“I wanted to live with Exene and have her read the Bible to me, but I wanted to sleep in Chavo’s closet at the Black Flag church, under an American flag with cigarette burns in it. Lee Ving would be my uncle who would teach me about horse racing, and would let me drink one beer while we worked on his car.” Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker / Jets to Brazil)

If you’re not now then you never were then maybe you used to be! Anyone who was ever legitimately involved in punk rock, hardcore or even indie rock remembers that distinct feeling they got when they first stumbled upon this crazy new weird thing. Many of us were profoundly and forever changed by it. For so many it was that first show that did it. My First Time: A Collection of First Punk Show Stories (AK Press), chronicles that rite of passage. As the name would imply, AK Press has assembled over 40 stories by assorted scene noteables from the last 30 or so years to write about their first punk show experience. The writer list is pretty impressive and draws from a rather a diverse sample. Some of the contributers include Joe Queer (The Queers), Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker), Al Quint (Suburban Voice zine), Darren Walters (Jade Tree Records, Railhed), Rob Fish (Ressurection, 108), Shawna Kenney (I Was a Teenage Dominatrix). Ben Sizemore (Econochrist) and even brothers, Philly locals and DIY scene stalwarts, Bull and Joe Gervasi!

I just ordered mine through Amazon. Its on sale for $10.85 but the regular price is $15.99.