You should have heard the excitement in the old man’s voice.

“Did you hear My Name is playing Hell’s Kitchen!?!”

While the “old man” in this story shall remain anonymous as to not offend his more youthful self-persona, his sentiments weren’t unique. There have been plenty of aging punk rockers in T-Town jacked up and stoked about the return of Tacoma heroes My Name to Hell’s Kitchen this Friday. In a town that rarely forgets its favorite sons, My Name holds a special place in a lot of people’s early ‘90s hearts.

And rightfully so. The band kicked ass — and probably still does.

Seriously. What Tacoma punk rocker worth his weight in safety pins could forget My Name records like Rocks for the Jocks in ’96, Megacrush or Wet Hills and Big Wheels? With a cocksure swagger and a unusual mixture of influences — from rock styled poetics, jazz, funk — and of course power chord punk — My Name left a mark on the ears of Tacoma that won’t soon be forgotten.

So, did you hear My Name is playing Hell’s Kitchen this Friday!?!

Here at the Weekly Volcano, we certainly did. Though the band members live in different states these days, that didn’t stop us from tracking down frontman Abe Brennan in Colorado and getting his take on the upcoming Tacoma reunion show.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: First and foremost, what led to this reunion show and who is involved? You guys have all done a lot of different stuff since ‘96. How did the pieces come together for this reunion?

ABE BRENNAN: It was pretty random: the ALL guys (punk band formed by members of the Descendents Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton) asked us to play some summer shows with them and Big Drill Car in southern California. Our three bands used to play together in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, and we thought it would be fun to see how fat we’d all gotten. The shows weren’t a disaster, so ALL suggested we play with them in Portland in October. We agreed and figured My Name should play Tacoma while we were at it. So we called Flash at the Kitchen.

VOLCANO : What are your hopes heading into the show?

BRENNAN: I’m hoping we get signed. But, seriously, Weekly Volcano, I’m hoping we acquit ourselves with dignity and aplomb, that my pants don’t split down the seams during the set, and that I see a lot of old friends.

VOLCANO : Are you nervous on any level?

BRENNAN: Yes. On pretty much every level.

VOLCANO : Are you getting a positive reaction?

BRENNAN: I live in Colorado, so I’m not getting much of a reaction at all. From what I hear, a few people in Tacoma are excited. My dad can’t wait.

VOLCANO:  What do you think it is/was about My Name that has allowed the band to stay relevant in this area for so long? There’s obviously staying power to what you guys have done. People haven’t forgotten. How do you explain that?

BRENNAN: Well, I guess we’ll see how many people that haven’t forgotten come Friday night — it may end up being My Name and 20 of their closest friends. Regardless, I don’t know why some people remember (let alone miss!) the band. We’re happy anyone does. We were always pretty outspoken about our affinity for Tacoma. And people seemed to dig the live show. And I don’t think we owe anyone money, although I might be wrong about that.

VOLCANO :  Why Hell’s Kitchen? Why now?

BRENNAN: Why not Hell’s Kitchen? If not now, when?

VOLCANO:  What can people at the show expect?

BRENNAN: The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Some live music. Hot licks and metal tricks. Sidesplitting hijinks. Old people.

VOLCANO:  Any special plans?

BRENNAN: I hate to give anything away, but live animals will be involved. And blood — lots of blood. And water balloons. That’s an old My Name staple — just ask G.B.H.

VOLCANO : What comes after this? Is it a one-time deal, or is there more on the horizon?

BRENNAN: I’m pretty sure this will be it.

[Hell’s Kitchen, My Name with Neutralboy, Android Hero, Skull Kid, Friday, Oct. 2, 9 p.m., $8 adv, $12 day of, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]