Loud! Fast! Philly!

Stacey Finney guest interviews Jo-Ann Rogan, lead singer of the band Thorazine. Jo-Ann was born and raised in North Babylon, New York, a suburb of Long Island. In 1985, Jo-Ann moved to Philadelphia where she began attending Temple University for Kinesiology. Shortly after coming to Philadelphia, she connected with West Philly punks and ultimately lived at Kill Time warehouse, a punk venue and living space. Jo-Ann helped put on shows that included many local artists such as Flag of Democracy (FOD) and hosted other events in Clark Park, a West Philadelphia land mark for outdoor festivals. Prior to entering Thorazine, Jo-Ann tells wild tales of backpacking through Europe and following FOD while they were on tour there. From dancing naked on stage with FOD to hitching a ride with a driver who jerked off in front of her and a friend, she weaves the tale of a young woman sowing her adventures and exploring the world on her own terms. Jo-Ann talks about touring and living with her band mates as well as being sued by the pharmaceutical giant, Smith-Kline-Beecham for using the name Thorazine. Jo-Ann shares many stories about the band’s ten-year stint: making a music video, playing Lalapalooza, and opening for the band Fear. Jo-Ann speaks with a heavy heart about the band’s break up in 2003, but shares her excitement for their recent reunion and what is happening with them now. She also discusses some of the barriers to being a female in the Philly punk scene as well as being the mother of two special needs boys. Jo-Ann talks about how her involvement in the punk scene has taught her to be a bold advocate where her children are concerned. Additionally, Jo-Ann blogs as “Punky Mamma,” where she writes about her daily experiences as a mother, among other topics. Jo-Ann shares some unbelievable stories and, in her own words, says, “Oh, it happened and it happened to me!”

Photos by Stacey Finney

Vincent Feldman/June 21, 2014

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Vincent Feldman. Despite living in Washington, DC for a few years while attending college, photographer Vincent Feldman has lived his entire life in the city of Philadelphia. It is this life-long relationship with the Philly that lead to his passion for the city, its neighborhoods, its endangered (and often lost) architecture, and — perhaps most crucially — its people. Not only does Feldman document the dilapidated but once glorious buildings of Philadelphia (many gone, with others soon to vanish from the landscape), but the effect of these buildings on the lives of the people Feldman sees as often being manipulated (usually to their detriment) by forces more powerful than them. Coming from a family of immigrants (Jewish and Italian) with a distrust of “the State,” Feldman inherited both disdain and engagement. Punk and later hardcore punk came to Feldman as a natural, almost pre-ordained fit. He wrote most of the music for the ‘80s HC band Legitimate Reason (featuring previous interview subject John Finn), who had their 7” EP recorded at the famous Inner Ear Studios by Eli Janney. While living in Washington, DC, Feldman became a roadie for the just-formed Shudder To Think, which got him touring the U.S. and later Europe. Seeing the contrast between the disused, abandoned buildings in Philly and the thriving, vibrant squat scene in Europe inspired Feldman to document the vanishing buildings of Philadelphia and show how they were once used. While Feldman ultimately moved away from music, he often cites his experiences in the HC punk scene as serving as some of the inspiration for his work. Earlier in 2014, Paul Dry Books published Feldman’s stunning book City Abandoned to great acclaim. As a witness to the MOVE catastrophe of 1985 and the disregard for some of Philadelphia’s finest architecture, Vincent Feldman has seen this city at its worst. And yet, even now, he uses his art to inspire positive action; he bears witness.

You can read more about Vincent Feldman’s book City Abandoned here at the Paul Dry Books website. Thanks to Will Schofield over at Paul Dry.

City Abandoned may be purchased at both the Paul Dry Books website or, perhaps more conveniently, here at Amazon.com.

Vincent Feldman’s website