Labor History

Review of “NoMeansNo From Obscurity to Oblivion”

Cover of NoMeansNo from Obscurity to Oblivion, by Jason Lamb, with a grinning guy, hitchhiking, wearing a yellow t-shirt that reads "You Kill Me."

Today I’m reviewing “NoMeansNo: From Obscurity to Oblivion: An Oral History,” by Jason Lamb, with Paul Prescott. PM Press published it January, 2024. Definitely one of the best band histories I’ve ever read. They relate the history through short interview clips of band members, friends, associates, and fans. And they intersperse this with tons of […]

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Review of The Spitboy Rule: Tales of a Xicana in a Female Punk Band, by Michelle Cruz Gonzales

Michelle Cruz Gonzales’s “The Spitboy Rule: Tales of a Xicana in a Female Punk Band,” is one of the best rock memoirs I have ever read. It honestly portrays much of what made the 1990s punk scene beautiful, and much of what made it ugly, too. But what really makes this book great is how

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Review of “Tales of an Inland Empire Girl,” by Juanita E. Mantz Pelaez 

Tales of an Inland Empire Girl is a beautifully written, edgy memoir by Juanita E. Mantz Pelaez

“Tales of an Inland Empire Girl” is a beautifully written, edgy memoir by Juanita E. Mantz Pelaez. It’s the story of good girl’s downward spiral, from a studious bookworm into an angry, drinking, trouble-making punk rock teen, and her redemption that follows. It’s the story of a working-class family, struggling to make ends meet. Of

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Review of Roberta Tracy’s “Zig Zag Woman”

Book cover of Zig Zag Woman, by Roberta Tracy

Wow, what a wonderful historical mystery novel! Zig Zag Woman, by Roberta Tracy, hit all the right chords for me. First, it’s an exciting, fun story, well-written, with numerous exciting twists and misdirections. And her historical research is impeccable and artfully utilized to make the characters and events pop out of the book. But what

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Punks With Books

Flyer for Punks With Books

On Sunday, May 26, 2024, during the Memorial Day weekend, I had the privilege of reading from my novel, Anywhere But Schuylkill, at the Punks With Books event. James Tracy organized the collective readings and books signings at Avantpop Bookstore, Las Vegas. It was adjacent to the Punk Rock Bowling music festival that also occurred

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