We made something Better

Gimme Something Better - "The Profound, Progressive, and ocassionally pointless History of Bay Area Punk from Dead Kennedys to Green Day"
by Jack Boulware and Silke Tudor (Penguin Books)


I love these types of books. Historical, geographical and telling a punk rock stroy. Every City has a story and more and more cities have these collections. The style of writing is similar to John Robbs Death to Trad Rock book, or American Hardcore by Steven Blush. It consists of quotes from people. The authors must have spent exhaustive hours trying to get eye witness accounts recorded with stories covering nearly a 30 year period. It must have been an editing nightmare to decide what made it to the cutting room floor. It is no surprise that to hear that it took 3 years to complete this 489 page book.

As for it's story - well The title says it all. Even though they are not mentioned on the title this does start at the start. Punk rock coming to town and bands like the Nuns, Avengers and Crime starting up. An avenue I quite enjoy is where the book talks about venues. Punk rock (and music) isn't just about bands turning up to play. There's a whole network of people making things happening, people who may have never touched a guitar in their life. These people are recounting their perspectives here. Another aspect is the energy, excitment and fear that came from attending punk shows in the 70's. You would most certainly be returning from a night out with more marks on you in those early punk days.

As punk rock developed in the Bay Area and people started making things happen for themselves you really get that feeling through quotes from those who made the fanzines, booked the shows, attended the shows and bought the tshirts as well as from band members.

I must admit a slight bias. Back in 1980's Dublin I used to devour the punk zine maximum Rock'n'Roll, often called the punk rock bible MRR is still in existence today. It was through MRR that I could find out about all those cities around the world screaming their lungs out. I have an abiding memory of receiving a reply from Tim Yohannon (RIP) after sending questions for an interview with him, the then editor. Tim spoke all his answers on to one side of a cassette (anyone remember those) and did a compilation of SF bands on the other side. That type of inclusion and respect carried through to me for so much of what I did with music. Every month MRR had scene reports and tons of reviews and intrerviews. better still it had addresses where you could write to people. Some of those interiewed for Gimme Something Better were old penpals of mine. Others were zine wirters of zines I bought regularily or of bands that subsequently played in Dublin. Through Hope Promotions (and then Hope Collective) I was lucky to be in a postion to provide some assistance to some of the East Bay Bands. It's nice to hear how they started up through these pages.

Reading all the accounts it made me want to check out some bands I missed first time round, like the aforementioned Avengers and also to dust down those 7"s of bands like Winona Ryder, Econochrist and Monsula. It also made me want to revisit those Green Day, Dead Kennedys, Victims Family and Operation Ivy records that haven't had an airing for me in 2011. The soundtrack will go on for ever.

My life is better for reading this book- I suggest you root it out and then make it happen in your town.

joe solo

I have a confession to make. I write this as I proudly wear a Joe Solo t-shirt. I have been following the works of Joe since his days as front man for Lithium Joe. I have very happy memories from the time they played in Ireland in June 1996.
I also have an apology to make - Lithium Joe's trip to Ireland co-incided with "football coming home" (Euro 96 being hosted in England). Ireland in 1996 was a lot different to today, certainly no trip to the country was being anticipated by Queen Elizabeth II. Many Irish peoples view of the term football coming home was just another example of an English media exaggerating the importance of their country in world affairs. There was a feeling that somehow English people felt themselves as superior to their fellow world citizens. As people who had organised gigs for many folks of different origin it mattered little to us what country was on your passport once you were taking the time out to visit our little country. It did matter to us however if when you were a guest of ours that you started cheering for the country of your birth, if that country was England. And so we revelled in the misery of an England supporter seeing their team loose to Germany. "How can you prefer Germany to your next door neighbours" we were asked. Our answer entailed plenty about the history of Ireland but still to ordinary working class English folk who had complete disdain for their parliament it seemed we were rude. And you know what? maybe we were. If we were to judge all international football games by history you would be hard pressed to find sides. Sorry lads.

Anyway Lithium Joe played some gigs in ireland and some good bonds were build up with Dave and Paul from their side and me from our side. Putting on gigs the way we did allowed such friendships to build. My best memories from being involved with 200or so gigs are the relatiosnhips that blossomed from some of them. I am proud to call some people my friends who started off as penpals discussing the possibility of playing music in Ireland. Joe solo is one of these people.

I have a second confession to make. The first time I heard Joes solo songs I was stuck for complimentary words. The quirky style didn't strike any chords with me. Thankfully 7 albums later all the chords are now the right ones. It didn't take long, and just like my cheers against English teams are a lot less muted these days my cheeres FOR Joe are rapturous. It's a folk sound with beautiful songs from the heart. Joe wears his heart on his guitar strap and sings with great passion. When I attend union conferences I always seem to be urging delegates to accept motions, I urge you now to check out Joe Solos honest sound and share in his integrity.

"When I get in debt I've got to pay my way out
They get in debt I've got to pay some more
I ain't gonna take the fall for no-one
Ain't gonna be a pawn no more"


the sweet sounds of Joe Solo
http://www.myspace.com/lithiumjoe
http://www.joesolo.co.uk

time for change once more

So goodbye 2010 you were a tome of badness! Well, you weren't really but politically you were redundant.

I wrote my first fanzine in 1984 and had pieces in it about capitalism being the wrong choice for the people. 26 years and a lot of mileage later we should be recreating those zines of yesteryear. We need a different slant to the anti-gang though. We now need to be the pro-gang. Don't be anti-state, be PRO change. Reclaim our world and reclaim our words.

With that in mind here's my new year revolutions

1) Keep listening to uplifting music. It may only need three chords, sometimes a lot less but music has the power to do so much more than entertain. Entertainment is good, it's a start. We can use our music to spread knowledge and inspiration.

2) Support local business. Whether you are anarchist, capitalist or a pain in the tits you use money at some stage. This can pay rent, keep you warm or whatever but it is a chain we are cogs in. You can be a good cog and try and grease that chain.

Anytime you think of something that you feel would be a shame if it ceased then support it. In Dublin it was Road records and local shops. Let's support those worth supporting.

3) All talk is cheap, talk Politics! Don't be afraid to voice a reasoned opinion. let's get dialogue going again. How can we get out of this mess? How can we assist each other through this (see point 2). Let's have debates, let's have fun, let's be optimistic and let's DO!

4) Don't rely on elected individuals. Whilst I have no doubt that most people believe they can change the world, those that feel elections are the only avenue are misleading the rest. We can work within our communities to affect change. Sure, politicians can enforce decisions that effect us all but lets start local and in the meantime try and get those who might assist the people to be the ones in power.

5) Communities are the key. That could be punk rock community, residents community or work community we can work together to make our surroundings better. Help your trade union, help your local charity, help your neighbour. BE!


6) This one I have given a lot of thought to, let's help our neighbours out. Invite them in for that cup of tea, car pool, food pool, work together. A group of parents hang out? why not swop babysitting sessions. Gonna go out for a meal? why not dine in and invite your friends. Organise some pot lucks (preferably vegan). Let's work together and be in it for EACH other.


7) Henry sang it, I've said it but the words ring true Don't talk about it, DO IT
With that in mind my pledge for this year. Remember it is not about what we are against anymore, it is about what we are FOR

Support these

Volunteer - Seomra Spraoi
Join - Dublin Food Co-op
Read and subscribe - DIG BMX mag ,
Maximum Rock'n'Roll fanzine , Razorcake fanzine ,
New Internationalist magazine
Support thumped.com , moshspace.com

Make your own pledge and let's change this damn world