Last weekend had two great events, things that made me think that there are some great people in the world still. On Friday night, there was a huge show at a new squat downtown. There are three million square feet of office space free in SF right now. It's great to see it being put to some good use. From the outside, it just like another stretch of street, but for the hundreds of bikes stacked on any possible lock-up place. At the door, a crazy homeless man waved and hollered, effectively working as a guard against straight people. Up a flight of dark stairs and we were in punk rock heaven! It's a huge space, perhaps 4000 square feet, and the people involved had power and plumbing hooked up. There were several hundred people watching the bands, movies or the art on the walls in the main room or the side gallery. Some person with no regard for public health was going around handing out cases of 12 year old Coors beer. The most astonishing thing about it all was that everyone just seemed so nice. I had no sense of drama or mean spirits. It felt so European, where squats are often more permanent and accepted. I don't know the names of everybody involved, but I know that Iggy Scam had something to do with it, as well as Antonio from Sacrilicious. There's a whole scene in the bay area that I admire so much and rarely have a chance to participate in. They just had the annual toilet ride, riding their bikes around the city and drinking at all of the space-age public toilets. Hooray!
  Then on Saturday, there was the Jocks last show. Again, the mood was festive and relaxed. There were more than 400 people there, including at least 40 on stage during the Jocks, but no fights and everyone seemed just relaxed and nice. Chui Chi Nut Nut, the Fleshies, the Cost, Quest For Quintana Roo and Sacrilicious played as well. All of these bands are inspiring. None of them takes themselves too seriously, yet they possess an awesome array of musical talent and all have a touch of creative energy that takes them out and sets them apart from bands that are just going through the motions. Even though there aren't many places to play in the bay area, the music scene is thriving. It's fantastic to watch it and be a part of it.
   There are other little signs too, from the increase in clever graffiti and wheat pasting to community things like punk soccer and the bay area diy message board. People are trying, thinking for themselves and producing ideas and art outside of the eye of the rest of the world, and it's great. I've seen scenes that had this sort of mood in other towns again and again, but this really feels like one of the few times in the last 10 or 11 years that the bay area has had such a vibrant and secret art and music scene. Maybe we'll catch up to the rest of the world yet!