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Monday, 23 November 2009 05:53 |
My partner in crime for many of the years I was involved actively in the Flint punk rock scene was Mark Ojeda. It all started in the late 1970s when Mark's Mom moved into the pink house next door to my parents house. We hit it off right away and became the best of friends. Mark and I were big into skateboarding and always looking for places to ride. Skateboarding's premier rag was (and still arguably is) Thrasher. Mark and I read every word of every Thrasher that we bought and shared with each other. We found out about the skate rock scene through the pages of Thrasher, and soon started listening to a lot of stuff, most notably JFA. Jodi Foster's Army (JFA, duh) featured this sound that was so totally different from most of the hardcore punk we were also listening to at the time. I can describe it as a sort of surf rock guitar sound (reverb all up in there) with unintelligible vocals, a ripping bass line and a drummer that wasn't afraid to change things up a bit. It was a sound that went with every ollie, manual, bert slide and boneless that we were doing. To this day I can't come up with a band I would want to hear more while skateboarding than JFA. So, needless to say, Mark and I were skaters that read Thrasher and jammed to JFA, yippee! But what I was getting to was that Mark and I were also practically inseparable, especially on weekends (Mark ended up living with his Dad in Flint while I stayed put in Grand Blanc). We started going to OLOL Dances, messing with people and skating around the parking lot. At some point Mark went to this little record store near his house caled Wyatt Earp's, and he was getting some choice cuts from there, so I went in there with him, (first time, mind you) and was just blown away that this little 250 square foot (if that) record store could have such a density of incredible music! From there, we started learning about these Hall Shows since Wyatt Earp's had flyers posted for upcoming shows. Wow, what a great experience it was to go to something in Flint where there were people who you could totally relate with (and the other way around), that was cool, all ages, and so accessible.
So thus began our adventure into punk rock in Flint Michigan.
Mark has been a student of drumming as long as I have known him, and had a drum kit that we would often play in his basement, but a drummer needs other musicians to thrive, so eventually Mark started playing with a group called Smashed. Jason Adsit was on vocals, John Jackson on guitar and Shawn Ellis played bass, and Mark, of course, drums. THey incorporated a straight edge sort of style to their music, think Dag Nasty, but with John and Shawn the music reached a totally different level. I served as a sort of stage crew and security (like that was necessary) for Smashed, which got me in for free. I also had them perform at the 2 Foust Fest's that I threw at my parent's house when they were out of town. In fact, Smashed's first live performance was at Foust Fest 1.
Mark later joined the near legendary Jesus Christ and the Superstars who made each show they performed as loud and annoying as humanly possible. Eric Scott was singer in J.C. & the SS (as they were known). My good friend, the late Chuck Taylor was guitarist and class clown. There isn't a lot of recorded history of J.C. & the SS so I don't have much to share, but here is a cool picture that Eric Scott provided me of one of their live performances.
Mark is now tending farm in Southern California and still playing drums in a band with some co-workers.
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Wednesday, 21 October 2009 05:20 |
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 Shannon and I went to high school together (I am older by 2 years) so I naturally bullied him in between classes, at least that is what he tells me. We bacame close friends, sharing an interest in causing trouble, skateboarding, punk rock, and old cars. Shannon was (and still is) a Misfits Fiend, and really got into that whole black clothes, black hair thing (although it helps that he has naturally black hair).
We met for the interview at Tom Z's Flint's Original Coney Island and quickly downed some coneys and fries. If I haven't said this enough yet, PLEASE GO TO TOM Z'S FLINT'S ORIGINAL CONEY ISLAND, 401 W. Court St. Flint, MI 48503. 810.768.0000!!!
Anyway, where were we...
Oh, yeah, the interview. With full bellies, and a 24 hour restaurant at our disposal, we set out to gabbing about old times, and how we used to love going to hall shows and causing trouble. We were both always broke, so we had to get inventive with ways to get money. One time, when there was something going on at the Capitol (probably not a hall show) we stood by the parking booth of a nearby parking lot and told the cars as they drove in that parking was 3 bucks (or something). We made a quick $30 so we had some cash to get into more trouble.
Well, Shannon kept a good number of flyers from back then, and he came through like a trooper and brought his collection of junk from back in the day. He kept flyers, zines, pictures, and other ephemera including a rare copy of a zine that Joel Rash published prior to it being called Edge City (although I can't recall the name right now). In one of the zines I found a review of the second 7Seconds show in Flint, Thursday August 22, 1985 (featuring Dissonance, Godspeed, and Born w/o a Face) $5. And in the article there were 2 photos that actually have me rocking out in the front row with all the others, what a fun show 7Seconds put on.
These photos are some of the only pictures taken at Hall Shows that I am in, and they were published in a zine to boot - how cool is that! By the way, that's me up there with the blond hair under Kevin's mic. See who else you might know. Sitting on the stage with his mouth open in front of me is Mark Ojeda (Drummer in Smashed and Jesus Christ and the Superstars). I traveled out to San Diego to talk with him, and will post those field notes soon.
Well back to the interview with Shannon. We talked about our old cars, Shannon used to drive a '66 Chevy Malibu that had a 2 speed transmission, and I drove a '64 Ford Falcon convertible with a 2 speed transmission. Shannon's Malibu was cooler though, because he and his step dad rebuilt it, so it was pretty dependable. My Falcon had Fred Flinstone floorboards (you could see right through them to the road below) and other things that a rusty old convertible brought with it like torn up roof and no radio. While Shannon kept his Malibu around, I got into other cars like my 1979 Saab 99 (which I totally loved until the shocks in the back busted through the wheel wells in the trunk), my 1973 VW Type 3 Fastback and 1974 VW Bus. I really had a lot of cars when I was younger.
Wait a minute, this started out as a write up about Shannon, but now it has turned into me talking about some of my old cars. It must be getting late, so I will break off right now.
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Sunday, 27 September 2009 03:24 |
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One of the cool things about examining a scene that has a developed over the course of 20+ years is that enough time has passed that people from the scene back in the day have grown up and moved on to their adult lives. For many in the Flint scene, that has meant going to college, and leaving Flint to pursue their careers, or simply leave Flint and find a job somewhere where there are jobs. Flint, more than most places, has really lost a lot of good people, simply because of a lack of opportunity in the area. For some, however, leaving Flint isn't an option, so you just deal and get on with your life...
I met a couple of guys, who were part of the Flint scene back in the 80's and 90's, who as a result of exposure to hall shows (and the shows at the Capitol and Flint Local 432) learned that downtown Flint isn't such a bad place, so they decided to operate their own businesses right downtown.
Mike Abraham, proprietor of Mike's Triple Grille, is one of the guys I met. What started as a food cart at the Courtland Center in Burton, MI, Mike decided that he could fill a void in the downtown Flint area, and he opened up a sandwich shop, making snadwiches that are grilled three times. A different taste for lunch that seems to be well received. Mike is a self professed metal head who used to give a hard time to the local punks of the scene. As I have mentioned before, the Flint scene is small enough to have a mixing of musical genres at many hall shows, so he wasn't a stranger to these events. Mike mentioned to me that it was a direct result of going to shows in downtown Flint that gave him assurance that it isn't such a bad place to open a business. Flint gets a bad rap for seeming crimey, but right downtown there is a nice area along Saginaw Street to have a business. Mike is keeping it real though. He understands that even though there are lofts and other new developments going up downtown, there are also businesses in the area that are closing or reducing staff. The lunch market is widely supported by people who work in the area downtown, so if businesses are decreasing, there are less people to get lunch. Mike is cooking up some tasty looking sandwiches, I wish him the best!
A couple doors down from the Triple Grille is another business that is run by a Hall Show scenester. Flint City T-Shirts is run by Mikey Clark, who got involved in going to Hall Shows to support his friend, and founder of Flint City T-Shirts, Ingus - who was a member of the band Burnt Toast. Well the shop opened up, Ingus left and Mikey took over the place. They are kicking out some great shirts with Flint themed graphics, as well as doing printing jobs for anyone needing screen printed shirts, graphics, cards, hats, whatever... As Mikey explained, there are a lot of businesses in the area that are doing this, so there is a good deal of competition. The difference I see with Flint City T-Shirts is that there is a cool little storefront retail space where you can go in and get your Flint themed stuff, with screen printing operations going on in the back of the place. Most screen printers usually only have a printing operation, and maybe a business office. So it is pretty unique, and the Flint stuff makes it all cool too.
So while the rest of the world kicks Flint while it is down, here are two examples of business owners who have taken a chance and brought their operations into downtown Flint, are making it work, and in tying it to the Hall Show Documentary - were part of the scene back in the day. Pretty cool!
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Thursday, 24 September 2009 21:29 |
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 So here it is, the start of autumn, and a summer filming interviews in and around Flint is coming to a close as we pack up our stuff and head out of town. The next few posts are based around the final shoot in Flint, starting with a follow up with Joel Rash (now with full beard).
The direction of the film has stayed the same, but as the story is coming together it is important (at least to Dorothy and I) that there is a current day segment that might be nice to examine. One of the cool things about the Hall Show scene was that it all came about because all of the bands, promoters, supporters etc... had a do it yourself attitude that ultimately created a scene, and in some ways taught us kids (at least a few of us) that it is possible to accomplish positive stuff, just by putting your mind to it, and making it happen.
Joel exemplifies this attitude in all that he does, from his professional work at University of Michigan, Flint to the 25+ years he has devoted to the Flint scene promoting hall shows, and developing a community around Flint Local 432 events.
It seemed fitting to get an interview with Joel in front of the new digs that Flint Local 432 will be holding events, and providing community development activities. To make this happen, a good deal of work needs to be done to the building including; electrical, plumbing, accessibility, emergency exits, and some prettying up. Joel points out that there are a lot of people who came up in the scene who have told him that they would love to help. These are professionals in architecture, electrical, construction... who want to give back to the scene that gave so much to them through the years. It isn't going to get done without financial support as well. The Local is looking to establish itself as a full on 501c3 non-profit, and work at getting some of the funding for building improvements through grants. Personal support is always welcome, so if anyone reading this wants to help, in any way, please get in touch with Joel.
I didn't mean for this post to become a PBS style funding pitch, but what can it hurt to support something that has the ability to create so much positivity to and for the young Flintoids who can get a lot out what the Local can offer.
Joel also provided a good insight on some of the local businesses in Downtown Flint as we walked over to meet with a couple of entrepreneurs who went to shows back in the day, who now bring a DIY attitude to running their businesses in Downtown Flint. More on that in coming posts.
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Thursday, 03 September 2009 16:15 |
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 One thing that still blows me away is that after 25+ years since Hall Shows first started around Flint, there is still a tight circle of friends and acquaintences that started by going to these punk rock shows. So when I set up this interview with Keith Jennings and Fido Kennington, I didn't really consider that they would know each other as much as they do. It was pertty cool that not only did they know each other pretty well, but the interaction between them during the interview was nice.
I had been trying for over a month to hook up with Keith, and it was worth the wait. Keith played a very unique role in the Hall Show scene. He ran the sound for the vast majority of the hall shows. One of the things that he said is that it always had to be loud, and I really can't recall a hall show that wasn't loud. I'm pretty sure that the tinnitus I live with now, probably got it's start from exposure to the sound coming from Keith's sound system.
Fido is a real character and regular on the scene from 1985 when he moved back to the Flint area. A self professed 'band whore' Fido has been involved in many bands through the years, and is currently drummer when the Guilty Bystanders play.
One thing, beyond the hall show connection, that made Keith and Fido a good pair to interview together is Phill Hines. Phill, of course, was the machine gun drummer for countless bands in Flint including: Dissonance, Solidarnosc/Godspeed The Need, Hypyr (With Keith) and so many more. Phill was really the back beat for much of the flint scene. As a band mate with Phill, Keith had nothing but nice things to say about Phill. As a fellow drummer, Fido really looked to Phill for mentoring and inspiration.
I may add more to this post later, but my ears are really ringing right now. I haven't been around loud music recently. Maybe just a tinnitus flare up, or a reaction to interviewing the sound guy from hall shows???
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