Mom’s Rocket
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Olympia offers more than indie rock
by Matt Driscoll
Sep 18, 2008
When I think of Olympia — and especially bands from Washington’s capital city — usually straight ahead rock and roll acts don’t come to mind. Usually, I envision artsy, indie bands — with ironic facial hair and extremely interesting fashion sense.
For the most part, that’s the Olympia music scene I know and love.
But, as we all know, every rule has an exception — and my aforementioned description of music in Olympia is certainly no different.
Take Mom’s Rocket, for example — who will play Hell’s Kitchen on Saturday, Sept. 20 along with Top Heavy Crush and Painted Window. A high octane mix of all that’s quintessential about true, blue, good ol’ fashion rock, Mom’s Rocket not only has a sexually suggestive moniker, but they lay down the chugging chords without much regard for flavor-of-the-month indie gimmicks or skinny boys in ass-tight pants.
Mom’s Rocket is old school rock and roll without regret. In Olympia, this makes them different.
“We usually have good crowds to play for. People are still people, and we are generally well received,” says Mom’s Rocket bassist Randy Keller. “We honestly don’t care about specific genre. We are not trying to be anything specific. We just write what we feel like at the time.”
Another thing that makes Mom’s Rocket different from the masses in Olympia is the band’s love of sports — highlighted by the fact Mom’s Rocket is the “official house band” for sports radio 950 KJR AM. While being the rock group that penned “Seahawks Stomp” in a place that hates jocks as much as Olympia has its dangers, Mom’s Rocket just does what feels right, and the band seems to have been able to parlay their gig as KJR house band into an extremely rewarding experience.
“I’m a sports nut, and when I am in my car I listen to sports radio. I really wanted to be the KJR house band so I entered us in the contest. We made the initial cut down to three bands. There was a ‘Rock-off’ show and we were selected. The station has been really nice to us, and they treat us like celebrities — and this is sort of cool,” says Keller. “I haven’t worked them for any tickets yet, but I will try.”
[Hell’s Kitchen, with Top Heavy Crush and Painted Window, Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]
User comments
submitted 03:22 on Sep 18, 2008 by LOCAL OLY MUSIC GEEKThere are at least a dozen fantastic Straight Forward Rock Bands that currently hail from oly. Brown Star, The Hard Way and Glass Elevator, all great bands, ALL are largely ignored in the oly scene. All very deserving of some kind of recognition. Why does no one care? Not as many young people are in to rock these days. Most are in to Hip hop, rap, or a similar urban hybrid. There is alot of rad stuff that never surfaces here because the scenesters only appreciate Indi D.I.Y bands that sound like they just started playing and just started to form their shallow politics. I say look a little harder. look a little deeper. You may find that rock is not dead.It is just buried under layers of crap. Crap the Major and indi labels, local and abroad, are forcing down American throats. We don't have to take it. Go out and give these rockers a chance.
submitted 04:47 on Sep 23, 2008 by Rebel RockerI'd like to second the Oly Music Geek by saying, I've seen all of the above bands in action, Brownstar, The Hardway and Glass Elevator and have been completely blown away. These bands delve into the realm of eclectic art rock, while still maintaining a humble enough attitude to let the old and great rock legends sing in there rock ballads. Come see one of these bands and i promise nothing less than rock bliss. Peace.
