathangers. For the Growlers, surf-rock and an arid, dusty atmosphere led them to describe their sound as “beach goth”; as for the Coathangers, they embraced an increasingly hooky brand of punk, bolstered by an unfuckwithable swagger.

Screen Shot 2023-07-10 at 2

Make It To The Show- Punk in Drublic: NOFX

If you were to walk into a crowded bar and loudly announce that NOFX were celebrating their 40th anniversary, chances are that more than a few people would get struck with a kind of existential ennui, their eyes drifting off into the middle distance as they ponder the cruel passage of time. In fact, this may be the same reaction NOFX had when they realized this milestone was approaching, as they’ve taken the opportunity to call it a day and hit that sweet retirement. Not ones to go out on a whimper, though, NOFX decided to tackle their farewell tour by hitting 40 cities and playing 40 songs per show.