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Notes From the Underground

By Michael Mechanic

Give 'Em the Finger:
Local kids prepare to flip the bird with their new zine

To their folks they're Garrett, Matt and Zack, but from now on you can call 'em Ratface, Robo and Sonic--a triad of punk fans from SLV High who've commandeered the computer of one of their parental units to start a new zine, The Finger. "At first it was going to be an answer to our school newspaper, The Claw," Robo says. "Then it got a little more punk and a little more punk."

Well, there ya have it. Bored kids doing something with their lives. Ratface and the gang are aiming for release mid-February, with record and demo-tape reviews, interviews with Cain (from Palo Alto), Youth Riot, Sicko and others--possibly Fury 66.

"We're just tired of nothing happening and we wanted a creative outlet," says Robo, who's paying for most of the first issue out of his pocket, with a little help from ads. The Finger is hoping to stage a benefit show to help put out the second issue. Send demos, letters and incendiary devices to The Finger, c/o Matt Robles, 285 Anchor Court, Boulder Creek, 95006.

Redroom Reprieve: Kids Cool at SC Hotel

You're off the hook, kiddies. According to Redroom staff, the club has worked out differences with the city and will be able to continue having 16-plus shows at the Santa Cruz Hotel. Matter of fact, there's a rad little show this Sunday at 9pm with Stinkaholic, the Willies and Youth Riot.

Gutless Performance

Gorehounds are back ripping up flesh in Santa Cruz after a break, but they've dropped the gory videos that used to accompany their sets. That's probably good, since the murder and mayhem tended to distract from their kickass punk tunes. Chris Gonzalez gets a great guitar sound, the rhythm section rips, and their songs are full of neat twists and turns and tempo changes. One song is so convoluted that it reminds me of Hedgehog (R.I.P.). Their Viking's Hall show on Friday with 187 Calm, Junk Sick Dawn and Bread and Thunder was cancelled, but you can check 'em out March 17 at Emi's with X-Girl 13.

Also Upcoming

On Friday (10pm), Spaceboy plays the Redroom with Wool and Bluebird. On Saturday, Sweetcream USA plays an all-ages show at the Basement. Head Circus and Vim do a free all-ages show at UCSC's Stevenson Dining Hall on Saturday (8pm). On Sunday (10pm), have fun with the Whistle Pigs and Vim at Emi's or check out Blink-182. They're playing a 16-plus show at Palookaville on Sunday with some obscure band named Pennywise, plus Unwritten Law and 98 Mute. Nice of those airlines, clothing and sunglasses companies to sponsor the tour so that they could bring it to you for the incredibly low price of $14. Hell, why not get 'em through BASS? Ahh, yes ... punk will never die.

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