The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the creator and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of F Newsmagazine or its staff. We believe in providing a platform for diverse perspectives and welcome thoughtful engagement with the ideas presented.
Transcript:
Gren (intro narration):
“Ask a punk.” A phrase you’ll find on the flier of any punk show worth going to. A phrase that’s largely gained popularity to obscure the address of where the show is going to take place, and ensure that only those who need to know will be there. And also, as someone who’s made a lot of fliers that say “ask a punk,” you do this to keep the address of the venue off of Google Maps because the show is probably happening in someone’s mom’s basement or backyard.
This wasn’t true for The Orphanage, however, which proudly put their address on every flier, 641 W 31st St, Chicago, IL. The Orphanage was a historic and legendary venue and community center located in the heart of Bridgeport that, as I learned from those gathered the Sunday this was recorded, fostered and provided community for any and all who needed it.
On June 1, 2025, I was asked out on a date to the funeral show of this iconic venue, which would no longer be able to host events because the tenants were being evicted by the city. My date bailed on me while I was five minutes from the venue by bus, so I decided to go alone. Where romance will fail you, a field recorder often does not. What follows are my interviews with gay and trans punks between sets outside The Orphanage on their last show after over 20 years of service.
My name is Gren Bee, and this is Trannsexuals Vs. The World, episode 3: “Ask A Punk”
[Music by Split Ends, @split.ends.chi on instagram]Gren: Hey, how’s it going? Would you like to introduce yourself?
Peachy Wolfie: Hi, this is Peachy Wolfie. How’s it going today?
Gren: It’s great to meet you. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about what you do for The Orphanage.
Peachy: Yeah, so usually, it’s just a combination of varying different things. So, like, I’ve volunteered for doors, for bartending, for just a bunch of different things. One of the political projects, El Comador. And, yeah, just a bunch of other stuff.
Gren: Can you tell us a little bit about that political project?
Peachy: Yeah, so El Comador is a — cops back? — It’s migrant folks that make food for migrant folks here, mostly Venezuelans that come to the city for sanctuary.
Gren: Hell yeah, that’s awesome. You said, are the cops back? Have the cops been here? Have the cops been here tonight?
Peachy: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So everyone’s saying, I keep hearing people passing by and saying, “Are the cops back?” So keeping an eye on the door.
Gren: I’ll just ask one last question. What does this space mean to you? And what is the work here that you’re doing — what does that mean to you?
Peachy: Oh wow, okay, I was not expecting this. So thanks for this archival work, first of all. I’ve been trying to think about that for the past few months. The first time I came here was around 15 years ago. I played a show, and I just danced with a bunch of people in like a swing dance situation, and it still had God’s Closet. It was still a venue, DIY space. I’m just grateful to support a community space. It provides a spot for BIPOC queer alternative folk, especially, and for like, I guess the goofy cathartic connections, just the people that come through, yeah, and that I’ve helped either work with here or like, because I know like, when I was a kid, I needed spaces like these you know?
Gren: Yeah perfect yeah, no, totally, um one last one last very quick thing, can you tell us what your dog’s name is?
Peachy: This is Lupinito.
Gren: Well, they’re very cute. Thank you so much.
[JUMPCUT]Gren: All right, let’s start with some introductions. First off, my name is Gren. Hi, how’s it going? Let’s start, go right to left.
No Name: No name.
Gren: No name? Hell yeah.
Amber: Amber.
Gren: Amber.
Maria: Maria.
Gren: Maria. Beautiful names, everyone. Almost everyone. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you all about this space, The Orphanage. This is, am I mistaken, is this the last one?
Amber: Yeah.
Gren: All right. So how often do y’all come here, or did you come here?
No Name: I came here for the first time for a skillshare two years ago. Then I didn’t do anything here for a year. And then for the last year, I’ve been coming to Midwest Books to Prisoners once or twice a week for most of the last year and come into as many shows as I could.
Amber: First time, last time, I guess. Yeah. She brought me.
Gren: Yeah. Hell yeah.
Maria: I frequent this space. There’s a lot of projects that go on here, and I have a lot of friends here. It’s a special place to me, and I’m sad that it’s gone.
Gren: Yeah, well, we’ll start again over here and then move back, kind of switch it up crazy style. Can you talk about why this space is so special to you?
Maria: I think, like I said before, there’s a lot of really beautiful projects that happen here. A lot of food distro sort of stuff. There’s Midwest Books for Prisoners, getting books out to people on the inside. Yeah, there’s a lot of music that happens here, obviously, a lot of art. It’s just a special place. It’s a community center, you know, so it brings all the people that I love together.
No Name: I can’t speak on it that much, but it’s a beautiful place and I’m glad I got to experience it.
Amber: Yeah, I think it’s a really beautiful space. I’m really sad that I got involved so late. I moved to Chicago like 10 years ago. Yeah, I used to live in this neighborhood, and I only started coming, I only found out about this place a couple of years ago. I don’t know, I think it’s so beautiful. I love the community at Midwest Books. I love the community at the shows and all of the skill shares and organizing conferences. Yeah, I think it’s such a full, eclectic space.
Gren: Hell yeah, hell yeah. I’ll ask one last question, which is, what is next? What is next for y’all? What is the next step? What are y’all thinking about organization-wise, things like that? What’s the next move for anyone who wants to come here but can’t anymore?
No Name: I guess I’ll be where the next one is.
Maria: Yeah, I’m really glad that like Midwest Books has found a place, and I guess the reason I found out about this is because I’ve been involved in other stuff like I found out about this because I had friends that did Food Not Bombs, and the communities are very like intertwined. So they’re like — I’m still so lucky to be in Chicago like this is part of like a much broader community, and I’m really … Yeah, so I mean there’s so much stuff to plug into, there’s Jail Support and Books to Prisoners is continuing. And yeah, there’s Food Not Bombs. There’s so much cool radical shit to do in this city that everyone who’s here is touched in some way. And everyone who’s playing tonight is going to go on and play through the rest of the city. So I don’t know. Yeah. It’ll explode. But the debris is going to go everywhere. And there’s plenty of ways to pick up a piece. One thing I’ve really been thinking a lot about this weekend that’s really been getting me choked up is like when I used to live in this neighborhood, first got plugged in, like the first organizing stuff I did was with Food Not Bombs in Rogers Park.
Gren: Oh, I love that. Yeah.
Maria: Carly was like … one of the very first people who was an organizing mentor to me and showed me how to organize and how to be a healthy organizer. And now it’s the biggest part of my life.
Gren: Totally.
Maria: So to know that this is a place that she’s been coming to since she was 20, I don’t know, that really touched me to think about how long this space has been around. A lot of my friends are bartenders at Skylark. That was the first bar I went to when I was 21. That’s where I went on my 21st birthday. So I’ve known a lot of those bartenders for years and years. And so many of them have been coming to this place since they were like 20.
Gren: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, that’s huge. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much for sharing that. It is special. It means something.
[JUMPCUT]Gren (narrating): At this point in the night, there were several people playing tug of war between shows with a giant communal rope. It was very fun. Very hard to describe exactly what was going down, but if you’ve ever seen people play a tug of war, you probably have a good picture in your head. All you need to know is it was intense and it looked like a hell of a lot of fun. So I wanted to go ahead and talk to some of these tug-of-warriors and learn more. So here’s what I found out.
Gren: Hi, would you like to introduce yourself?
Lupe: Yeah. Hi, I’m Lupe. I use they/them pronouns. And I’m gay. Happy Pride Month.
Gren: Oh, yeah. Happy to talk to you. Could you tell us a little bit about this sick-ass tug of war game that just went down?
Lupe: I don’t know what to say. Oh, my God. I’m choking.
Gren: What was running through your head?
Lupe: Pure adrenaline, baby. You know what I mean?
Gren: 100%.
Lupe: My hands are burning. My mind is racing. My pulse is pulsating.
Gren: Unreal.
Lupe: Yes. It was a visceral experience.
Gren: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, is this your first time at The Orphanage?
Lupe: No. I love The Orphanage.
Gren: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Can you tell us a little bit about why you love The Orphanage?
Lupe: I don’t know. I think it’s a really special space. I don’t know that it could ever be replaced.
Gren: Yeah, I mean, so what are your, obviously, probably negative, what are your thoughts about the whole closure situation?
Lupe: Well, I think it’s fucked, it’s whatever. People should have somewhere to live, and Midwest Books of Prisoners does a lot of really great work. We’ll find a new home for it, but it just sucks that people have to use their fucking time and money to take care of this bullshit instead of just doing the work.
Gren: Absolutely. Well, what’s up? What’s next for you?
Lupe: What’s next for me?
Gren: Yeah, yeah. For a community, any community projects, or even community projects, but also just events you might be excited about. Anywhere that you recommend people go, you know, if they can’t go here, they can go somewhere else instead.
Lupe: I would say Chicago Community Jail Support’s the place to hang out, you know? Every time I pass by, there’s a little bonfire, a little party going on. Like, I think it’s, you know? Yeah.
Gren: Oh, yeah. Well, thanks so much for talking to us. I really appreciate it.
[JUMPCUT]Gren: Nice to meet you, too. Oh, my God. More tug-of-war. Very quick. First off, thank you for reffing this tug-of-war game.
Ajem: Oh, you’re welcome.
Gren: Yeah. Can you introduce yourself?
Ajem: Yeah, my name’s Ajem. I live in the city, just around the block.
Gren: Yeah, real.
Ajem: Yeah, I’ve been coming here for like four years, ever since I moved here. Sort of like the quick spots that I found to be very safe.
Gren: Yeah, totally. What’s so special about this space?
Ajem: I think that rooted community work and an attempt at others to be good. And, like, I don’t know, create a microcosm of the world that we all want to inhabit in the future. Yeah, that’s why this place is cool. And the music is good.
Gren: The music rocks. Let’s talk about the music a little bit. Are there any performers going tonight that you’re a fan of?
Ajem: Yeah, the first band that played was really good. But yeah, I feel like most of the times I’ve been here, I’m not doing the music stuff.
Gren: Totally.
Ajem: I come here and I do the Books to Prisoners sometimes. But I’ll occasionally go to a rave. I love a techno moment.
Gren: Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. This is actually, so this show, it’s the first — this is the first punk show I’ve been to in Chicago. Oh, really? I’ve done, like, punk shows in Texas and stuff like that, talking to trans people there. But this is the first one in Chicago. Mostly, it’s hyperpop. Like, mostly I go around to hyperpop and stuff like that. So this is very fun. So you’re a raver as well. You’re a raver and a punk, bisexual, no big deal.
Ajem: Yeah, I can never choose a side. I’ve never made a decision ever. Non-binary.
Gren: So, what’s different to you about a queer and trans space that’s punk versus a queer and trans space that’s maybe, you know, hyper-pop, rave, techno kind of vibe?
Ajem: I don’t know, the aesthetic? I feel like, depending on the space, I feel like there’s always going to be weird sub-genres of everything that not everyone jives with. I don’t know. I like — That’s a really good question. I don’t know. I think that, here, people are angry, and they’re expressing a lot of anger towards the state of the world. But I feel like in these kind of more rave spaces, you see people have an attitude of I need this dance as therapy. I feel like that’s where you kind of hear this joyful militancy or radical joy. The people are just kind of like — they’re like, oh, my God, I am going to have to feel happy doing this. This is a break and an escape. And just because they’re suffering around us, we need to have joy. But this is also important, people recognizing what’s wrong and being angry about it, rightfully so. And people need to express that anger.
Gren: Yeah, absolutely.
Ajem: Yeah, I feel like, yeah, I don’t know. Sometimes anger can be more difficult to embrace than joy.
Gren: Yeah. And I think there’s something to be said, too, like you talk about, like, you know, dance being therapeutic and stuff like that. That’s like a very common theme. Everywhere I’ve gone, people are like, yeah, I just need to fucking get out and dance. You know what I mean? And that’s so huge. I think there’s something to be said about the pit, though. You know what I mean? Getting in there, throwing arms, all that good stuff.
Ajem: Look, I twirl in the pit. And that’s the truth. And you know what? Like, people, you can be on the side of the mosh pit holding it down and shaking ass. And that is still punk rock.
Gren: Yeah, absolutely.
Ajem: So like, I feel like there’s a lot of ways to do it. And like, you know, ultimately, the enemy and — or not the enemy, but just, you know, the idea that all of us would be like, you know, punk or subversive in a way, but trying to judge each other for the way we move. I’m just like we got to cut it out. I’m just like … noooo like I gotta get it out. I’m going to get on my soapbox. This is kind of fun. I feel like I’m on a podcast right now.
Gren: It is a podcast. So that works out! That’s what it’ll be on. Seriously, thank you so much for talking to us. Well, talking to me. There’s no us. It was beautifully said. I really appreciate that. Thank you. And what did you say your name was again?
Ajem: Ajem.
Gren: What was it?
Ajem: Ajem.
Gren: Ajem?
Ajem: Yeah. What’s your name?
Gren: I’m Gren.
Ajem: Gren. Nice to meet you, Gren.
Gren: Nice to meet you, too.
Ajem: Thank you for having me on your podcast.
Gren: Absolutely. Thanks so much! Anytime. Absolutely.
[JUMPCUT]Aspen: Tell me about … Is it voice as normal, or will the voice be changed at all?
Gren: No, I mean, not necessarily. Is that cool?
Aspen: Yeah, that’s fine.
Gren: Yeah, yeah, I don’t edit it. I mean, I cut it up, but I don’t edit it. So it’s just all out there. But yeah, first off, could you introduce yourself?
Aspen: My name is Aspen.
Gren: Aspen, it’s great to meet you. My name is Gren. So, tug of war, it was epic. That was crazy. That was intense. It was awesome. So, could you tell us a little bit about the game? What were you feeling?
Aspen: Yeah, tug of war, you know, of course, in the middle of the game, feeling the exhilaration, the adrenaline. But just in general, like, since it started yesterday, I’ve been thinking about how nice it is to have something physical and engaging and community-building to do at a show besides just the show.
Gren: Totally.
Aspen: So really, actually, happy, very happy that there is tug of war.
Gren: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think activities are important. Like, I think of it almost like, not in a, like, sort of condescending way, but it’s almost like a kid’s table. You know what I mean? There’s like a dinner, and then there’s like a fun area you can color. You know what I mean? It’s important. It’s fun. It’s cool. And you just, a change of scenery and fresh air and all that good stuff, it’s important. So, the space, The Orphanage, how long have you been coming here?
Aspen: This is only my second time being here.
Gren: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Well, thank you for coming for its funeral show. I really appreciate that. I think everybody really appreciates that.
Apsen: That’s awesome. Yeah, of course.
Gren: Yeah, so this your second time being here. Do you frequent other punk shows or anything like that? Are there any other good spots people should know about in Chicago?
Aspen: I’m actually a traveler, so I’m not from Chicago. That’s why this is only my second time. But every time I’ve come through the city in recent history, I’ve tried to stop here when there’s events, and it’s been such a great home outside of my city and seems like such a beacon of community.
Gren: Absolutely. What is your city?
Aspen: Right now, I don’t have any city, but originally, I came from Minneapolis.
Gren: Word, word, word. I came from Texas. I came from very far. Do you like where you are? Have you thought about moving up here or anything like that?
Aspen: Well, right now I’m not much of anywhere. I’m traveling around the Midwest, going to different cities and seeing where I want to land. But, I mean, Chicago, especially if something like the Orphanage, some other cool project shows up in the wake, I mean, this is definitely a high contender.
Gren: Yeah, absolutely. So you’re traveling. You’re on the road. You’re doing your thing. Any wisdom from the road?
Aspen: I think there will be more wisdom in a few weeks once I’ve had a bit longer. I’m only three weeks in, but definitely, I’ve been learning how to let go. I think I’ve spent a lot of time in a very sedentary life in Minneapolis, holding on to shit really tight. And when you’re on the road, definitely, you know, like… Things happen, stuff comes, stuff goes. You lose shit in the city, and you’re never gonna see it again. You meet people, you might never see them again, like, you very much learn how to let go of a lot of shit, and I think that’s what I needed.
Gren: Yeah, absolutely. And I also think a lot of people who are gonna be listening to this are, you know, trans people who are scared, right? Like, we get a lot of listeners and stuff in red states and things like that, and I think a lot of people dream of moving out or getting out or even just getting around and stuff like that, and, you know, I think people are really scared and all that really sad shit. So I think it’s really cool. People just gotta move around, people gotta check it out, people gotta get out there. Do you have anything for anyone who maybe wants to follow in your footsteps, anyone who wants to get out there and move around and just see what’s up? Do you have anything that can maybe get them to make that next step?
Aspen: Yeah, I mean, the very realistic, the very true reality of it is that as trans people, survival means community. They say that for trans people, social death is real death. But this idea of like, if you’re going to be traveling like I am, I mean, it’s important that everywhere that I’m going, I have access to pre-existing communities in places. That’s what The Orphanage is to me. I know people here. I know that anytime I want to come through Chicago, there are people who’ve been involved in this project. Maybe I can be in. And meeting the people in your city, if there are people in your city, is a great way to start finding people in other cities.
Gren: Well, thank you so much, Aspen. I really appreciate it.
Aspen: Yeah, thank you. Yeah.
[JUMPCUT]Gren: Do you have anything you’d like to share?
Acorn: Uh, yeah. There’s a lot of stuff in this neighborhood, specifically. Can I say what neighborhood it is?
Gren: Yeah, of course.
Acorn: Bridgeport. Like, this spot specifically, you’re either a Nazi or a punk, to put it bluntly. To put it even more bluntly, we gotta fag it up.
Gren: Yeah, yeah, yeah, we gotta fag it up. Absolutely. I love that. Can you talk to us a little bit about fagging it up?
Acorn: Yeah, we got to be louder about being queer because like the current administration and just normal people want us to shut up, detransition, or die. And like the simplest act of resistance you can do is not do that. Keep doing what you’re doing. Make friends, and be trans.
Gren: Absolutely. That’s one of the missions of this show is, you know, we’re getting more individual, right? We’re getting, especially like trans and queer people, we’re getting, we’re staying at home, we’re playing Switch, you know what I mean? And we can’t be doing this. We can’t be caught slacking like that. And I really want to encourage people to get out there. And like, even though it’s scary, like I’m someone who’s very anxious, you know what I mean? But I think it’s important to just go out there and go to shows and meet people because we need community. But we also, you know, in the subject of fagging it up, we need to be fucking. We need to be having sex. We need to be going crazy. You know what I mean? It’s important. And I really appreciate you for sharing that because, you know, I can’t just jump on the mic and say that stuff. I need somebody else to. So I really appreciate it. That’s awesome. Okay, so do you have any tips for anyone who maybe, like, is worried about that, is nervous, is like, I want to get out and go to these shows and do this kind of stuff, but they can’t, you know, or they just feel like they can’t?
Acorn: I’d say if you can get the energy to go to a show alone, just do it. Worst comes to worst, you end up going home alone, having heard good music, and that’s it. Best comes to best, you end up making new friends.
Gren: Yeah, absolutely. And then on the subject of The Orphanage specifically, how long have you been coming here?
Acron: So I also found, just came here yesterday. I knew this place existed because they’ve been putting up flyers in the neighborhood, like, we’re getting evicted, and I honestly thought this place was abandoned. And I’m trying to figure out what other projects people are doing because the fact that this existed the whole time, it’s really important.
Gren: Yeah. I think so, too. So what’s the next step for you, for anyone else who wants to come to spaces like this or find spaces like this? Do you have any advice where they can go next?
Acorn: I’d say if you don’t, like, they say “ask a punk,” but if you don’t have a punk to ask, go to a legitimate venue. There’s cheap local shows, cheap local bands. Know the places. Grab a drink or two if that’s your style. If not, no worries. Grab some soda pop and just, you can just say you like their vibe, and that’s a good conversation starter. It doesn’t have to be a sex thing if you don’t want it to, but it can be a sex thing if you’re into that.
Aspen: Punk up, Bridgeport!
Gren: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, oh, last thing. Anything to say to the Nazis out there who might be listening?
Acorn: Yeah, talk to a trans person, and don’t be horrible about it. We’re people, too. You have different lives than us, and that’s okay. You’re being screwed over, too.
Gren: Raw as hell, that was more empathetic than I was hoping for, but I still really appreciate that. That’s a good take.
Aspen: Yeah, fuck you, fuck 12, fuck your mom, fuck your cop, uncle, talk shit, get hit.
Gren: There we go. No, all good, all good.
Acorn: Get better soon.
Gren: Yeah, two sides of the same coin. I really appreciate it.
Acorn: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[JUMPCUT]Gren: Hell yeah. Yeah, well, what’s your name?
Collage: I go by Collage.
Gren: Collage? That’s sick as fuck.
Collage: Thank you, thank you.
Gren: My name’s Gren.
Collage: Gren?
Gren: Yeah, Gren.
Collage: Nice to meet you.
Gren: Yeah, nice to meet you too. For sure, for sure. So, can you tell us a little bit about how long you’ve been coming here?
Collage: So, I’m going to feel a little old, but it’s okay. I have been coming here since about, I want to say maybe what, 2012? Because I was in a punk band called The Breathing Light. I was close friends with Monica and Dante when they started the Black and Brown Punk Show. And Bob, who used to actually stay here, and a plethora of other friends. So, yeah, that was, like, my first introduction. When I came back to Chicago, shit, I think I was 19. The Orphanage was one of my first stopping grounds for, you know, my introduction to shows, getting a chance to really get involved in the community and just seeing all the different resources that were out there, DIY style. So, yeah, I mean, it’s just been joyful. And, I mean, even on the outskirts of just coming to shows, I would come and kick it with Bob and other friends just because. Absolutely. Man, just enjoyfucking Chicago from here.
Gren: So with The Orphanage going away, obviously, that’s creating a major vacuum. You know, this is an important space for a lot of people. Do you have any advice for where is the next place people can go after this?
Collage: I really wish I did. But given the state of the times, I will say, you know, DIY doesn’t die. And at the end of the day, you know, if shit, you got rich friends, make them put their money up, and you know, start it in your backyard. Start it in that basement of yours where you’ve got the space. Hell, when it’s nice out, throw a tarp over something with some height and make zines, sell some things, create things. You know, just get people together. And the ideas will get to flowing. And then honestly … private investors fall away from shit all the time, so shit you see that shit happening, swoop that building back up let’s take that shit over squatters’ rights, god damn.
Gren: Totally, so you’ve been a punk here for a long time. What are some —- okay let me ask you this, I’m kind of talking to a lot of like trans people, a lot of gay people, things like that, and I feel like there’s kind of this trend to get more individualistic, stay inside more, play video games, you know what I mean? Especially among queer people and things like that. And I’m trying to encourage people to get out of the house and go to shows and find community and stuff like that. What is your advice for the next generation, or maybe just this generation of punks?
Collage: I mean, shit, honestly, it’s okay to turn the computer and the phone off. Go outside and talk to people. And then I know that that’s a little harder for some people than if the internet is your go-to and your safe space. Utilize it. Google search. You got Reddit. Hey, starting your own forum. What am I thinking about? Blogs. And putting in those keywords. Safe spaces. Community. Looking for fun shows to go to. Start those conversations. Start a pen pal. Write letters to different people. Put those ideas in their heads. See if, once again, that even can circle back around to people starting your own community. If you don’t see it, start it with your friends, or even make friends if it’s easy for you, and start it from there. Because sometimes the best community-funded events have been grassroots. It’s the people coming together because we were sad or we’ve been ostracized, and we made it happen because we got friends who we didn’t even know had the same idea or had the same feelings. So sometimes it’s going to just start with ourselves because the world’s fucking scary. It’s dangerous, but there’s also a lot of peaceful souls here who want the same thing. So it’s very possible. So just keep believing in yourself and baby steps. You’re going to get there. I mean, and trust your process. Just trust your process.
Gren: 100%. Where can people find your music?
Collage: So it’s been a minute. Well, I will say, because the Breathing Light, those are still my people. I love those people. Kyle and the homies, they still doing their thing. So definitely follow the Breathing Light. Breathing, B-R-E-A-T-H-I-N-G. Light, L-I-G-H-T. Help, fun fact, all Black band has been, always will be. Shit, me, I’m like doing different endeavors, but shit, I mean, come follow my life. I just do whatever. Collage, C-O-L-L-A-G-E underscore A-S-C-E-N-S-I-O. I-G-E-S. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, I mean, shit, I just pop up around. If you see me, you know me. What’s up? It’s all love.
Gren: Word. Thanks, Collage. I appreciate it. It was great to meet you.
Collage: Nice to meet you, too. Thank you so much.
[JUMPCUT]Eric: I’m Eric, by the way.
Gren: Eric? Well, that was my first question. Thanks so much. I’m Gren.
Eric: Gren?
Gren: Yeah, nice to meet you.
Eric: Cheers. Pleasure.
Gren: Thanks so much. Yeah, so you’re here with this sick camera. Can you tell us a little bit about taking pictures of punk shows and the importance of it?
Eric: I think this world is so important, and archiving of it over the years has been so sparing because so many people were living in the moment, and it’s so hard to keep a physical archive in this world. I’ve been doing it for years, and I’m still struggling in a digital era. The joke I always say with my books is that this will be my tomb. I have so many things because I want the memories kept, but they could easily bury me. I don’t want to be trapped under my own archive, but what a way to go.
Gren: Yeah, no, for sure. I think that’s how a lot of people feel, you know what I mean? Wow, that’s powerful. I love that. Okay, yeah, so, The Orphanage, how long have you been coming here?
Eric: Probably since the beginning. I’ve been to a lot of raves here. I’ve been to a lot of punk shows here. I’ve worked as a photographer officially some punk shows here, specifically some of the early Black and brown punk shows. And, yeah, I feel like I’ve been to also a lot of final show at The Orphanages. And I’m worried, but have come to terms that this is the actual final show at The Orphanage.
Gren: You’re doing this. You’re doing this not just here. Where else are you going to find punk, to find community, things like that, especially if this space is going away? You know, what’s next?
Eric: What is next? I feel like this city comes and goes in waves, and there are years when there are so many DIY venues and then at the blink of an eye the g20 conference happens or COVID happens, and they all start shutting down and then start ballooning up and expanding like a little colony of mushrooms, and they’ve got different flavors sometimes the city’s more rave sometimes the city’s more punk sometimes it’s more specifically hardcore punk, and it’s more south side or more north side or more west loop, and I just kind of follow what’s happening. I’m never the one who knows what’s gonna happen next, and I just try to keep my ear to the ground, and the world always throws us for a loop because it used to be you could just go to a record store, and there’d be 10 pieces of paper along the front window with people felt safe putting their addresses on the things, and now it’s “ask a punk,” and now we’re all, the smarter amongst us are backing away from social media, but where else do you go to ask the punks if you don’t know the punks?
Gren: 100%. And I also think, you know, something that worries me, right, is that like my generation, we’re so online, you know what I mean? And it’s harder to — there’s less and less of us going to shows and going to events and being gay outside, you know what I mean? Do you have any advice for people who are maybe anxious about coming to a space like this, you know what I mean? Just because they’re so worried about the general anxiety and things like that and just getting out there and going to shows.
Eric: Well, my partner asked me today, what is NOTAFLOF? And I had been maybe a year or two seeing NOTAFLOF and not knowing what it was myself. It is “no one turned away for lack of funds,” which has always been a thing but not always had an acronym. Take advantage of it. Go to things and leave if it fucking sucks. Leave if someone gives you bad vibes. Leave if it’s not your favorite music. I do encourage everyone to open their minds to music that doesn’t sound like their favorite music right off the bat. But if you hate it, fucking leave. But do the thing.
Gren: Hell yeah. Well, thank you so much. And where can people find you?
Eric: I have a lot of my work. Some of it’s punk rock. Some of it’s very professional at glitterguts.com and on various social medias as glittergutsy with a Y at the end.
Gren: Perfect. Okay, cool. Thank you so much.
Gren (narrating): At this point of the evening, I had decided that tug of war looked like too much fun and that I would really regret it if I didn’t play. The communal rope was calling out to me like the Green Goblin mask, and I answered the call. This is the aftermath interview with the people who are on my team and freaking not on my team on tug of war. So without further ado, take it away.
Gren: What’s running through your mind?
Adrian: I’m devastated. I’m fucking devastated. I’ve got to think about this all week. I’m going to have to hear about this so much. I don’t think it was worth it. But I had fun. Yeah.
Gren: Hell yeah, hell yeah. You’re a champion. Come on.
Collage: You know, I just, you know, had a good coach. And we played hard all in the playoffs and the offseason. And so it was just on the right that, you know, the ship would come to my hands. And I just, you know, it’s, what is this, Gemini season? I don’t know. But, you know, Gemini Two-Face. Thank you, Gemini. You know. And you saw the competitor, you saw the evil side, and you know, you just had to take it home.
Adrian: I’ve become even more devastated. My heart, I love my mommy. My heart hurts. That was fun, though, that was fun.
Gren: Have y’all been coming to The Orphanage a lot?
[unnamed]: No, it was my first time.Gren: It was your first time? Well, first and last time. How was it?
[unnamed]: Yeah. First time. I know. It was amazing. Yeah, it was my first mosh pit. It was amazing.Gren: First mosh pit ever? Yeah. What a legendary way to go down. I love a good pit.
[unnamed]: No, literally, I was like, you know what? I’m going to regret it if I don’t. And I did it. It was amazing.Gren: Yeah. Shit, we’re getting back in. Hell yeah.
Adrian: We’ve only been here, we got out kind of late, so we got here around 10:30?
Gren: Yeah, sounds about right.
Adrian: 10:30? Yeah. It’s good, I’m glad that we made it out in time.
Gren: Do you come to the orphanage a lot?
Adrian: I’ve come to maybe five or so shows. It’s pretty recent for me, but it’s so close to my house. I really wanted to see Rat Chasm tonight, so I’m glad.
Gren: Yeah, fuck yeah. Generally speaking, with The Orphanage gone, how do you think that’s going to affect the neighborhood?
Adrian: I think that there’s just going to be less and less spaces like this as time goes on, unfortunately, especially like this big. So it’s a shame.
Gren: Yeah, real. Raw as hell. Yeah, it’s fucked up. Thanks so much. What was your name?
Adrian: Adrian.
Gren: Adrian? Great to meet you, Adrian. I’m Gren.
Adrian: Good to meet you. Thanks so much. Yeah, any messages for the people?
[unnamed] Be unserious. [Collage] Yeah. Shit. If it’s good, and it don’t hurt nobody, do that shit. [unnamed] Have a great sex. And … abortions. [END] [Music by Split Ends @split.ends.chi on Instagram.]
