September 2008

You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2008.

Akron, 1980: Punk Rock and Trailer Parks

September 30, 2008 in Akron, Derf, Highland Square, Music, Rubber City, comics, punk, trailer parks by admin | No comments

It was a time when the American Dream was caked in rust, hormones raged, music actually mattered and the one thing that meant more than any other was: ESCAPE!

PUNK ROCK & TRAILER PARKS, the long-awaited new graphic novel by comix creator Derf takes place in recession-ravaged Akron, Ohio, in 1980, at the peak of the Rubber City’s unlikely and lively punk rock scene, a pop culture phenomenon that spawned distinctive acts such as Devo, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and so many other groups that Melody Maker referred to Akron as “the new Liverpool.”  The story follows the triumphs and travails of one colorful young man, Otto, who lives in the family-owned trailer park on the outskirts of the Rubber Capital. He backs into the punk counter-culture by chance and through talent, wit and sheer force of personality soon becomes a local star. Otto chases fame and love and has memorable encounters with punk luminaries such as the Clash’s Joe Strummer, Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics and rock scribe Lester Bangs.

PUNK ROCK & TRAILER PARKS conjures up the oppressive insanity of growing up in the Rustbelt, the day-to-day weirdness of  the trailer parks tucked away therein, the magic allure of sex and the necessary comforts of friendship, the mystical power of the counter-culture to turn outcasts into heroes and, most of all, the transcendant power of music, specifically the punk rock of the late 1970’s which redefined, transported, and ultimately, perhaps, disappointed a generation. It’s a tale as gritty, raucous and bawdy as punk music itself.

PUNK ROCK & TRAILER PARKS is an evocative, hilarious, and ultimately poignant book that will appeal to anyone whose youthful dreams live on.

Derf Backderf is an award-winning cartoonist and comix creator. He is best known for his edgy weekly comic strip, THE CITY, which has appeared in alternative weekly papers nationwide since 1990. Derf was the recipient of a prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Award in 2006 and he is one of the featured creators in BEST AMERICAN CARTOONS: 2008 (Houghton-Miiflin). A book collection of the first 15 years of his strip was published as THE CITY:  COLLECTED (SLG Publishing, 2005).

PUNK ROCK & TRAILER PARKS is Derf’s longest and most ambitious work to date, as well as his first fictional piece.

http://www.derfcity.com/crap/PRTP1.html

PDF review copies available on request.

Derf can be contacted directly at derfcity@en.com



MEET DERF, signing copies of PUNK ROCK & TRAILER PARKS at Square Records in Highland Square, Friday, Oct. 17 from 7-9 pm.

Make sure you count!

September 30, 2008 in Akron, Election, Rubber City Clothing, Vote by admin | No comments

November 4th is 35 days away, but if you simply can’t wait to have a say in our nation’s future and local livelihood, get out and vote NOW!

If you are a registered voter in Summit County, you can vote for any reason at The Job Center on Tallmadge Ave now through November 3rd.  The Job Center is located at 1040 East Tallmadge Ave (between Home Ave and Brittain Rd).  If you utilize the city’s fine public transportation, take the #12 Bus from downtown.  You can stop by Monday-Friday 8am-8pm or Saturday-Sunday 12pm-4pm.

If you are not a registered voter (and we won’t judge), you NEED TO REGISTER by next Monday, October 6th.

You may register to vote at any of the following locations:

Now that you are/will be registered to vote, educate yourself on some of the candidates/issues at hand.  Here are some great resources for all your voting needs:

GET OUT AND VOTE AKRON!!!!!!

Going the distance

September 26, 2008 in Akron, Marathon, Rubber City Clothing, Swag, T-Shirts, The Black Keys by admin | No comments

Tomorrow is the BIG day! Thousands of runners will tread upon 26.2 miles of our fair Rubber City  in the 6th Annual Road Runner Akron Marathon.  For those who are running, we wish you the best.  If you aren’t registered and want to participate, you have until 9pm tonight to race down to the John S. Knight Center and sign up.  And for those who are just watching, stop in the RCC store just before mile marker 3 and pick up some Akron swag!

Check out this awesome commercial for the marathon featuring The Black Key’s song ‘I Got Mine’.

Click here for a map of the marathon.

Here is a list of some of tomorrow’s events:

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Road Runner Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Chase Team Relays
7:00 am – Start: 177 S. Broadway St. / Finish: Canal Park Stadium
Races include:
• Marathon
• Half Marathon
• Chase Team Relays (2-person & 5-person)
• Business Challenge

USA Women’s 8 km Championship
7:30 am-Start: 177 S. Broadway St. / Finish: Canal Park Stadium


Post Race Awards & Entertainment
8:30 am - 2:00 pm inside Canal Park Stadium
• Open to the Public
• Real-time tracking of runners for family and friends
• Brouse Cup presentation
• Live Concert presented by Acme Fresh Market
• Finishers Victory Party presented by Michelob Ultra

Kids Fun Run
9:00 am – Start: Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant / Finish: Lock 3
• Free event
• Open to children 14 years of age and under
• All runners receive t-shirt, medallion and goodie bag

Route 8 in Baltimore?

September 22, 2008 in Akron, Chrissie Hynde, Music, Rubber City Clothing, T-Shirts, The Pretenders by admin | No comments

While Ohio Route 8 runs north and south between Akron and Cleveland, it was seen as far east as Baltimore, MD this past weekend.  How exactly?  Akron’s beloved rocker, Chrissie Hynde was sporting this RCC design at a Pretenders’ show at Sonar last Friday.  By all reviews and accounts, it was a great show.

Special thanks to Pretenders’ fan, Todd for the pic from the show.  Let’s hope Chrissie and the rest of The Pretenders find there way down the real Route 8 to play an Akron show soon!!!

Attack & Release & Get tickets

September 19, 2008 in Akron, Music, The Black Keys by admin | No comments

The Black Keys with special guest Royal Bangs.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11th- 8pm.

EJ Thomas Hall, Univeristy of Akron.

Get them at the EJ Thomas tickt office or any Ticketmaster location.

Visit www.ticketmaster.com or charge at 330.972.7570.

From the Smoking Section…….

September 18, 2008 in Uncategorized by admin | No comments

From Rolling Stone’s
Smoking Section by Austin Scaggs

Chrissie Hynde’s Veggie Restaurant

September 18, 2008 1:16 PM

The S.S. just chatted with the Pretender’s lead singer Chrissie Hynde to talk about the band’s new album, Break Up The Concrete (due in October). She also rapped with us about her vegan restaurant, The VegiTerranean, which she opened less than a year ago in her hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Click more to read what Chrissie has to say about VegiTerranean (she likes the gnocchi), and her fascinating trivia about the hamburger.

So what are your mandates as far as what music is played at VegiTerranean?

Ah, that’s a sore point. I haven’t been there enough to really put that together. It’s the early days, you know, we’re not even a year old. The food is just sublime. So that’s the good news — the food is just really something special.

I was checking out the menu yesterday, what’s your favorite thing?

The gnocchi is really great.  The pizza, the burgers… I mean, I was never really a burger fan but the Biker Burgers are amazing. Incidentally, I didn’t write the menu. I don’t think I would have called it the Pretenders Hot Dog.

Or the Chrissie Fries?

[Laughs] Like I said, I gotta spend more time there. The chef’s a genius. It really is like an Italian restaurant but it’s all vegan. It’s just remarkable, if I do say so myself. I’m as surprised as anybody that it’s been such a success.

I was down in Akron with the Black Keys this year, and they told me that the burger was invented in Akron.

But did you know there can be up to 100 different animals in one burger. We have nothing to do with that. Did you know that a vegetarian driving a Hummer has less impact on the environment than a meat-eater on a bicycle?

Wow.

So, you know it’s a lot to address and a lot to put right. My pledge is that I will remain on this earth until the last McDonald’s has been burned to the ground.

Waiting for the weekend

September 11, 2008 in Akron, Charity, Lock 3, Music, Musica, Rubber City Clothing, T-Shirts by admin | No comments

Ahh, another slow Thursday in the Rubber City.  But fear not Akronites, the weekend is almost here.  Summer is drifting away and the cold is creeping in, but right now the weather is perfect for going out and enjoying Akron.

Here are some events happening this weekend you’ll want to check out:

Friday, September 12th and Saturday, September 13th

Ohio Brewing Company- OKTOBERFEST

Start the Bierfest a week early and a bit east of Munich right here in Akron.  An Oktoberfest celebration will take place on September 12 and 13, 2008, at Lock 3 Park adjacent to the Ohio Brewing Company. Award winning beers, tons of German food, and some great live music.  It runs 4:00-11:00 pm on Friday and 1:00-11:30 pm on Saturday.  Prost!

Saturday, September 13th

Valencia @ Musica

Philly’s alt rock/pop punk quintet will be playing songs off of their new album, This Could Be a Possibility.  The show starts at 6pm, with Sing It Loud, Single File, Cash Cash, and Mogadore’s own  Mixtape Metro opening.

Sunday,  September 14th

Rock for Labre @ Musica

Only $6 a pop, all proceeds from this show will go to the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Project, benefiting Akron’s homeless.  Doors open at 6pm.  Featured acts include Stow’s Trademark Mistake and System Automatic, with Sailing On and Assembly Required supporting.  Rubber City Clothing t-shirts will also be available at the event.

These are sure to be good times.  If you get a chance to check any of these out, let us know your thoughts, comments, etc.  Enjoy Akron!

Same place, new face

September 8, 2008 in Akron, Music, Personally RCC, Rubber City Clothing, T-Shirts by admin | No comments

Some changes are happening down at Akron’s favorite t-shirt shop. Sadly, RCC’s beloved GM, Joseph, is leaving the land of rubber and going back to his native New York. Taking over the reigns of the Rubber City Clothing store is Sarah G.

Born and raised in Akron, Sarah left the Rubber City for the Big Apple after finishing Kent State University. After 3 years in New York City, she realized her idol Dorothy Gale had it right all along, ‘There is no place like home.‘ Akron was always in her heart, so Sarah decided to put it on her sleeve and got a job with RCC.

For an all around good time, come down to 18 North High Street to meet Sarah, Monday-Saturday 11a-6p. You can come hang out, chat about Akron, check out the coolest Akron tees, listen to some sweet tunes, and help yourself to a Dum-Dum (they were originally created in Akron). We figure a blog is a better place to put that, than say the bathroom wall at Barley House.

Election time is here…..

September 2, 2008 in Uncategorized by admin | No comments


Obama, McCain, yeah, yeah, yeah…..not till November. Right here, right now the most important superficial election is coming up:
Scene Magazine’s annual Best of Cleveland issue will be coming out October 8th. Last year, Rubber City Clothing won the ‘Best T-Shirts for Homers’. This year that category does not exist, but ‘Best Local Boutique’ is up for grabs. The way we see it, no other boutique in northeast Ohio personifies ‘local’ quite like Rubber City Clothing. We literally wear our local pride on our sleeve.

Now this award is a li’l near and dear to my heart as I used to work for Scene. Let’s push some Rubber City pride and vote RCC as the BEST of Cleveland. Deadline for voting is 5pm on Wednesday, September 17th.  Visit this link or pick up a FREE copy of Scene for your ballot.

Thanks!

Sarah