"All over America, the greater population co-opts the dives and celebrates the quirks and totems of its music scene, while turning it into some Disneyfied corruption of itself - lookin’ at you Austin and Tulsa. Someday, when you can’t find any place cool in Appletown to take your date, think back on how much local band merch you bought and whether you caught Traveling Suitcase, Smoke Free Home or Shoobie at their peak. Young people need a rougher, sketchier place where the band drowns out that loud hard-working guy who might not be tolerated elsewhere. So, obviously we need artists and staff to enjoy these places: dark, funky and full of people you didn’t have the courage to become with your simple, safe life. When you want a walk on the wild side, and you’re stuck with Applebee’s, ask yourself how your town failed the artists and weep, citizen, there is no way back."

Gentrification Blues
by Anonymous Cierra, Bernardo and Robin The scene was impoverished as ever yet we stood in its ashes and called ourselves punks, called ourselves artists, lived under the belly of the straight world for the real life of bands and bars. Ring the bells, lower the flags, three of the




