Ten years old. Some of my most dedicated readers (picture-looker-at-ers) aren’t even that age.



This weekend marks 10 years of Club Impact, and whatever you want to say, that’s a pretty astounding accomplishment. If you can tell me a venue in Tacoma that’s been doing it longer, I’d love to hear it. I can’t think of one.



Plenty of things have changed over 10 years.



Many remember the shack on Puyallup Avenue, near the Tacoma Dome, where the drug, alcohol and smoke-free all-ages venue once operated — with a mission as much about the music as it was about creating a safe atmosphere for kids to “facilitate discussions about spiritual and life topics as well as encourage artistic expression and creativity,” according to Clubimpact.org. The location has changed, with Club Impact operating out of the Brick City Project at Ninth and Pacific since 2006, but the mission has remained constant.



Bands can use profanity now; that’s a change. But the goal and vision of Club Impact’s staff has not wavered.



“Club Impact provides a clean, safe, positive atmosphere for bands and kids,” says Derek Smith, Club Impact’s president.



“Why it has worked for us, I would say, is because of God, and also the perseverance of the core staff. We want to live a Christian life, our staff, and we want to accept everyone the same, and love on everyone the same. That’s why we let bands use profanity now. It’s an art.”



The anniversary celebration Saturday, April 19 will feature Lakes, The Lives of Famous Men, Last Chance Hero, A Leaf, and Return of the Bison. With such a lengthy history, it should be quite a walk down memory lane.



“We decided to do this a couple months ago, seeing it’s been a decade. As far as I know we’re the longest in operation, all-ages club in the South Sound.”



Find more about Club Impact’s 10 year anniversary on the Spew.



[Club Impact, The Lives Of Famous Men, Lakes, Last Chance Hero, Return Of The Bison, A Leaf, Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m., all ages, $7, $6 with can of food, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, www.myspace.com/clubimpact]