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Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Andrew Martini of Limp Wrist, Kill the Man Who Questions, and The Stuntmen; Myles Donovan of Disemballerina, A Stick and A Stone, Negative Queen, and Erik Ruin’s Ominous Cloud Ensemble; and Mon Ovath of F80 and Moufoka and Hanoi Panic ‘zines. We discuss how they grew up and came into their queer and punk indentities in Philadelphia. The emphasis is on the queer punk scene that came to full fruitition in the 1990s (fueled in part by ACT-UP activism and Riot Grrrl) and gained momentum as more young punks came out and brought the energy and confrontational politics (as well as the fun) to audiences who were not always receptive, but were not given the option to turn away. In a pre-internet era when networking was significantly more tenuous and primitive, finding fellow “members of the tribe” could be a frustrating — and at times dangerous — process. Through their art as musicians and performers, Andrew, Myles, and Mon reached — and continue to inspire — young people looking for outsiders like themselves. Their stories eventually interconnect with one another and twine through the history of Philadelphia’s underground music scene and the people and places that once comprised it. This is a raucous interview with three fascinating fellows.
