In the paraphrased words of the Hold Steady, I’m kind of like Rod Stewart when he was young. I\'ve got passion, and I think that I’m sexy. And all the punks think I’m dumb.



It’s true, and I’ve come to accept it. I do think I’m sexy, and for the most part, the true punks of Tacoma must think I’m dumb.



How could they not? After all, the punk rock scene is a tight-knit fraternity. There are rules and codes. I don’t belong and I don’t abide by any of them. Shit. I don’t even know most of them.



And I don’t pretend to.



However, of all the genres and sub genres floating around the world of music, and specifically Tacoma, I feel most comfortable with the rules of punk. In the elite world of hipster indie kids, for example, everything is soft-palmed, and the arm band tattoo I have from ’98 (which I regret more than most of my intoxicated mistakes), simply won’t cut it.



Mainstream hip hop is obsessed with rims and bling – two things I could care less about. The good stuff has a lot more integrity, just ask Paul Schrag, but still – me at a hip show is like Bobble Tiki at a straight edge show. It just doesn’t work.



Conventional rock and roll is nice, because after all, who doesn’t enjoy a guitar solo every now and again? Who doesn’t enjoy a frontman like Mick Jagger strutting around in something from his sister’s closet, with twelve other dudes on stage helping him rip off Muddy Waters? I know I do. But still, there’s a relative lack of substance in Tacoma’s rock scene that always leaves me wondering, ‘Haven’t I seen this show before? Haven’t I been to this party already? Didn’t that chick throw up on herself last time?’



Then there’s punk.



While I don’t pretend to be a punk, know very much about punk, or even be a guy who might fit in at a punk show, I completely support punk rock’s ideals.



“F*** the man! F*** the system”



I’m completely on board.



F***ing the man is basically what punk rock comes down to. At punk’s very heart is rebellion. One of the ways punk bands stick it to the man is with their name. The history of punk is filled disturbing monikers. MDC, or Millions of Dead Cops. The Dead Kennedys. The Dwarves. Even Tacoma’s Sok and the Faggots. The list is long.



This week at Hell’s Kitchen, two shows display just this phenomenon. Jesus F****** Christ, and Christ on Parade, along with the Gypsies and Durango 95 will play an early all ages show on Saturday, August 4th, and later that night JFC and COP will be joined by Toe Tag and the Fakies for a 21+ blowout. Both shows are being billed as a “Tacoma Skate Rock Extravaganza.”  



I’m not a god fearing gentleman myself, but I’m pretty sure there are a few folks out there who find the names Jesus F****** Christ and Christ on Parade more than a little objectionable. I’m pretty sure that’s how they planned it.



Jesus F****** Christ aren’t new to the game. Old school bay area punks, the band is made up of Larry Jackson, Dave Edwardson, Jamie Morrison. Jackson was previously in the band Rickets, Edwardson plays with Neurosis, and Morrison is from Pitch Black. All three reside in Oakland CA, and from time to time still hit the road and pack the punk in a van.



If you know punk rock, you probably know of Jesus F****** Christ, or at least the guys who make up the band. As JFC, they’ve released one full length record (a self titled disc released in 2006) and have plans to begin recording a follow up in August. They’re currently on tour because it’s summer, and why the hell not?  Through the magic of Myspace, I was able to catch up with Jesus F***** Christ.



Weekly Volcano: What drives you?



Morrison: The 30+ punk scene has become a staple in the Bay Area and elsewhere. I\'m glad that people realize that punk (and rock and roll in general) is a lifestyle, and one to take to the grave. I couldn\'t imagine a different lifestyle -- No matter how old I get,

I will always be a punk. As long as I can help make people really feel and enjoy the music I\'m part of, I will continue to be driven.



WV: What does the phrase “Bay Area punk scene” mean to you? Anything?



Morrison: The term bay area punk scene makes me think of the early 90’s and bands like Econochrist and El Dopa. The early 90’s is when I first toured in a band and played in Oakland and was introduced to people. That is when I noticed the close knit family type atmosphere amongst punk rockers, especially in Oakland.



Edwardson: Well, for me it was a great place to grow up, in the Bay Area, and in the great punk scene out here. Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Fang, all sortsa bands were on my turntable constantly, and onstage on the weekends. At first it was fun and wild being part of an "alternative-culture", but as I grew older I realized it was more than just friendship I had taken on with my comrades, it became real family with those who stuck it out in the scene. My best friends growing up were people who were Operation Ivy, Crimpshrine, Green Day etc... That kinda genre-crossing doesn\'t happen so much anymore.



WV: Have you had experiences in Tacoma? What are you expecting?



Morrison: I’ve experienced the Aroma of Tacoma. I saw Motley Crue on the Girls, Girls, Girls tour in 87 at the Tacoma Dome. Also my wife’s side of my family all live in Tacoma and Puyallup. I am related to Rob Lind the saxophonist from the legendary Tacoma band The Sonics. Tacoma people are always a little more crazy and rowdy and take things to another level when they party or socialize. I’m expecting a large attendance for the show. I think a lot of older punk rockers will be coming out of the woodwork to see Christ On Parade.