The Seattle quartet Tacocat combine the D.I.Y. attitude of punk with a humorously insightful lyrical approach that delves deeply into pop culture and politics both personal and large scale. They started off releasing their own records, but soon ended up recording for hometown label Hardly Art with 2014's NVM heralding their arrival. Their sound evolved from its scrappy punk beginnings to become more assured, and by the time of 2019's This Mess is a Place, the group added 80's pop and 90's grunge elements to their approach.

Drummer Lelah Maupin and guitarist Eric Randall first met while working together at a Safeway grocery store in their native Longview, Washington. After the two relocated to Seattle, they met bassist Bree McKenna and singer Emily Nokes. Bonding over their mutual love for the punk, indie, and riot grrrl music of the '90s, the four members of Tacocat began playing small shows at house parties around town and releasing singles. In late 2010, they released their debut album, Shame Spiral, an upbeat, 13-song album of fun, pop culture-referencing, catchy punk. The Woman's Day EP followed in 2011 and the following year they signed with Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art, releasing their second EP, Take Me to Your Dealer. During this time, Tacocat continued to release D.I.Y. singles via their website and Bandcamp page. McKenna was also part of the band Childbirth, with Pony Time's Stacy Peck and Julia Shapiro of Chastity Belt, and they released their debut album in 2013. Tacocat's second LP and Hardly Art debut, NVM, was produced by Seattle rock legend Conrad Uno and arrived in February 2014. After another Childbirth album, 2015's Women's Rights, the band returned with their third album, the Erik Blood-produced Lost Time, in early 2016. The band toured behind the album and played Coachella in 2017. They also began working on their next record, writing songs that dealt with an uncertain political climate. Producer Blood was on hand again to help the quartet craft 2019's This Mess is a Place, a hopeful, uplifting pop album with punk guitars and Go-Go's-influenced harmonies. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi