IINTERVIEW!! NTERVIEW!!
CATAPULT DIRECT'S COOPER ANDERSON
evan jarvicks by evan jarvicks
by
HowasmallOklahomaCity-basedmusicgroupischangingthe gameinmusicdistributionforunsignedartists
Whatdostepmom,TheBigNews,Bee&TheHive,SwimFan,TerribleThieves,andSunDeep haveincommonbesidesbeingsomeofthecoolestartistsworkinginOklahomaCity's indie/alternativescenestoday?TheyallusedCatapultGroupformusicdistribution.
Fromitsmodestbeginningsasanindierecordlabelamongfriendsin2019,Catapulthasgrown anumbrellaofservicestomeettheneedformorelocalinfrastructureinOklahoma'severgrowingindependentmusicmarket.
Cassettetapeduplication,forexample,haslonggrappledwithascalingproblem.Local organizationslike46RPMandCultLoveSoundTapeshaveservedniche,limitededitionruns well,butforbiggerreleases,artistshaveneededtoreachwellbeyondthestateborderunlessthey happentohavetheequipmenttohandleitallthemselves.WhilemetrobandslikeBrujoand ChelseaDayshavemadethelatterwork,it'snotaneasilyreplicablemodel.
WhenCatapultbeganpubliclyofferingthecassette-makingservicesithadfine-tunedforitslabel, itquicklybecamethego-toforOklahomaCityindieartists.However,italsocaughttheeyeof organizationslikeFactoryObscurawhichnowworkswithCatapultforitsMix-Tapereleases. Furthermore,OklahomaFilmandMusicrecognizedCatapultasitsJune2024businessofthe month.
NowCatapultGrouphasorganizeditselftodefineathirdarm.WhereCatapultRecordings runsthein-houserecordlabelandCatapultGroupatlargehandlesdistroonamorecustom, contractualbasisforotherlabels,CatapultDirectisanewdirectlinetounsignedbandsand artiststodistributetheirmusicondigitalplatformslikeSpotifyandAppleMusic.
It'saservicethatwillsoonlaunchintoamarketalreadysaturatedbyDistroKid,UnitedMasters, DittoMusic,andmore.Catapult,however,hasananglethatnoneoftheseservicescan provide,andithaseverythingtodowiththecommunitytrustithasbeengarneringforyears.
NextisaninterviewwithCatapult'swhizkidfounder,CooperAnderson,todiscusswhatfolks canexpectfromthenewservice.
What is Catapult Direct?
CatapultDirectisourdigitalmusicdistributionplatformforindependentartists,bands,and musicians.It’spartofthelargerCatapultGroupfamilyoflabelsandcompanies.Wedistribute musicto100+streamingplatformsandstoresandhavedirectrelationshipstomanyofthemso thatwecanofferthebestcustomersupportpossiblewhenissuescomeup.CatapultDirectwas designedfromthestarttobeasfriendlyaspossibletowardsindividualswhowanttobe independent,butnotfullyalone.
Why do you want to offer an alternative to what's already on the distribution market? Thebigmotivationistobeanhonestcompany.We’vebeentreatedunfairlybypopularartist distributioncompanies,sowedecidedtobuildourownsystems.CatapultDirectallowsforopen accesstoourstate-of-the-artdistributiontechnologies,thesameonesusedbyCatapultlabels, toindividuals.
You claim "100% transparency" - what does that mean? “100%Transparency”isourguaranteethatyou’llalwaysseethesamedatawesee.Thebig exampleisroyalties.Forexample,ourroyaltystatementsshowyoueachstepoftheaccounting process.You’llseehowmuchwereceivedfromeachstoreforeachsong,howmuchwetook (whichis0%forDirectusers,aswedon’ttakecommission),andhowmuchyouendedup getting.Anotherfeaturewe’replanningonaddingisexporthistory,soyoucanseewhenand whereyourmusicwassentasawaytoseethatitwassuccessfullydeliveredtothevarious streamingservices.Inshort,wewanttokeepthingsastransparentaspossibletocreatea trusteddistributionplatform.
What if bands already have music online through another distributor with tons of streams? Do they have to start over to work with Catapult?
ForthosewhoarecurrentlyonanotherdistributorandwanttouseDirect,allyouneedtodois migrateyourcatalog.Thisisasupersimpleprocesswhereyougiveusyouroriginalartworkand audio(yourolddistributorusuallyhasthisavailable)andwetellalltheDSPsthatyou’removing distributors.Thisleadstoasmoothtransferprocesswhereyoudon’tloseanystreams,playlist placements,orfollowers.Andwe’reheretoguideyouthrougheverystepoftheprocess.
Do you handle audio distro outside of music (podcasts/audiobooks/etc)? Rightnow,wedon’t,butit’ssomethingonmybucketlist.We’llprobablyneverbeabletohandle audiobooks,butwe’dlovetobuildapodcastdistributorintoDirectoncewefullypolishour musicdistributionsystems.We’reasmallteam,sowecanonlydosomuchatonce. Ifthisplatformgetsbig,areyougoingtoleaveOKCforSiliconValley?
Absolutelynot.OneofthereasonsIwanttoopenoursystemsforindividualsissothatwecan growourmusicindustryandeconomy.Wehaveamazinglocaltalent,butweneedmusic businessestogrowourindustry.Thisisunsolicitedadvice,butifyou’rethinkingaboutstarting alabel,collective,managementcompany,oranythingthathastodowiththemusicindustry, goforit!Also,I’mnotabigfanofCaliforniaanyways.
Whenwillthisservicebeavailabletothepublic?
We’remakingthefinishingtouchesasI’mwritingthisandhaveanear-finalreleasedatefor sometimebetweentheendofJulytobeginningofAugust.Justneedtomakeafewfixesin oursoftware,andwe’llbegoodtogo.Fornow,though,youcanregistertobeabetatesterat catapult.direct/sign-up!Ifyou’reokaywithafewminorglitchesfromtimetotime,andyou’re wantingtohelpusgetthisplatformofftheground,we’dlovetohaveyoutrytheplatform.
Isthereanythingelsefolksshouldknow?
Yes!Weexistinthephysicalspace,too!WemakecassettesandCDsforlocal artistsandbands,soifyou’rewantingsomelocalhelpputtingyourmusicoutin aphysicalform,feelfreetohitusup!Youcanfindusonlineat catapultrecordingsgroup.comandonInstagramat@catapultrecordings.
“GrungeisDead”Review “GrungeisDead”Review
Anarchy
By Granny Anarchy By Granny
IfyouenjoyedanyotheroralhistoriesI'vereviewed(suchas"WhereAreYourBoys Tonight,"UMAmi#7or"MeetMeintheBathroom,"UMAmi#9)thenyoumayalsolike "GrungeisDead"byGregPrato,availableasane-bookatMetroLibrary.
Pratotracestherootsofgrungeinthe1950s-60s,documentstheSeattlescenethroughthe 80s-90s,dipsintotheformationofSubPopandtheRiotGrrrlmovement,andlaysthesceneforthe commercializationofgrungeandthedeathsofseveralkeyfigures.Includedareover130interviews, includingquotesfromandinformationabout:
AliceinChains'LayneStayley'smotherNancy McCallum
GunsN'Roses'DuffMcKagan(wholeftSeattletofind hisfortuneinLosAngeles)
BikiniKill'sKathleenHanna Mudhoney'sMarkArm
PearlJam'sEddieVedder(inanexclusiveinterview)
Soundgarden'sKimThayil SlimMoon membersoflesserknownbandssuch asTad,TheFastbacks,TheU-Men,and Truly thefoundersofSubPop variousgirlfriends,managers,and producers
OmissionsincludeChrisCornell(aliveatthetimeofrelease,)DaveGrohl,KristNovoselic,and CourtneyLove-whoistalkedaboutverylittle,andratherunflatteringly.Holeisbarelymentioned. Interestingly,neitherMarkLanegannorMiaZapata-whileincluded-areexpandedon,either.
Iwouldhaveappreciated,especiallyasIreadthisasanebook,abeginningcastofcharactersor chapterreminders.NamesIdidnotknoworremembercouldonlybefoundonalistattheendof thebook.
Firstpublishedin2009andreproducingthewordsofGenXartistsinthe1990sandearly 2000s,someofthelanguageandattitudeisoutdated.Itcanfeelveryclique-ish.However,some peopleandplacesare,andIdon'tconsideruneditorializedrecordingaflaw.
Ididenjoyandappreciatetheinformationaboutwheretheterm"grunge"camefrom,thefake "grungespeak"list,theexplorationoftheinfluenceofbandssuchasSonicYouthnotonlyaurallybut asforerunnersonmajorlabels,thememoriesofAndyWood,MotherLoveBone,ScreamingTrees, TheMelvins,andmanyotherartists,andtheopennessandwillingnesswithwhichinterviewees spokeabouttheeffectsofaddictionanddeath.
Ihavenotyetread"EverybodyLovesOurTown:AnOralHistoryofGrunge"byMarkYarmbut havecheckeditouttoreadnext!
By Granny Anarchy By Granny Anarchy
"ComeasYouAre"wasfirstpublishedin1993.Sevenmonthsafteritsrelease, KurtCobaindied.Althoughtherewereitemsthatclaimedtobebiographiesonthemarket, theywerelargelysensationalist,agenda-drivenexposes.Michael Azerrad's “The Amplified Come As You Are” wastheonlyoneofferingoriginalinterviewswithCobain,bassistKrist Novoselic,anddrummerDaveGrohl.
The30thanniversary"Amplified"versionrevisitsthetumultoustimeperiodwhenachaotic pixie,agoofyyetclevergiant,andsomerandomdudewhocouldbangthe[BLEEP!]outofthe drumsturnedAmericaandtheworldonitsear.Itdoesn'trewrite,butrevisits.
Oldtextislaidoutalongsidenotesthataddcontextandre-examinetheoriginalpresentation. Azerradoffersbehind-the-scenesinformationhedidnotoriginallyshare,notespatternshedidnot seebefore,andcallshimselfoutwithhindsight'svision.
"ComeAsYouAre"exploresthehistoryofAberdeen,Washington,Cobain'sfamilyrootsand youth,theearlylivesofNovoselicandGrohl,andtheSeattleareamusicsceneasNirvanawas fomenting.AzerradincludestheredshirtlineofdrummerspriortoGrohl(DanPeters,Chad Channing,DaveFoster,DaleCrover,AaronBurckhard)andmakesthereaderfeelthat,assolidas Dave'sskillsandsoundwere,ascarefreeashisattitudemayalwaysbe,thepositionofstickmanfor Kurtmayhavealwaysfeltverytenuousandtransitory.(Also,Nirvanawasaband;there'ssomegreat informationinhereonKristNovoselic,whohasbeenpoliticallyactiveandisofCroationdescent, andalsoincludesPatSmear,alsoofpunkbandTheGerms,whosimplyhasnobusinessbeingso beatific.)
Azerradshowsusamercurial,moodyCobainwhowasconstantlybusywithvisualartandwasnot asmysteriousasheorothersmighthavethought,onceallstatementsarelaidoutandlookedatin retrospect.Alas,fewifanyintheearly1990sactuallyunderstoodKurt'scommunicationasitwas happening.Kurt,inAzerrad'seyes,issensitive/sinister,intelligent/callow,insecure/opinionated,and inclusive/self-involved.He'sextraordinarlycreative,he'saloyal,lovingfamilyman,he'sdisgustingly messy,and...he'sinpain.Alot.Hedoesn'tfeelunderstood,andhisacceleratedfameonlyincreased hisparticulartroubles.
AhugelyappealingpartofKurtCobainisthatitiseasytofindbitsofone'sselfinhim.However, hehadaveryfirmsenseofidentityandpreferredtokeephisownintegrity,demurringsomeclaims thatsonglyricswereautobiographicalwhilestretchingthetruthonothers,andangrilyinsistingthat newer"types"offansdidnotunderstandNirvanaatall.
Thisnewfoundpopularity-therapidrisetothemainstream-combinedwithstomachpain, pressuresfromtheindustrytomaintainproductionandsales,legalbattlestoretaincustodyofhis daughter,heroinuse,aswellasunhealedchildhoodwoundsfinallyculminatedinsuicideattempts andtheeventualdeathofCobaininApril1994.ThisendedNirvana,andwasamarkerfortheendof grungeaswell-littleaccessiblemusicreleasedafterthistimewasraw,punky,innovativeor energetic(britpopwasonlyabriefsplashinMiddleAmerica)untiltheemoandNYCscenesaround 2000.Toomuchhadbeeneatenbythemachine,whichreturnedtotheformulaofpackagingfor profit.
AzerradtalksaboutCourtneyLove'spastrelationships,herjealousiesofKurt'sformergirlfriends, hertreatmentofKurt,andherbandHoleaswellasaddressingthewell-knownrumoursaboutany involvementKurt'swidowmayhavehadinhisdeath.Itmakesheramorewell-rounded,ifnotmore likeable,figure,addingdepthanddetailtocuratedsocialmediasoundbytes.Thisiswherethe extensiveannotationsmighttipsomeonewhohadreadtheoriginalbooktoreadthe30thedition, sincefirsttimethebookwasprinted,Kurtwasstillalive,sothiscovers"new"material.Azerrad's emotioncomesforthinhiswritingashechronicleshowherecievedthenews,whatmemorial eventsheattendedandwatched,andhowgriefstillaffectshimtoday.
Myhomecopy,purchasedwhenfirstreleasedasapaperback,is344pages.Thenewhardbackis 624pages;anadditonofapproximately100,000wordswhichnearlydoublesthesizeoftheoriginal. Myoriginalcopyhad(some)colorimagesand"Amplified"hadonlyblackandwhite,butotherthanthat, thesecondtimearoundwasmorefullyfleshedandimproved."ComeAsYouAre"isachroniclenot onlyofhowarockbandarguablychangedthezeitgeistofagenerationTWICE("Wherewhereyou whenyoufirstheard'TeenSpirit?'""WherewereyouwhenyoulearnedthatKurtCobaindied?")inthe spanofthreeyears,butitisaccountofafamily,love,mentalhealth,substanceuse,andtragedywhile touchingonthedynamics(divorce)thatshapedageneration,(toxic)masculinity,andmore.
DefinitelyrecommendedforNirvanafans,andstronglyadvisedforanyoneelseinterestedingrunge, GenerationX,orthehistoryofmusic.
TheVoiceofaGeneration/MorethanaShirt TheVoiceofaGeneration/MorethanaShirt
By Granny Anarchy By Granny Anarchy
Ifyoutalkto65milliondifferentpeople(theapproximatepopulationofGeneration X)youwillget65milliondifferentstories.Thisoneispartofmine.
I'mGenX,andIknowwhereIwasthefirsttimeIheardandsawNirvana.Inm apartment,watchingMTV's"120Minutes."I'dbeenanewwaveadolescent,apun gothteen,andwascurrentlylisteningto"alternative"collegerock(TheCure,Jane Addiction,NineInchNails,REM,TheSugarcubes)whentheworldwashitwithwh wouldbeknownasgrunge.
Whilethegrittysoundofmetallicpunkmayhavebeenmakingitswayalongthewestcoast,or throughlargercities,thoseofusinflyoverlandoftenonlyhadaSundaynightshow,theimportbinat Hastingsrecords,andwordofmouthaboutwhat(underage)clubstogotoinordertofind interesting,excitingmusic.Whenthatjagged,dissonantguitarriffbegan,backedbymonstrous drums,onSeptember29,1991,theworldchanged.Icouldbarelyunderstandthatstriped-shirt wearinglefty,butIsomehowunderstoodtheband.Ifelttheemergentanarchyoftheapathyrally, whichspoketomeofalltheschoolspiritI'dbeenexpectedtoshow,allofthecollegeI'dbeen expectedtoendure,onlytoemergeintoarecessionwhereIwasredundant-onmyownagain,as I'dbeenasalatchkeychild.Feral,withlittlebackup,theAmericandreamI'dbeenfedmeltinglike wetcandyfloss.
Nirvanahadapowerthatfewotheractscouldmatch;theybroughtarawnessandarealnessto themainstream.From1991-1994,theychangedcultureandculturalawarenessbybringingpunk andgrungeintothemasses,notonlycreatingartandmusicforfans,buttitillatingandhorrifying listenersandonlookers.
Therehadbeenanundergroundscene-eveninflyovercountry-fordecades.Butpre-social media,ourtelevisionandradio-andourschoolsandfamilies,whotooktheircuesfromtraditionand popculture-wereinundatedwithWhitneyHouston.Everythingwasslickandstylized,pre-packaged formassmarket:PaulaAbdul,C+CMusicFactory,MariahCarey.MCHammer,Madonna,NewKids ontheBlock.OnTVwesaw90210,FreshPrince,HomeImprovement,MauryPovich,andSavedby theBell.Atthemovies,JuliaRobertswasaPrettyWomanandKevinwasHomeAlone.Girlswere wearingskin-tight(akabodycon)neonandorshapelessflowerprintdressesandguyswerewearing loud,oversizedshirtswithpantsorjeans.(TherewouldbeabriefHypercolorcolor-changingtee trend.)
EnterKurt,Krist,andDave,whoworerippedjeans,thriftedflannels,andwomen'sdresses.They kissedeachotheronthemouth.Theyveryobviouslydidnotcultivateanyaurasofsuavenessor superiority-theyknockedthemselvessillywiththeirinstruments(andwereprettyobviouslystoners.) Intheearly90s,itwasstillnotsociallyacceptabletobeout,noranally.Yet,whilestillinthemidstof alegalbattleforcustodyofhisdaughterregardinghisheroinuseasallegedinVanityFair,Kurt interviewedwithandappearedonthecoverofTheAdvocateandpublishedthisstatementonthe linernotesof"Incesticide":"Ifanyofyouinanywayhatehomosexuals,peopleofdifferentcolor,or women,pleasedothisonefavorforus:leaveusthefuckalone!Don'tcometoourshowsanddon't buyourrecords."
Kurtcouldsing,buthescreamed.LikesomanymembersofGenX,hewasachildofdivorcewho livedinaworldhedidn'tquitemeshwith.KristandDave(or,dependingontherecording,other entities)addedevenmoreenergyandemotiontohislyricalcollage,makingiteasytofindalistener's personalpainorpowerinNirvana'ssound.NirvanahadaculturalimpactequivalenttoTheSex PistolsorTheBeatles.
AndNirvanawaseverywhere.Grungebecameacommodity;suddenlydistressedclothesand flannelswereonthecoverofVogue,andgluttonousexecutivesweresigningeveryonetheycouldfind from(orwhosoundedliketheywerefrom)Seattle,completelyobscuringanddilutingeverythingthat hadmadethemusicspecialandimportant.
I'mGenX,andIknowwhereIwaswhenIheardKurtCobaindied.Iwaswithmyhusbandathisjob, andanemployeeofhiscamerunninguptous.Wescoffed.Itcouldn'tbetrue.Afterall,he'dhada brushwithdeathinRomebutsurvived.Thiswasjustmoresensationalism.Butwewenthome,turned onthenews,anddiscoveredwewerewrong.WeplayedNirvanaallnight.
Theearlytomid1990swerechaotic.Theywerealsoquitedark.NotonlydidweloseKurtCobain,but welost
AndrewWood(Malfunkshun,MotherLoveBone)1990
StivBators(DeadBoys,LordsoftheNewChurch)1990
JohnnyThunders(NewYorkDolls)1991
FreddieMercury(Queen)1991
JerryNolan(NewYorkDolls)1992
StefanieSargent(7YearBitch)1992
MickRonson(DavidBowie,Mottthe Hoople)1993
MiaZapata(TheGits)1993
RiverPhoenix(actor)1993
Istillwonder,sometimes,whatKurtwouldthinkofthingstoday.Or,ifhe'dlived,howmusicand culturemightbedifferent.
Everythingchanged,yeteverythinghasstayedthesame.IstillscreamalongwithKurt-I'ma negativecreep!Stayaway!Youcan'tfireme'causeIquit!-butIjustcan'tbringmyselftoputona Nirvanashirtnow.Itdoesnotmeanthesamethinganymore.
BOOKS
AliceinChains:TheUntoldStory-DaviddeSola CobainonCobain:InterviewsandEncounters-editedby NickSoulsby
DarkBlackandBlue:TheSoundgardenStory-Greg Prato
DaveGrohl:TimesLikeHis-MartinJames EverybodyLovesOurTown:AnOralHistoryofGrungeMarkYarm
GirlstotheFront:TheTrueStoryoftheRiotGrrrl Revolution-SaraMarcus
HitSoHard-PattySchemel Journals-KurtCobain
KurtCobain:MontageofHeck-BrettMorgen
LetterstoKurt-EricErlandson
OfPotatoHeadsandPolaroids:MyLifeInsideandOutof PearlJam-MikeMcCready
RebelGirl:MyLifeasaFeministPunk-KathleenHanna
ServingtheServant:Remembering KurtCobain-DannyGoldberg TheGreatestBandThatEverWasn’t: TheStoryoftheRoughest,Toughest, MostHell-RaisingBandtoEver ComeoutofthePacificNorthwest, theScreamingTrees-BarrettMartin TheStoryteller:TalesofLifeand Music-DaveGrohl
TotalF*ckingGodhead:The BiographyofChrisCornell-Corbin Reif
available @ the library thanks Panda!
Scary Movies for july fourth
Jaws (1975)
by Jackalope
For a recent take on sharks with bad manners, worse CGI, and a higher body count: Under Paris (2024).
-via Netflix
via Tubi for free, other places for $
The undead killer stalking a small town’s patriotic festivities is not only dressed in an Uncle Sam costume, but is also an uncle named Sam.
Uncle sam (1996) return of the living dead (1985)
The zombie flick we have to thank for zombies specifically seeking braaaaaains.
What kicked off my new favorite holiday tradition was a friend hosting a festive triple feature of this teen slasher trilogy, each of which is very dramatically centered around July 4th. After that day, I was well and truly hooked.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (trilogy) Independence Day (1996)
Quips aside, there are some fun hair-raising moments sprinkled in.
For a lighter creature feature, try Jaws 3 (1983) or The Meg movies (2018 and 2023, respectively). valid.
When her corrupt, bullying boyfriend is embarrassed of her, a former showgirl is given a crash course in civics and turns the tables.
A well-intentioned actor is duped into being the president’s doppelganger.
The locals take their beauty pageants very seriously... (no gore-- content warnings: eating disorder, fire, comedic vomiting, death) the original’ s very earnest, the reboot’ s more saucy
89thStreet 8911NWesternAve(OKC) https://89thstreetokc.com
BeerCityMusicHall1141NW2nd(OKC) https://beercitymusichall.com
BlueDoor2805NMcKinleyAve(OKC) https://www.bluedoorokc.com
BlueNote2408NRobinsonAve(OKC) https://okcbluenote.com
Criterion500EastSheridanAve(OKC) https://criterionokc.com
DiamondBallroom8001SEasternAve(OKC) https://diamondballroom.com
FactoryObscura25NW9thSt(OKC) https://factoryobscura.com/
GrandRoyale1749NW16thSt(OKC) https://www.instagram.com/grandroyaleokc
JonesAssembly901WSheridan(OKC) https://www.thejonesassembly.com
Opolis113NCrawfordAve(Norman) https://www.opolis.org
PointA2124NW39thSt(OKC) pointa.space
PONYBOY423NW23rdSt(OKC) https://www.ponyboyokc.com/
ResonantHead400SW25thStSTEA(OKC) https://www.resonanthead.com
Resonator325EMainSt(Norman) resonator.space/
TheSanctuary1012NIndianaAve(OKC) https://www.facebook.com/thesanctuaryok
51stStreetSpeakeasy1114NW51stStreet(OKC) http://www.51stspeakeasy.com/
TowerTheatre425NW23rdSt(OKC) https://towertheatreokc.com
E N U E S
CalvinLoron@BlueDoor $$
TheSteelWoods@BeerCityMusicHall $$
MeganMarlene@Opolis $
CalvinLoren@GrandRoyale $ godseyesw/Blisteredspirit@GrandRoyale $
@MyraidGardens
Recurring events
CelticJamatthePatriarch
FunkattheBlueNote
TUES
WED
THU FRI SAT SUN
BluesattheSpeakeasy
BluegrassatthePatriarch
JazzattheSpeakeasy
ExperimentalnightatOpolis-every4thWed. OpenMicnightatFactoryObscura-every1stWed.
BluegrassattheSpeakeasy
SongSwapattheBlueNote(usuallyevery1stThur.)
DJnightsatPonyboy
CelticJamattheBanjoMusuem-every4thSat. DJnightsatPonyboy
CelticmusicatFullCircleBookstore
Music Networking “Jam” July 6
Our friends at Make Oklahoma Weirder present the Music Networking Jam July 6 at White Rabbit. Meet venue reps, audio techs, press contacts, and other musicians! See you there!
AMA, Roadies Edition what’s been our favorite part of working on the zine this year?
I can’t believe it’s been a year already! Being part of UMAmi has been such a fun journey. The library isn’t just about quiet old buildings and shushing guests; it’s a lively place full of stories and information. UMAmi captures this vibe by covering local shows, artists, and the music and books in our library system. One of the coolest moments was the live punk show on the third floor last year I can’t wait to do it again. I’m so grateful for all the love and support UMAmi has received and can’t wait for another exciting year. Thanks to our vendors, passionate roadies, everyday librarians, and you, our readers, for keeping this zine going. Echoing our friends at the Portland Public Library, the DC Public Library, and more: “what’s more punk than the public library??”
-Zoe
Besides adding to playlists, reviewing, & socializing with the community, I loved researching the history of zines & Black History Month. But my fave was seeing Skating Polly @ Factory Obscura. I went from knowing nothing to DOOFY DORKY FAN!
PS Everything in memory of Bevin Drake Coker/Bedrokan. Love keeping him alive this way. ��
-Granny Anarchy
Getting to work with the other UMA Roadies and watch the zine grow from a “what if?” to a “ yes, and”-- thanks for reading, sharing, and talking with us!
-Jackalope
getting to mix my "real job" with the community i love and care for so deeply. it's been so cool to work more closely with the local music scene than i ever thought i would. i've been able to meet people and share cool stuff with everyone. we had a punk show at the downtown library which felt unreal. also getting to see a zine i help make out in the wild and at peoples houses is such a cool thing. i love what we do and where this is going sm. can't wait to keep doing this<33
-Primal Opossum