News flash: The Internet has changed the world.

I know, I know. That’s not exactly headline worthy stuff — unless this is 1992 or you’ve been living under a rock since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air went off the air.

Still, it’s true. Our world is drastically different since Al Gore invented the Internet. Information, saucy pictures and downloadable music are all available, at a moment’s notice, to anyone with a decent connection. The Internet is a smorgasbord of possibilities. And, as we all know, while the idea of a smorgasbord is appealing (Mmmmm smorgasbord), it can also make you fat in a hurry.

Somewhere in the middle of all that available Internet goodness, bands are left to decipher this new world we live in. It’s a predicament with pros and cons. Sure, the end goal of any band is getting its music to the masses — and the Internet is definitely helpful in that endeavor — but there are also drawbacks. In an environment literally overflowing with musical options, the attention span of listeners seems to be always shrinking.

What about the age-old “record release show?” It used to be, when a band finished recording an actual, physical album — they celebrated with a record release show. This was obvious. It allowed big bands and smaller, local bands alike a chance to make some money selling the new disc, and promote it for future buzz — before the album ended up in a local record store.

It was all so simple.

So, my question for Seattle’s Foghorns, an increasingly popular and hyped band with Wisconsin and Scandinavia roots, and Tacoma’s Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel — both of which will celebrate record release shows this weekend in Tacoma — was simple: In this age of the Internet, how has releasing records changed, and what are the goals for a modern day record release show?

In particular, Foghorns have scheduled four record release shows — one in Scandinavia, two in Seattle and Friday’s performance at Bob’s Java Jive. To this band, the record release show is as important as ever.

“A CD Release should be like a gallery opening. You should be presenting work in front of your peers, people you respect and will hear from again,” says Foghorns leader Bart Cameron.

“The Internet offers a fast food experience. I don’t do fast food music, so I don’t really benefit from the Internet,” Cameron continues. “Getting music out has gotten more difficult. Much more difficult. If you hand the average person a CD today, they just look at it like a chore.

“Real music fans, I think they buy about a dozen CDs or records a year. But if you’re going to sell a CD now, it has to be a steak dinner.”

Patrick Baldwin of Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel, a hyper local, small scale band that’s been steadily making headway for itself and will release its own CD Saturday night at Bob’s Java Jive, also sees the pros and cons of this “Internet” thing.

“I feel like we’re a bit more traditional,” says Baldwin of the way his band works, especially in regard to the Internet. “I think people still want to own actual albums.

“Obviously, the saturation of the Internet makes things a little difficult, but people listening to music is a good thing. It’s not like it’s a competition.”

To read full interviews with Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel and Foghorns check out the Weekly Volcano’s blog here and here.

[Bob’s Java Jive, Foghorns CD release show with Former Foxes, The Variety Hour, Phantom Fireworks, Friday, Sept. 4, 8 p.m., 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

[Bob’s Java Jive, Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel CD release show with the Fun Police, Ghostwriter, Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m., 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]