SCENE REPORT: ST PETERSBURG

RECAP OF THE ST PETERSBURG STOP ON THE EIY SPRING (INTO ACTION) TOUR

I was born in St Petersburg, and almost all of my relatives still live there, though I never spent nearly enough time visiting them after my family relocated to Wisconsin when I was six. I remember once, after I had discovered punk rock, visiting my dad in St Pete and trying to find a punk show to go to. I ended up at some small venue somewhere, and I don’t think there were any punk bands at the show… I’ve played a few shows in St Pete over the past ten year, plus a few visits with Warped, but otherwise I knew nothing about any kind of music scene in that city.

I’ve never been able to find my bond with this city, even though every time I visit I do have some kind of weird sensation that it’s part of my genetic make-up. Or maybe I’m just manifesting that sensation because I was born there and think that I should feel connected to that place? Either way, I’ve always wanted to feel connected to St Pete, but could never find a way. As far as I knew, St Pete’s music/art scene was non-existent.

But then I hosted an EIY meet-up there.

One of the first people on-site for the meet-up that day was a man named Malcolm, who has to be in his late 60s or early 70s(?), and is a self-proclaimed scene historian who attends every single art/music event that he can, and documents them for a collection he is putting together, which he plans donate to a local museum someday. He talked at the meet-up about how he got involved with the zine culture before they were called “zines” and about how independent/underground bands need to be throwing “micro shows in micro spaces,” suggesting vacant storefronts and parking lots as impromptu venues, with people bringing their own folding chairs. He told us about the St Pete Free Skool, where anyone can teach a class on anything they want, and anyone can attend for free. Malcolm teaches a free zine-making class there (in the photo he is wearing a shirt that says “make a zine” on the back! I mean… could there be a cooler grandfather?). Needless to say, I was already blown away by this meet-up, and this was only the first person to introduce himself!

From there, the conversation just continued to blow my mind. I had no idea that St Pete had such strong DIY roots and so many active young DIY-minded musicians and artists all doing amazing, groundbreaking stuff! We talked about the huge Record Store Day festival that they threw, and all these “micro” shows that people had started doing downtown, plus there was a couple who had just opened a studio with the aim of helping local bands learn about recording and get to experience being in a studio without having to pay huge amounts of money, there was another kid who was trying to launch a tumblr blog for the St Pete scene, and there was even a heated debate about the difference between handmade flyers and photoshopped flyers!

By the time we got all the way around the circle, everyone was so inspired that we actually had a “moment” — where it feels like suddenly you’re connected to everyone in the room and you get goosebumps, or your eyes get watery. It was pretty awesome. One of the musicians in attendance announced that he wanted to start a “guild” for the group to keep in touch, have regular meetings, and keep developing on the ideas and resources presented at the meet-up.

And thus, the first official EIY CHAPTER was born! And what better place for the birth of this new branch of the EIY movement? Funny how things come full circle sometimes. We ended the meet-up by passing around a sign-up sheet for the “guild” and everyone was in really high spirits.

Then we got to have an awesome show!

Band: Lions After Dark from Clearwater, FL
I was personally excited to see this band after checking them out through the EIY nominations. They’re playing a unique mix of soulful 70s influenced songs, but in the indie vein. The singer of this band is a superstar. Her voice is amazing, she’s beautiful, and she is absolutely fearless on stage — but in a totally humble, genuine and approachable way, making it impossible not to fall in love with her. (Keep that honesty, Maddie! Never let anything go to your head.) The entire band is a bunch of genuine, loveable people (three girls and one guy — awesome), and once they all catch up with the singer’s fearlessness on stage and gain more confidence in their playing, there will be no stopping these guys.
Check them out HERE.

Band: A Play On Words from Tampa, FL
A great young indie rock band (still in high school) that mixes acoustic guitar with a full band, which we only saw a few times on this tour. The songs were great, and you could see where their sound could eventually develop. They were also up front dancing during all the other bands’ sets, which was awesome.
Check them out HERE.

Band: Half Dub from Bradenton, FL
The singer of this band was very vocal during the meet-up, and gave off that totally harmless, goofy, ska/reggae vibe — which pretty much sums up his band! These guys put on a really fun surf rock show and were having just as much fun on stage as everyone was having dancing in the crowd. They had live art happening during their set, too!
Check them out HERE.

Band: Dead Cat Lounge from St Pete, FL
This band was nominated by at least three other bands to play this show, and came highly recommended for their long-time involvement and support in the local music scene. I was just excited to see a REAL punk show. And that’s what I got! There aren’t many great, true underground punk bands like this anymore. And I don’t mean mohawks and patches; I mean honest dudes with a punk philosophy, singing songs about real issues, and putting on a super fun show while a bunch of their friends get sloppy drunk and slow-skank in the moshpit. At one point, the guitarist was playing his guitar with a fire extinguisher. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
Check them out HERE.

Warped Tour started out as a punk rock tour, idealistically and musically, and even now with it’s sugar pop and screamo mainstage acts, it still is the only festival tour that actively supports the punk scene. It only makes sense that when we find a legitimate punk rock band, we should have them represent us at Warped Tour. So congratulations to Dead Cat Lounge on being the EIY band for the St Pete date this summer!

Thanks again to Anna and Tony at No Clubs! Productions and the Local 662 for putting on such a heartwarming, fun show. I can’t wait to get back to St Pete and spend some time in the scene there. It’s on my top-five list of scenes, for sure.

Love,
Sarah & EIY

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