Bands

The following is a growing archive of both touring and local bands mentioned in the interviews we've conducted to date.  

*This list of bands, descriptions, and members is compiled from gathered recollections, interviews, liner notes, and fliers. Some of the information, attributions, and even names may need corrections. Please share your knowledge with us so we can grow and expand the archive.

Ice Cream Truck

Olympia band, early 1990s

Immoral Roberts

Wenetcheee, WA punk band, mid-1980s

Indigo Girls

Atlanta, GA folk-rock duo (est. 1985), performed at Homo A Go Go

Irving Klaw Trio

Olympia experimental music project, late 1990s

Jad Fair

American indie musician, performed at Yoyo A Go Go in 1994.

Jandek

Experimental musician from Texas. KAOS was the first station to play his music on terrestrial radio.

Jawbox

Washington, DC band (1989-1997)

Jawbreaker

Bay Area punk band, 1990s

Jed

Aberdeen band, early 2000s

Joey Casio

Electronic musician, songwriter, DJ and poet active in Olympia from 1999-2009. (b. 1980, d. 2016)

John Foster's Pop Philosophers

Early 1980s Olympia band.

Julie Ruin

Post-Bikini Kill home recording project of Kathleen Hanna est. 1997. preceding the formation of Le Tigre. (Note- in 2010 Kathleen began The Julie Ruin, a live rock group.)

KARP

Tumwater, WA punk band. Acronym for "Kill All Redneck Pricks." (1990-1998)

Kelsey Love Experience

Olympia band, early 2000s

Kicking Giant

New York/Olympia punk duo, est. 1990

Kimya Dawson

New York/Olympia singer-songwriter

King Cobra

Olympia band, 2002-2006.

King Dinosaur

Olympia rock band (1999-2002)

Kiss Me Kill Me

Early 1990s Olympia queercore band

Koo Stark

Olympia band, early 1980s

L7

Los Angeles punk band (est. 1985)

Laura, Heather and Calvin

precursor to Beat Happening

Le Tigre

New York electro-punk band est. 1998

Little Red Car Wreck

Olympia rock duo, 1997-2012

Lois

Olympia singer-songwriter

Long Hind Legs

Olympia band, 1997-2000

Love As Laughter

Olympia band (1994-2008) formed from the ashes of Lync.

Lubricated Goat

Australian punk band est. 1986

Lush

Olympia, 1980s. Not the British band.

Lync

Rock band established in Olympia, 1992-1994.

Mac Dawg

Performing alias of Justin MacKaughan, 1995-present.

Make-Up

Washington, DC punk band (1995-2000)

Man Is The Bastard

Claremont, CA hardcore band (1990-1997)

Matrimony

Australian band, 1980s

Mecca Normal

Vancouver, BC rock duo est. 1985

Melvins

Montesano, WA rock band est. 1983

Millions of Bugs

Olympia rock band (early 1980s)

Miracle Workers

Portland band, 1982-1992

Mirah

Solo project of Mirah Yomtov Zeitlyn, est. 1997

Mirror Image

Olympia band, 1980s

Mischievous Violence

Olympia band, early 1990s

Mocket

Olympia band, 1995-1999

Modest Mouse

Rock band formed in Issaquah, WA. Est. 1993

Moldy Peaches

New York band (1994-2004)

Mona Reels

Olympia band est. 2000

Mosquito Hawk

Olympia rock band, 2010-2014

Moth

Olympia band, early 1980s

Mudhoney

Seattle band est. 1988

Mudslide

Olympia band, mid-1980s

Mukilteo Fairies

Olympia queercore band, 1993-1994

MumbleYak

Seattle band, 2000s

Murder City Devils

Seattle band, 1996-2001

Nancyville

Early 1990s Olympia band, future members of ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

Nation of Ulysses

Washington, DC punk band (1988-1992)

Negativland

Bay Area experimental group, est. 1979

Neutral Milk Hotel

Indie band formed in Ruston, Louisiana in 1989. Performed at YoYo A Go Go in 1994.

Nirvana

Aberdeen band, 1987-1994.

Nisqually Delta Podunk Nightmare

Olympia punk rock combo (1986-1987)

No Problem

Olympia band, late 1980s

Nomy Lamm

Solo performer based in Olympia, 1990s-2000s

Nubbin

Olympia rock band, early 1990s

Nudity

Olympia rock band, est. 2004

OUTLET

Olympia metal band 1996-1997

Oklahoma Scramble

Olympia love-rock duo, 1986-1987

Old Time Relijun

Olympia dance-punk band, est. 1995.

Oslo, of Olympia

Olympia rock band, 2001-2005.

Pastels

Scottish indie pop group, est. 1981. Performed at International Pop Underground Convention with Jad Fair.

Peace Party

Olympia rock band (1990s)

Pell Mell

Portland, OR instrumental rock band (1980-1998)

Pet Products

Olympia punk band (1981-1983)

Pig Stick

Olympia band (late 1990s)

PitBoss

Thrash rock band from Olympia, 1995-1998

Plastique

Olympia rock duo (1995-1996)

Pod

Olympia instrumental trio (Early 1990s)

Pounding Serfs

Anacortes, WA band (est. 1989)

Power Castle

Olympia metal band (est. 2000)

Rain Shadow

Olympia acapella group (1980s)

Rainbow Sugar

Denver, CO band (1998-2001)

Rancid

Berkley, CA punk band (est. 1990)

Rat Trap Ensemble

Olympia rock band (early 1990s)

Reflect Reflect

Spoken word/experimental duo, early 1990s

Romanteek

Olympia dance-pop band (2001-2012)

SUNN O)))

Seattle metal band (est. 1998)

Saccharine Trust

Los Angeles punk band, est. 1980

Scream Club

Olympia electro-punk band (2002-2011)

Screaming Trees

Ellensburg, WA rock band (1985-2000)

Seaweed

Tacoma, WA rock band (1989-1999)

Semiconductor

Tumwatwer, WA band (1980s)

Sex Stains

Los Angeles punk band (2014-2017)

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

Toronto, ON instrumental rock band (est. 1984)

Shame

Short-lived Olympia band (late 1990s)

Share Vare

Olympia band (late 1980s)

Simple Ritual

Olympia funk band (1992-1998)

Skeptic Tank

Olympia band (early 2000s)

Skylab

Olympia rock trio (1995)

Slant 6

Washington, DC band (1992-1995)