I have to admit, I'm a little sad that the first time I'm writing about Broken Oars, it's to announce their break-up and final show on New Year's Eve at The Loch's in Tacoma. The band did have a soft break-up back in April, but this is the real deal.

Where have I been over the last nine years as these guys pounded Tacoma, its surrounding cities and the length of the West Coast twice with its high-energy assault of punk rock? Missing out, apparently.

Broken Oars fans will no doubt be in the front row, fist pumping, perhaps a tear leaking from their eye in bittersweet good-bye, or an errant elbow.

Led by their quintessentially punk frontman Ike Shanaman (who you may remember from Crossbones fame), Broken Oars does punk the way it was meant to be done, without apologies, without reservations. Joining Shanaman on stage will be guitarist Victor Sheneman, bassist Johnny Bakody, guitarist Steve Hagel and drummers Ryan Loiselle and Rick Lythe.

A variety of life changes - including time for family and work, and an inevitable "ran it's course" point in most band's lifespan - led to the break-up, which Shanaman sums up by saying, "I'm sad because it's been a long run, but after nine years, we just got tired, nothings flowing."

On the other hand, Shanaman is stoked about the New Year's Eve show, the line-up and the fact that Broken Oars recorded four new songs that had formerly been  on the back burner. He says they will be giving away free CDs at the show. He's also stoked the broke Oars has an all-ages time slot.

Shanaman, who works at The Ink Spot Tattoo shop, reminisces about his time with the band.

"When we toured, we had fun. I remember watching Victor down hill skate and just bomb through intersections. We were always hurting ourselves on skateboards," he says with a laugh.

He tells me about the "Lost Tapes" documentaries they made while touring, singing in the van and overall bro-ing down with each other.

"It's been nothing but great, wild times. There's never been a dull moment," he adds.

Shanaman rounds up our interview with an appreciation for Tacoma.

"We'd like to thank the whole town for their support over the years."

THE LOCH'S, BROKEN OARS, ACT OF SABOTAGE, 13 SCARS, PISS DRUNKS, CRAWL UNIT, NEUTRALBOY, DYING OFF, SOUTH 11TH., ANTICULTURE AND CONNIPTION FITS, MONDAY, DEC. 29, 6 P.M., $5 ADV/ $8/DOOR, ALL AGES (TILL 11 P.M.), BAR W/ I.D, 928 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, 253.221.1587