State College: The new home of the punk scene

By GRETCHEN ANDES
Collegian Staff Writer

The do-it-yourself ethic is alive and well in State College. Just ask Jeremy Myers.

Myers loves music, but being a trumpeter and vocalist for the punk-ska band No On 15 isn't enough. He also founded his own record label, Jump Start Records (www.lazerlink.com/jstart), and edits a free fanzine called Freefall, which comes out twice a year and is distributed in local record stores.

Myers is only part of the local underground arts scene. Call it "punk" or whatever you like -- State College kids have created a community all their own.

Venues

While some people frequent State College's bars, where cover bands rule, the underground scenesters gravitate toward basement punk shows. There's usually at least one show every weekend, whether it's in someone's basement or at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave.

Bill York (senior-business logistics) described the basement shows best.

"The music is very personal," York said. "The bands are not rock stars. It's not about making money, it's more about making music."

York has a radio show called "Independent Anthems" on WKPS-FM (90.7) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m every Monday. He uses the show to promote indie bands and concerts. York said he also plans to set up two shows this semester.

Basement shows have a friendlier atmosphere than a typical bar show, said Zack Furness (senior-English).

"I like the fact that all the people are nice. It's nice to go to shows since all the people there are your age. People hang out after the shows. Everyone is there for a good time."

Furness also holds shows at his place, called The Halfway House, located at 232 Foster Ave. The next show is Feb. 13, with Myers' band No On 15 and Bunjie Jambo.

Another place to catch a show is The White Lodge, the home of Chris Baronner (senior-English) and Emily Dunlap (freshman-photography). Indie-label acts such as Braid, Rainer Maria and Karate, along with several local bands, played in Baronner's house in the last year.

Admission is free but a small donation between $2 and $4 is appreciated. Money charged for the shows goes toward the bands. Sometimes the money goes toward feeding the bands and calling bands long-distance for the shows.

The White Lodge used to be located at 950 E. College Ave. until Baronner and Dunlap moved out after Thanksgiving break. They're moving into their new place within the next several weeks and hope to have shows there as well. Baronner and Dunlap are planning to hold a Spring Fling to raise money for charity.

Visit www.outtoeat.com/thewhitelodge for more information about upcoming shows.

The Asylum, a student organization located in 223 HUB, also sponsors punk shows which are held in the HUB Ballroom, said Jolene Kernick (senior-telecommunications), president of The Asylum. These shows often attract nationally recognized acts. The next show is Feb. 26, with bands to be announced.

Bands

Although these venues attract national acts, local bands also get in on the action.

Myers' band, the seven-piece No On 15, is a frequent performer on the underground circuit.

"We're kind of like NOFX with a four-piece horn section," said Myers, who graduated in May.

The band has been together since last May. No On 15 practiced over the summer to get ready for shows. Now they've just finished producing their own demo album. Myers said he hopes to move from the local basement shows to a bigger show at Crowbar this spring.

Slacker is another local punk band, created in 1992 to "beat the boredom of living in a small rural community of Pennsylvania," according to Slacker's Web site (www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/5177).

All band members had no previous experience with instruments. They all bought second-hand equipment and taught themselves how to play.

Evidently, their skills have improved. In 1996, Slacker released its first full-length record, called A Day in the Life Of …, produced by well-known punk maven Mass Giorgini and released on Mutant Pop Records in Oregon.

Guitarist Jonathan Miller (graduate-law) said Slacker plays here once a semester and also tours nationally.

Members of the now-defunct pop-punk band The Risers also honed their craft in State College.

The Risers were only around for a year but they made the most of it, playing lots of shows locally and touring the East Coast. Band members Joey Lenze and Jared Erb were skateboarding buddies before Lenze's knee injury forced him to pick up the guitar. When the two started playing guitar together, things clicked and the rest was history.

Lenze (senior-engineering science) said State College shows are enjoyable because of the friendly atmosphere.

"I like it because you see a lot of the same people at shows," he said. "You're playing in front of friends."