Anderson fleeing local music scene

The tattoo of Hulk Hogan being attacked by UFOs is no joke.

Hulkamania is running wild in Erik Anderson’s bloodstream.

The lead singer and bassist for one of Spokane’s most distinct indie bands is calling it quits to pursue a career in professional wrestling.

The scrawny yellsinger and bassist for Flee the Century hopes to enter the squared circle as a referee.

It’s been a longtime dream of Anderson’s (aka Erik Viking) to work in the world of wrestling. So after five years of fronting Spokane’s signature synth-punk-wave outfit, Anderson is headed to the Ring of Honor Wrestling Academy in Bristol, Pennsylvania.

But that’s not the only reason for the breakup. Over the last year, things seem to have dried up for FtC, locally and on the road.

They haven’t played a local show since April and they toured a bunch over the last year to low turnouts until the band’s van finally croaked.

“Two years ago we’d play a ton of shows, headlining for touring bands. We were one of the main bands in Spokane. But the scene kept changing. Now it’s either singer-songwriter or metal and we don’t fit in,” said drummer Jordan Hoff. “A teenager would book a show in Arizona and forget about it and we’d drive there from another city and it’s cancelled so we lose money.”

Hoff and keyboardist Justin Hynes plan to continue to play music together.

In typical Spokane fashion, Flee The Century is playing its farewell show/CD release party tonight, releasing its final four-song EP, “Who Have Killed Us,” recorded by Eric Crudup at Wild Hogan Recording.

Each copy of the EP has unique cover art and comes with a data disc that contains four gigs of content, including a tour DVD, a documentary, tour pictures, videos, footage of Anderson’s car going up in flames and Flee The Century first live performance ever, plus the band’s entire discography including unreleased joints and the entire catalog from Right Turn Danger, the predecessor to FtC.

“We don’t have to tell you what we’ve been doing for the last five years,” Anderson said. “Watch the disc.”

Flee The Century flees the scene tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Empyrean Coffee House, 154 S. Madison St., in a show presented by Platform Booking in collaboration with The Wig Fits All Heads. The powerhouse support bill includes Belt of Vapor, Cyrus Fell Down and Hannah Reader. Cover is $6.