Philadelphia

Mark Scott of Fracture

Audio Interview

Mark Scott grew up in a wealthy Christian family, firmly isolated from the harsh reality of life outside his palatial home and private school. Then he was infected with the germ of punk. Already questioning the beliefs he was subjected to as a chlid, punk only served to open young Mark's mind to a world of compassion and action. He went on to play in one of the most popular Phillly pop-punk bands of the 1990s, Fracture. He also went through a "wild stage," which we discuss. Years later, Mark now teaches in a Philadelphia public school to young people who've grown up poverty.

Gamera For Amateurs

Blog Post

Submitted by jgervasi on Sun, 2013-07-14 06:32.

Yesterday my brother Bull and I rambled through the Schuylkill Environmental Center here in my neighborhood of Philadelphia. We were out to pick the wine berries that are out and abundant (and free!) at this time of the year. In the 90-or-so minutes we were out there, we came upon two eastern box turtles, a snake, some stupid bugs, a bullfrog, some other frogs and tadpoles, a toad, and a deer.

Independence Day Means I Love YoU(SA)!

Blog Post

Submitted by jgervasi on Thu, 2013-07-04 07:16.

July 4th is as good a day as any (better, in fact) to reiterate a salient point that I've mentioned elsewhere but you may not realize: the lightning bolts in the L!F!P! logo image designed by Justin Miller are coming out of the Liberty Bell, not into it. This means, in effect, that the symbol of American freedom is not being destroyed by outside forces, be they the punk this project focuses on or anything else. Rather, great bolts of luminous power are bursting forth from the Liberty Bell here in Philadelphia and out into the world.

Brian Sokel of Franklin

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Brian Sokel, who played in the Philadelphia band Random Children that later became Franklin. Also discussed is The Cabbage Collective, shows Brian put on at JC Dobbs, Adam/Atom Goren, '90s emo, DC hardcore, Fracture, and more.

Bobby Startup of Hot Club

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Bobby Startup about his time working with the Electric Factory in Philadelphia in the late 1960s and early 1970s, bringing punk bands to Philly at the Hot Club in the late 1970s, managing The Stray Cats, playing with hardcore punk band Autistic Behavior, a life-long passion for music, and much more.

Dennis McHugh

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Philly punk scene veteran Dennis McHugh about growing up in Philly, his days in the scene, and booking bands (including the Ruin re-union).

William McAndrew

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Will McAndrew about the current state of HC punk in Philadelphia and his place in it.

Paul Bearer of Serial Killers

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Paul Bearer of the infamous Philly band The Serial Killers (with help from Mega Jimmy, also of the band). Paul talks punk, drugs, addiction, womanizing, infamy, Judiasm, rock 'n' roll, illegal activities, the Serial Killers offensive stage show, drug casualties, being "banned from Philadelphia," and a helluva lot more.

Jim Shomo

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Jim Shomo about the current state of HC punk in Philly, his role in it, and the secret world of underground shows.

Mike McKee of Kill the Man Who Questions

Audio Interview

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews long-time Philadelphia DIY scene vet Mike McKee about his bands (including Kill the Man Who Questions), booking DIY shows, Stalag 13, ACT-UP, queercore/riot grrrl, political activism, and more! more! more!