BY BRITTANY DANIELLE for WEEKLY VOLCANO 12/19/25 |
Members of the local scene tend to wear many hats. Jeremy Dentinger is no different.
He is a father, musician, volunteer, planning committee member at Real Art Tacoma, and host of Grit City Punk, a local radio-style variety podcast dedicated to the DIY music scene for punk, hardcore, and adjacent genres.
Starting the project in late 2024, Dentinger released his first episode and has been dropping episodes biweekly ever since. Grit City Punk is now available on most streaming platforms and is boosting local artists born from the DIY and all-ages scene, including Hot Stepmom, Pregnant Dad, Shame Banger, Negative Passengers, and more.
In each episode of Grit City Punk, listeners hear new releases, learn the stories behind the art, and dig deeper with the artists themselves. Dentinger does not just carry the name of Grit City; he gets gritty with the artists and the music. “Each episode of the podcast features several newly released songs from PNW bands, a long-form interview with a local artist, a concert calendar, as well as my own commentary on the scene,” Dentinger explained.
For someone with a multifaceted life, it seems Dentinger has found his calling. “I have a lot of friends who make music-related podcasts. I started a podcast called Juggalo Roundtable in 2021. It was a way to get some online friends together and get nerdy about a niche genre of horrorcore rap. I eventually rebranded that as Underground Table. In 2024, I started really getting into the local music scene, introducing local bands to Underground Table. We even interviewed Tacoma band Hot Stepmom ahead of their EP release in March 2024. I enjoyed doing that interview so much that, combined with my increasing adoration for and connections with local artists, it led me to start a new project.”
Though Dentinger is based in and heavily involved in the Tacoma local scene, his station is open to the greater Pacific Northwest. “My main goal with this project is to give kids a platform. Give them a space to say what is on their mind. Interviews occasionally stick to talking about their band and musical history, but they usually go off on tangents. We get political often, too. Although that was not the intent, I certainly do not want to ignore the current sociopolitical landscape and how that affects people in the music scene. I am a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, and I do not tolerate bigotry or bullying in any way. I will always make room for, and amplify, the voices of the oppressed and underrepresented.”
As many have noted before, it is not a walk in the park for indie artists, and it can be even harder for the all-ages scene. Dentinger hopes to shed light on the DIY music community. “The most important way to get involved is to go to local shows. Support the bands. Buy their merch. Share their music with your friends. Respect the venues. Go start a band. If you do not think you are good enough, good. Who cares. Make noise. The best way to support me directly is to listen to Grit City Punk, tell your friends about it, come to the shows that I promote, and always fight against fascism,” he said.
Dentinger, who has been playing guitar since he was twelve, understands the challenges local artists face and is no stranger to the inner workings of a band. He previously played in a band called Awesome Possum, whose demos can now be found on Bandcamp.
“I took about twenty years off from actively playing music. Working and raising kids obviously took precedence,” Dentinger shared. “Over the past few years, I have been trying to write and record again, and there are a few newer projects on my Bandcamp as well. In August this year, I performed some solo acoustic sets at Slice of Life Pizzeria and 11th Street DIY Skatepark. In September, I played solo at Real Art Tacoma. I am hosting an acoustic showcase at Slice of Life on January 2, and I will also be performing.”
Magic happens when people come together to support art. The DIY scene is more than punk bands. It includes venues, sound engineers, venue teams, fans, friends, street teams, graffiti artists, dancers, and fashion.
Grit City Punk is larger than a local radio-style podcast. It is a family movement. Dentinger runs the podcast, his wife designs flyers and logos, and his son works as a concert photographer.
Dentinger and his team have hosted numerous shows since launching Grit City Punk. “Grit City Punk booked four shows in 2025, the third being a benefit for the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. Six bands from all over the state performed, and we raised more than $500. I currently have three shows planned for 2026,” Dentinger said. “I believe in the power of music, and art in general, to bring people together.”
For artists interested in submitting to Grit City Punk, the checklist is as follows:
* Must be from Pierce and King counties, although the larger Pacific Northwest is welcome.
* Must be a recent release, no more than three weeks old.
* Must be punk, hardcore, grunge, or an adjacent genre.
Grit City Punk is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Substack.
