As You Were: New Punk Comic Anthology Explores House Shows

If you trace the lineage of American punk music you ultimately land up in gritty 1970s New York City where the scene exploded with packed clubs like CBGBs or Max’s Kansas City where Patti Smith and the Ramones blasted their way to legendary rock status.

When you pick up As You Were, issue one of a new punk comix anthology compiled by Mitch Clem, you feel transported back to the same grittiness. And if you were to trace the lineage of As You Were through the underground comic scene, you’d end up with names like Harvey Pekar and R. Crumb, people as influential to comics as Patti and the Ramones were to music.

The comics inside As You Were revolve around the theme of house shows, music shows that take place in a living room or basement. The many stories range from memoir in nature to off-beat horror tales. The anthology’s opening piece, “Rose-colored Glasses” by Ramsey Everydaypants, acts as an introduction, guiding the reader through the house show experience while also offering a critique—the uncomfortable nature of house shows are also part of their charm.

One of the strongest stories comes from Mike Funk. Funk’s band, Shady Hawkins and the Homewreckers, is performing at a house show, but before they go on a misogynistic and homophobic band alienates the audience. Shady Hawkins decides to unite and counter the previous bands vitriol. It’s a story of how a room full of strangers can unite and eliminate hate and sexism for one night.

Clem’s own story, “The Best Ever House Show in St. Cloud,” shares an experience many music fans will recognize: falling in love with a new band and missing musical opportunities they will regret for the remainder of their lives.

Andra Passen and Ashley Rowe Palafox both offer brief humorous anecdotes that capture the experience of being an audience member. Passen shares a quick moment between friends and Palafox a soul-crushing, show ruining annoyance. Nation of Amanda provides a House Show Bingo Card that covers everything from piercings, pets, punk nicknames, and hipster moustaches.

As You Were isn’t for everyone, much like many would turn their heads away from Patti’s growling poetry filled songs or the Ramones’ two-minute blitzes. Readers who have been active participants in a local music scene will relate most to the comics in the anthology. What’s here captures the experiences of going to a small local show so perfectly that you will be reminiscing about your own experiences when you put down the anthology. And if you haven’t been to a show in a long time, the book will have you scanning your local alt-weekly for opportunities.

For many punk music fans, there may never be an opportunity to be a part of something as big as the scene’s birth in the mid-70s. But what As You Were show’s its readers is that anyone can have a music experience in one night, and sometimes those experiences come in the most unlikely setting.

To order a copy of As You Were visit Silver Sprocket.

A brief interview with Mitch Clem

NerdSpan: What are the origins of As You Were and how did you become involved as its curator?

Mitch Clem: I had the idea while reading Cometbus [a punk zine] on the bus to work one day, that it was time I started a zine, and that I knew so many awesome comic artists within the punk scene, and how cool would it be to have sort of a centralized project for us all to be involved in. By the time the bus ride was finished I’d pretty much decided every detail about how it would go down to the dimensions, and even had a list of people to ask to contribute.

NS: The first issue’s theme is house shows. Is there an overarching theme of the series beyond punk comics? What are some future themes we might see?

MC: Kinda hard to say how much we’ll stray from themes revolving at least loosely around punk rock. That’s sort of the idea, that all these artists and the people the zine is geared towards all have this common bond in having an interest in punk rock, and thus come from a sort of unique starting point that a lot of comic readers don’t necessarily. Going to shows, booking shows, starting bands, making zines… It really seems like a background that is fairly unique to the music scene, and so that’s who this project is more or less for. Though, you know, I think it’s awesome whoever wants to read it, obviously, and maybe there will be more general themes in the future. Who knows!

NS: How often will As You Were be published?

MC: Good question. We’re gonna put out one more by this year’s end. So maybe twice a year? I guess just however it ends up coming together.

NS: What would you like readers to know about the types of comics presented in As You Were and creators who write/ draw them?

MC: These comics are definitely geared more towards an indie comic crowd, but, you know, a lot of us still read all that mainstream superhero stuff. I mean, I know I do. Hell, my dream job is still getting to write a Spider-Man book. But, you know, people like what they like. It’s all good.

NS: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about As You Were?

MC: WE TRIED OUR BEST!

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