Literature
We Got Power!: Hardcore Punk Scenes from 1980s Southern California
The assembly of the We Got Power fanzine, for its too-brief lifespan, reminded me of how Stephen King put together his home story rag as a kid—different colored inks and all—but I couldn’t find that passage in On Writing to save my life.
We Got Power relied on the use of Circle One frontman John Macias’ dad’s (phew!) printing press, putting out thousands of copies that captured the SoCal punk scene. Dave Markey and Jordan Schwartz along with contributors, hit shows to grab interviews, reviewed records, and covered area music news from ’81-’83.
The wonderful photo and essay chronicle of the same name, subtitled Hardcore Punk Scenes from 1980s Southern California, is worthy of any coffee table—rather, any coffee table would be graced by the book’s presence. Over 400 amazing photos from the hardcore punk days of heavy drugs, shit cops (never changed), gig carpools, and crazy shows bless page after page. Also, does Henry Rollins ever take a bad picture?
Filling the book beyond photos are a bunch of fascinating essays recounting the halcyon days of LA’s hardcore punk and We Got Power’s publication. The essays—written by Rollins, the Schwartz Siblings, Markey, Sean Wheeler and others—create a non-linear narrative of those insane times. One of my favorites was Janet Housden’s (Red Kross) assault on Tony Alva. I found in her a kindred spirit as a onetime Hyperdefensive Teen.
Also included for you viewing pleasure are gorgeous scans of every We Got Power zine, from issue one to issue 666. They’re all in full color; you can almost smell the ink off the pages. The book is well worth it for that fact alone, looking like crisp, new glimpses into a scene and people that looked invincible.
We Got Power!: Hardcore Punk Scenes from 1980s Southern California is a meaty, authentic piece of literature for lovers of hardcore punk. Every essay is natural and insightful, and together with the photos, they paint a picture of an LA gone by.
ATLANTA, GA (Feb. 24, 2015) – The Fox Theatre is pleased to present An Evening with David Sedaris, author of the previous bestsellers Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and regular National Public Radio contributor who will be appearing for one night only at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:30pm.
Celebrating the June 3, 2014 paperback release of his latest title, #1 New York Times Bestseller, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, author David Sedaris comes to Atlanta for an evening of engaging recollections and featuring all-new readings.
Dr. Mike (Michael S. Fenster, MD) has a sense of humor in dispersing his dietary and nutritional advice in The Fallacy of the Calorie, but what’s also funny is the fact that this cardiologist is dishing out all this information while criticizing supposed self-proclaimed food experts.
Take this passage, for example: “These days it seems as if everybody has an opinion about food and health. People watch Dr. Oz, tune in to the Food Network, or read some anecdotal diatribe on the Internet and all of a sudden they’re full of expert opinions and analysis.”
Dr. Mike mentions only Dr. Oz by name. He then goes on to allude to a bunch of straw men who give consumers lots of conflicting food guidance before launching into his own enterprising book of culinary realness. Dr. Mike is in your face and sounds like a go-getter, I guess. He says if I’m happy with the food I eat and my state of wellness, health, verdure, heartiness is a-okay, then this is not the book for me. PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. If only!
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