SouthTalks: A Punkhouse in the Deep South

A Punkhouse in the Deep South: The Oral History of 309

presented by Aaron Cometbus and Scott Satterwhite

The house at 309 6th Avenue has long been a crossroads for punk rock, activism, veganism, and queer culture in Pensacola, a quiet Gulf Coast city at the border of Florida and Alabama. In A Punkhouse in the Deep South: The Oral History of 309, residents of 309 narrate the colorful and often comical details of communal life in the crowded and dilapidated house over its thirty-year existence. They tell of playing in bands, operating local businesses, forming feminist support groups, and creating zines and art.

In this SouthTalk, Aaron Cometbus and Scott Satterwhite discuss this lively community that worked together to provide for their own needs while making a positive, lasting impact on their surrounding area. Together, these participants show that punk is more than music and teenage rebellion. It is about alternatives to standard narratives of living, acceptance for the marginalized in a rapidly changing world, and building a sense of family from the ground up.

Cometbus has been publishing Cometbus magazine since 1981. He is the editor of the oral histories Back to the Land and The Dead End, and the author of seven novels. He earned a gold record using his teeth as a percussion instrument. Satterwhite is a historian, educator, and journalist. His work has appeared in Florida Historical Quarterly, Hurricane Review, INWeekly, and Maximum Rocknroll. He is the author of several poetry chapbooks and edits the zine Mylxine.Satterwhite holds an MA in American history and English. He teaches writing and literature at the University of West Florida.

SouthTalks is a series of events (including lectures, performances, film screenings, and panel discussions) that explores the interdisciplinary nature of Southern Studies. This series is free and open to the public, and typically takes place in the Tupelo Room of Barnard Observatory unless otherwise noted. However, as a result of the ongoing health crisis, many events will be virtual, free, and made accessible on the Center’s YouTube channel after each live event. Visit the Center’s website for up-to-date-information about all Center events. Registration will be required for all events in order to receive the event link.