Punkast is a weekly podcast exploring punk in the historical present through critical conversations, inquiry, and collaboration.
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In this episode:
“Anything goes kind of club… We had all kinds of different kinds of music… In order to promote shows, you had to go to shows.”
Jessica Schwartz and Tequila Mockingbird are joined by Reine River, who ran the Anti-Club alongside her mother, Helen, at the center of the early LA punk scene. Together, they trace the energy of the Anti-Club, the broader landscape of the scene, and what it meant to book, promote, and sustain shows in a rapidly forming musical community.
Reine reflects on her work as a booking agent, the material culture and memorabilia of the venue, and the infrastructures that supported live music at the time—while also highlighting the role of women in shaping punk’s spaces and networks.
Reine River co-ran the Anti-Club with her mother, Helen—Helen managing the bar and Reine booking shows. With a background in fine arts and an MFA from Otis College of Art and Design, Reine continues to work across performance, visual art, music, and poetry.
Recorded August 2024.
Links + References:
Read & Share Stories on The Anti Club Los Angeles Facebook Group!
Music mentioned: Dwight Yoakam, Greg Davis Blood on the Saddle, Madonna, Sonic Youth, The Fall, Circle Jerks, The Skeletones, Big Drill Car, Jughead’s Revenge, Resistant Militia, N.W.A, Milo Aukerman, the Descendants, Henry Rollins, The Fibonaccis, Overman, The Skatalites, Green Day, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Pennywise, The Hangmen, The Blue Shadows, X, The Blasters, Javier Matos
Credits:
Punkast is hosted and produced by Jessica Schwartz.
Co-hosted by Tequila Mockingbird.
Guest produced by Tequila Mockingbird.
Editorial support: Melissa Hernandez – audio editing, episode notes, and audio-synced transcript.
Transcript:
Theme Music:
Lady Bits, \"Bitch-a-thon,\" Lady Bits.
Related:
Jessica Schwartz co-hosts the Punk Scholars Podcast on the Punk Scholars Network.
Connect with Punkast:
Instagram: punkastucla
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