Tacocat are firmly cemented in the Seattle live music scene, having recently released their third full-length of socially charged surf-pop meets punk. Unafraid to stand proud, the record continues their overt charge towards equality, highlighting some of the disconnect in everyday society. It’s a stance that has brought them a legion of fans, not least local contemporaries. With ‘Lost Time’ making waves, we asked Tacocat vocalist and local journalist Emily Nokes to take us inside the scene. Following a quick chat about Seattle, Noakes presented us with a list of acts that she believes are well worth our time.
How has the Seattle scene helped to form Tacocat?
Initially, the Seattle scene was pretty dudely and not super welcoming to us (this was like, 9 years ago, during the prime beard era of Seattle), but we did have some really wonderful people who asked us to play some of our first shows at dive bars or would put us on rotation on the local punk radio show or just supported us in general by getting what we were doing before a lot more people caught on. It seems weird that not even a decade ago people weren’t as into feminism — they thought it had already happened, so why are we being gross and talking about UTIs and periods and stuff? I think it made the testosterone feel threatened. Olympia being so close hasn’t hurt either. We definitely come from the Riot Grrl scene, and the K Records DIY way of life was how we did everything.
What do you think Seattle has to offer that differs from other scenes?
For the last few years—and especially right now — the energy in the punk/female/queer art scene has been pretty electric. I’m always blown away by how super creative and talented everyone is, and it feels like everyone genuinely loves each other’s projects (weather it be music, visual art, performance, tarot reading, writing, film, etc.). It feels more inclusive than competitive. Maybe it’s because Seattle is imploding with condos and the newer wave of confused bigots these days, but I feel we’ve really banded together something pretty neat. It’s not uncommon for one band to be featured on another band’s album, for people to record, produce, or make album art for each other, for bands to play each others release shows, and for everyone to come out to someone’s art show or drag performance.
How is all of that represented in your sound?
Well, on the new album ‘Lost Time’, we literally have a song called ‘I Love Seattle’. We’ve always had a love/hate relationship with Seattle (the rain really does take its toll on your ability to be happy, and touring so much has occasionally lead to other-city envy because its like “Look! It’s so warm here!” Or “Oh wow, they’re way better about curbing gentrification!”), but on the whole its been a powerful experience to look around and realize you helped build a scene from the ground up. I don’t think we would be the same band (or still in a band) if we came up in LA or New York or even somewhere like Austin, where there’s almost TOO much music for anyone to really give a shit.
Boyfriends
It might be cheating, but Boyfriends are genuinely one of our very favorite new bands in Seattle (and 3 of our 4 members date 3 of their 4 members, hence the name).
Ononos
They’ve been around for a while and are SO fantastic, but they don’t have any albums! Kind of like the Screamers I suppose. Their live shows are incredible—crazy lights and costumes. They’ve opened for the likes of Peaches and Genesis P. Orridge and will be playing at our album release! Do check out their wonderfully bizarre videos for a better idea of the whole experience.
Mommy Long Legs
So funny, so fun! Love their music and costumes and general attitude. They’re in the up-and-coming wave of feminist Seattle bands I love!
Wimps
I hope more people know about Wimps now — they just got signed to Kill Rock Stars—but in case you haven’t checked them out, Wimps make very catchy songs out of bummer situations (hating your job, sleeping in late, not wanting to go out, wet cardboard, etc.).
Brunch Brains
Gawd these songs are so good! Lelah and Bree (my band mates) found out one of their co-workers made this brunch-themed album just like, for fun. By himself. We’re trying to get him to get a band to play the parts so he can play it live!
The Trashies
Okay, this is cheating again, but the Trashies were one of my favorite bands before I even started playing music with Eric (Eric plays guitar in Tacocat and also plays guitar in the Trashies, a punk band in which he goes by “Wolfman”). They have got to be one of the funniest bands ever. One of the four member doesn’t live in Seattle anymore, but they still record once or twice a year and occasionally play shows. Pure punk!
Nail Polish
I happened into a Nail Polish show and they really blew me away. I’ve been listening to their first (and only, so far) EP quite a bit. Their song “Chophouse Row” is a similar sentiment to our “I Hate the Weekend”—it’s about the same rapidly gentrifying block of the queer/art/weird neighborhood.
Lisa Prank
Lisa prank is a one-woman punk band, aka our great friend Robin Edwards who moved to Seattle a few years back from Denver, Colorado. Her first album is coming out soon on Father/Daughter Records. Prepare for her to take over the world with her sweet jams of crushes and heartbreak!
‘Lost Time’ is available now via Hardly Art Records. Tacocat are currently finishing up a US run before heading over to the UK and mainland Europe.
APRIL
14 CAMBRIDGE, MA Middle East Upstairs
15 PHILADELPHIA, PA Everybody Hits
16 WASHINGTON, DC Comet Ping Pong
18 RICHMOND, VA Strange Matters
19 DURHAM, NC Pinhook
20 ATLANTA, GA 529
21 NASHVILLE, TN The End
22 ST LOUIS, MO Billiken Club
24 DENVER, CO Larimer Lounge
MAY
01 MANCHESTER Sounds From The Other City Festival
02 NOTTINGHAM JT Soar
03 EDINBURGH Electric Circus
04 GLASGOW Broadcast
05 CARDIFF The Moon Club
06 BRIGHTON Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
07 LONDON Lexington
09 PARIS, FRANCE Le Mecanique Ondulature
11 LUZERN, SWITZERLAND SchĂĽĂĽr
12 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Kalvingrad L’Usine
13 SCHORNDORF, GERMANY Manufaktur
14 TILBURG, NETHERLANDS Extase
15 HAMBURG, GERMANY Aalhaus
18 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Lilla Hotellbaren
19 OSLO, NORWAY Internasjonalen
20 LUND, SWEDEN Mejereit
21 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Huset
22 BERLIN, GERMANY West Germany