For the record, the Elephants are my favorite Tacoma band.

There, I said it.

A few weeks ago the Weekly Volcano released its Best of Tacoma issue. In it I was charged with the task of identifying Tacoma’s “Best Indie Band.”

As I wrote at the time, I hate making that f***ing decision. By nature, it’s not fair, and — once again — what the f*** do I know?

After plenty of soul searching and several discussions with big brains inside Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, I decided to award the title of “Tacoma’s Best Indie Band” to Sons of Ivan. They’re new to the scene, haven’t received a ton of press yet, have a kickass name, and based on their early work show a ton of potential.

Almost a month later I still consider it a good decision — though it’s one I’ve been answering questions about almost constantly since. It seems there’s no better way to spark people’s passions and snide comments than to name a “best” indie band. It’s a decision bound to cause at least a moderate uproar, especially when you name a relatively new band “best.”

Those who actually read the blurb, however, know there were plenty of qualifiers to the statement — and also know there are at least six or seven bands that I could have called “best” with just as much confidence. Paris Spleen is amazing. Bronco Blanco is top notch. Mama Loves Daddy is a band to be reckoned with. And even The Drug Purse has its moments.

Personally, though, the Elephants are my favorite. They have been for a long time. I thought I’d established this many moons ago, and — when faced with this year’s Best Of issue — figured naming them “best” indie band would just be piling on at this point. I figured diversity is the spice of life, and although the Elephants are far and away my favorite Tacoma indie band, it was time to give another band the spotlight.

It’s a decision I stand behind, but also one I plan on taking plenty of flak for. That’s the nature of crowning a band “best.” While hopefully I ignited some discussion, inevitably I also managed to convince a large number of people I’m a moron. As long as I did both, I suppose, it’s fine. Live by the sword; die by the sword — as they say.

This week, however, I’m not looking to make any statement or spark much discussion. This week, as the Elephants get set to play Bob’s Java Jive on Friday, Aug. 22 (not to mention the Point Defiance Music Festival on Sept. 6), I want all of Tacoma to know just one thing: I really, really, really like the Elephants. I stand behind my decision to name Sons of Ivan the “best” Tacoma indie band, but if you want to know who my personal favorite is — now you know. If the category had been called “Matt Driscoll’s Personal Favorite Indie Band in Tacoma,” I would have penciled in Cody Jones and Trevor Dickson without a second thought.

The good news is, at least for me, Cody and Trevor probably aren’t very concerned with trivial things like who the Weekly Volcano named best indie band. Addicted to their craft of creating some of the smartest and catchiest indie tunes you’ll find anywhere — not just Tacoma — the Elephants, over the course of their tenure in Grit City, have proven to be far more than tight jeans and ironic facial hair. The Elephants are on top of their game, and only getting better with time.

“We’ve always been more concerned with just overcoming inertia and trying to put our ideas into motion and make the songs as good as they’re supposed to be and are in our heads,” says Jones of how he and band-mate Dickson work together. “It’s really hard sometimes with the amount of stuff all the members have going on to get together and get something done. It’s really a shame that we can’t just somehow be subsidized so we can quit our jobs and work full time on blowing our own minds.”

“Maybe we helped create something — but we’re not the only ones. There’s lots of good music happening here — and there was before we were around,” says Jones of the Elephants role in creating Tacoma’s indie scene. “As far as the current ‘Tacoma indie rock scene’ — the only thing I can think to say right now is that I honestly feel we have way more quality rock and roll, punk rock, and definitely metal per capita than Seattle does.”

The Elephants recently caused at least a minor stir by coming out against the Showcase Tacoma festival — which featured Seattle’s Speaker Speaker and Portland’s the Helio Sequence as headliners. While their view, in typical gossip fashion, got blown slightly out of proportion, Jones took a moment to clarify where the Elephants were coming from.

“I was looking online at the lineup of musical acts and just thought to myself ‘Showcase Tacoma? Really?’ because the headliners are all from Seattle or Portland. And I’m not really seeing any bands that most of us would consider to be part of our local music scene on their main stage,” says Jones. “Saturday’s lineup read less like an event put on by a growing city trying to recreate its image as some arts Mecca, and more like the Fife Family Fun Fest.”

“I respect that someone tried and undoubtedly had good intentions, and think it’s great that the Helio Sequence played here — but why not put one of Tacoma’s great bands up there before them?” continues Jones. “There are great original and artistically relevant bands in our town that draw big crowds. These bands are like ambassadors for our city in a lot of ways, really — so it seems to me like a slap in their face to title your event ‘Showcase Tacoma’ and then favor and grossly overpay out of towners.” 

The Elephants — my personal favorite Tacoma indie rock band — will play Bob’s Java Jive this Friday, Aug. 22. They’re not grossly overpaid out of towners — there just one of the best and brightest bands Tacoma has to offer.

Appreciate them accordingly.

[Bob’s Java Jive, The Elephants, Mattress, Friskey, Emperor Moth, Sammy Swell, Friday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m., $5, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]