Oh dear lord! The pain. The empty feeling. The loss of purpose.

It’s almost too much to take.

No, Bobble Tiki isn’t talking about recent life around Weekly Volcano World Headquarters — though much of the above certainly applies. Rather, Bobble Tiki is talking about the band known as Top Heavy Crush — a T-town fixture for the last five years — who recently announced they’ll be playing their final show this Friday at Hell’s Kitchen.

Say it aint so!

Those familiar with Tacoma’s rock scene are surely familiar with Top Heavy Crush. Led by the uber-talented yet down to earth Day brothers — Andrew on vocals and keys (and occasionally sax), and Kevin on guitar — not to mention Grit City shred master Jimmy Paulson on guitar and hyperactive bassist Justin McDonald, Top Heavy Crush have become a staple during their time churning out hook-laden, radio-ready rock for Tacoma’s fall down drunk bar scene. Original drummer Geoff Reading may have left the band, having been replaced by Greg Friesz, but — at least to most observers Bobble Tiki knows — the news of THC’s demise comes as a complete shock.

“What the hell am I going to do?” asked one Hell’s Kitchen regular at a loss with the turn of events. “I mean, there’ll still be Jager, I’ll still go out and get totally blato on the weekends I don’t have my kids — but still. This sucks.”

After hearing the news, Bobble Tiki caught up with McDonald to get the scoop.

Turns out, things aren’t as bad has Bobble Tiki feared. Top Heavy Crush may be playing its final show Saturday, but that’s only because all five members have decided to move forward in a different, albeit still rockin’, direction. They decided collectively that a new band name and a new start were in order.

“We just started writing new songs that were a lot different but way better,” says McDonald. “I think it’s more mature, but it still rocks. (The new music) isn’t sexy, 15-year-old rock. I think it’ll have more staying power.”

[Hell’s Kitchen, Top Heavy Crush with Guns and Rosetti, Sirens Sister, Si Si Si, Friday, June 12, 8 p.m., $7, 3829 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, 253.759.6003]