In the time since that interview I've applauded and backslapped Hell's Kitchen too many times to count. For plenty of the club's nine years, I credited the Kitchen for Tacoma's musical resurgence any chance I got. I was just happy to have a place to write about that wasn't called Neeners and didn't feature mud wrestling. But the bulk of my gushing was true and genuine. Hell's Kitchen did help lift Tacoma out of a musical dry spell of sorts, and in the time since we haven't looked back. So much so that the club can sometimes be taken for granted, like it's always been here.

The things Hell's Kitchen represents have always been in Tacoma ... they just didn't always have a venue.

It's fitting, then, that this Saturday's bill - intended to celebrate nearly a decade of Hell's Kitchen - is one that also represents the musical DNA that has always been in Tacoma and is epitomized by what Hell's Kitchen is all about.

As far as Tacoma rock history goes it doesn't get much thicker than this. 

For Matt Discoll's full story on the show, including band interviews, click here.

9-Year Anniversary Show

with Zeke, The Lemons, Poppa Wheelie, Mahnhammer
Saturday, April 30, 9 p.m., $9
Hell’s Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
253.759.6003