[ arts + culture ] writing zines. There was almost always someone cooking. Always. That’s what I remember most.
How did outsiders in Pensacola view the house?
The neighbors saw the house differently. Some definitely hated us, sometimes for good reason, but often because of their own stereotypes of who we were and what we were doing. A lot of the neighbors really liked us, though. We’d share food often with the older folks around the corner. I met my wife Lauren at 309. When our daughter was born, one of our neighbors brought us baby clothes. It was sweet, but also shows how we were definitely part of the community.
Talk about gathering the interviews and stories for the book. How did you and Aaron collaborate on the finished manuscript?
The 309 house after Hurricane Ivan
HOUSE RULES
PHOTO BY ABBY BANKS. IMAGE FROM ‘A PUNKHOUSE IN THE DEEP SOUTH’ GAINESVILLE: UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA, OCTOBER 2021. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA.
Scott Satterwhite looks back at Florida’s storied ‘punk house,’ the 309 BY MATTHEW MOY E R
T
The stories were gathered through an Oral History class at the university where I teach. A friend of mine, Jamin Wells, thought the stories from 309 would make for a good study with his class and asked if I could give him a diverse group of 309 alumni who could respond quickly for students working on a deadline. I got in touch with people who’d been in touch over the years, who were easy to reach. The students did the interviews. The interviews were a bit awkward because it’s hard to really grasp what it’s like to live in a punkhouse, but that forced the residents to explain their lives in detail in a way that they likely wouldn’t have done with me or Aaron. The interviews were conducted between February and March 2020, with the last ones finished as COVID-19 shut down the country and the university. That’s when Aaron and I started talking about the interviews. A book was never in the thoughts of anyone when this class project began, just a collection of interviews for the archives at the 309 Punk Project and the university. But as we started to read the stories, it became clear something else was here. Aaron and I started bouncing the idea of a book off of each other through letters, stamps and paper and envelopes through the USPS in the spring of 2020. We edited, heavily edited, and in many instances transcribed, the interviews. Less than a year later, we have a book. It’s really a pretty amazing process that likely wouldn’t have happened if not for the pandemic. We had more time on our hands than expected. Having a project did a lot to keep up our spirits, and made us really appreciate our friends even more than before.
his week sees, improbably but happily, zine writers Bay Area is a reflection of their world, and Florida punk is and punk-culture chroniclers Scott Satterwhite and definitely a reflection of Florida. The story of the 309 punkhouse isn’t necessarily unique, Aaron Cometbus roll into Park Ave. CDs to talk about being a “weirdo in the Deep South” through the lens of their except for its ability to stick around. This is for a number recently published book A Punkhouse in the Deep South: The of reasons, but its longevity and continuity are a big part Oral History of 309. This tome, released through University of its story. The stories of 13 people are chronicled here, stretching a 25-year history, and of Florida Press, tells the history they tell a story of punk that’s of Pensacola’s 309, one of the never really told. It’s not a story SCOTT SATTERWHITE & longest-running punkhouses in about bands, even though most AARON COMETBUS the United States, through the of the people played in bands, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14 words of people who called it but instead it’s a story of how we Park Ave CDs, 2916 Corrine Drive home. Expect metric tons of funny, actually live. parkavecds.com freewheeling and heartbreaking Our story itself isn’t unique, but free, but RSVP is required tales on the night from two skilled oddly enough, no one has ever storytellers who’ve lived the life Is it surreal doing a DIY tour for a book told the story about how punks about DIY culture, in 2021 no less? and done their time in the 309. The event will be free but limited capacity, with face masks live, and that’s what makes this story important. We’re part Yeah, it’s a bit surreal, especially at this stage of our lives, required. RSVP through Eventbrite to reserve your spot. of the culture, too, and now our story is being told in our but it also feels natural. It’s nice to drive around the Deep own voices. South with a book about the Deep South talking about what it’s like to be a punk in the South. That’s basically what we What is the importance of punk houses to the cultural ecosystem of the underground, Do you remember the day you moved into talk about in our performance, and basically what our book is about — what it’s like to be a weirdo in the Deep South. especially in Florida? And what made the the 309 house? 309 house notable for chronicling? I moved into the house not long after I got out of the Aaron and I have been good friends for well over 20 years, They’re important to the local culture because they’re Navy. The punk scene in Pensacola was very welcoming, since he first moved into 309 in the late ’90s, and it’s been part of the culture. Punks are often left out when discussing and the people at 309 knew me because I wrote a zine. great to strengthen that friendship with the book and the what makes up a city or a community, even though they’re There was a room open, and they knew me from my zine tour. It’s like a punk version of that Willie Nelson song clear reflections of those towns. Nothing against the and the bookstore I worked at, and thought I’d be a good fit. each day. Considering everything that’s gone on, it’s really When I moved in, we had about four or five people a miracle that we’re alive and that we’re able to do this tour symphonies or rock venues, but you learn more about the cities you live in by listening to local punk bands than you living there. All beautiful people. You’d hear people and that this book exists. ever would by listening to the symphony. Punk in D.C. or the working on songs. People were painting. Some were arts@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com
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OCT. 13-19, 2021 ORLANDO WEEKLY
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