right now im reading a book called MY FIRST TIME. its a collection of stories of people’s first punk shows. so here’s the story of mine.
i moved to california in the middle of my 8th grade year, from albuquerque, nm. this is a very crucial time in the social development of youth. i has just gotten into “alternative” music and skateboarding through a local public access show and thrasher magazine, so i thought moving to california would do nothing but enhance my punkness.
i started hanging out with skaters and degenerates (including chase corum, who i am still friends with some 15 years later), and eventually recieved a tape that had gorilla biscuits and judge on one side, and operation ivy on the other.
in our freshman year, we were introduced to the concept of straightedge and started hanging out with two decidedly non-straightedge sisters, the O’Flynns. they were known in newport to have some of the craziest parties ever, and they also had cars, which we did not.
through this group of friends i dicovered bands like econochrist, 411, function… and the time came to go to a show. of course, my mom said NO, so i had to sneak out. me, quey and CJ had to lie down in the back of the o’flynn’s truck and drive to anaheim to see this show.
we got out of the truck, freezing, and arrived at a warehouse. i walked up to the girl, gave her my 5 dollars, and she put a stamp of elvis on my wrist. i was so confused. BLACKSPOT was playing, and it was sooooo loud and there were lots of scary people running around in a circle. there was a girl at the back of the circle punching almost everyone who ran by. eventually, i was persuaded to join the mayhem, and it was the scariest thing i had ever done in my life.
then the cops came.
all i remember after that was everyone being disappointed. i remember seeing Justin Girard, a famous skater, outside, and how it was such a big deal to me.
apparently, this was to be INSTED’s last show, and 411 and mission impossible were going to play as well, though i didnt find this fact out until years later.
fast forward to march 31, 2008. last night. i went to see my friend’s band play at chain reaction. ive been going there since it was public storage, and his hero is gone was my first show there. anyway, the second band that played said “THIS SONG IS CALLED ALL SELLOUTS* ARE FAGGOTS“. i was immediately enraged. as soon as the band got off stage, here was the conversation that went down.
me “so, what was that song called ?”
kid “uh… all sellouts are faggots?”
me “well, im a sellout. does that make me a faggot?”
kid “uh… i meant MY friends”
me “well thats funny because MY friends are sellouts too.. does that make THEM faggots as also?”
kid “um. uh. um. im sorry dude.”
me “you’re sorry?”
kid “yeah. im sorry”
everyone laughed at the kid, and he looked really bummed.
its seventeen years later, im still going to hardcore shows, im still excited (although about fewer bands these days), and im still pissed.
*a sellout is a person who was once straightedge, but then decided one day to not be
