-- by Magdalene Seelhoff Angsty, gritty, edgy, dirty, ugly—these are just a few words one might use to describe the grunge genre, yet all of them together couldn’t fully capture the quality of the grunge sound, which rebelliously eludes the limits of definition. Known for its punk rock, garage rock, and heavy metal influences, a... Continue Reading →
-- by Kaylah Wright Tacoma, Washington has historically existed in the shadow of Seattle when it comes to discussions surrounding music in the Pacific Northwest. However, the city has played a vital role in shaping the sound of the region, producing influential artists, and nurturing an underground music culture that continues to flourish today. From... Continue Reading →
-- by Joe Seats In the mid-90s, Seattle made itself known as the home of grunge. Grunge music was among the most notorious things to come out of the Pacific Northwest, birthing bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. It generated a fusion between metal and punk, building a new rock style with heavy distortion... Continue Reading →
by Christie Dixon I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1982 when I was fourteen years old. Like many teenagers I was interested in music and gravitated towards music my parents could not stand. It is a rite of passage for many of us! I enjoy various musical genres, but rock was my favorite. I... Continue Reading →
-by Tobias Daugherty Welcome to the Pacific Northwest: home of stunning landscapes, a constant drizzle of rain (if we believe the portrayals in movies and media), five active volcanoes, and the birthplace of the grunge music movement. It’s no surprise that the state of Washington birthed this gritty, self-aware, and often experimental genre, considering the... Continue Reading →
-- by Kim Davenport For her final paper in my Musical History of Tacoma class at UW Tacoma, student Kaisa Cannon decided to explore her father's favorite band, Nirvana, and determine whether the band typically associated with Seattle had any roots in Tacoma. Even a casual devotee of the grunge group would likely guess the answer... Continue Reading →
Tacoma Music History 