Anybody remember 1982 very clearly? Eliot Rachman does. Or maybe he doesn’t, what do I know? At any rate, in that year and on the heels of the musical and cultural tidal wave known as hardcore, the RSO known as Students for Progressive Action was born.
The organization was spearheaded by Rachman and Kenny Knott, who, as students at Western and members of Violent Apathy, sought to make Kalamazoo’s venerated university a viable option for hardcore bands in need of a venue.
Students for Progressive Action made it possible for many of hardcore’s seminal groups to make appearances in Kalamazoo, including but not limited to Black Flag, Minutemen, Discharge and Minor Threat. This was, of course, long before punk shows could be coordinated and held in one’s basement with merely a handful of facebook messages.
And now, three decades later, some spunky WMU students have taken it upon themselves to resurrect the RSO that championed Kalamazoo’s involvement in hardcore’s salad days, with the apparent blessing of Violent Apathy and the university itself.
And now the fun part.
Students for Progressive Action, in cooperation with The Peace Center, is hosting a kickoff show on FEBRUARY 15 at 8pm at the Wesley Foundation on Western’s campus.
Scheduled performances by:
DAD JEANS
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dad-Jeans/428123767313433
EVIL DEAUXERS
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evil-Deauxerz/279476615431181
THE DANDY CHUMS
http://www.facebook.com/thedandychumsband
THIS ISN’T WHERE I PARKED MY CAR
https://www.facebook.com/thisisntwhereiparkedmycarkzoo?ref=stream
With a killer lineup and appearances by members of Violent Apathy, this show promises to be perfectly rad, and a glimpse into a fresh chapter not only for Students for Progressive Action, but our beloved music scene at large.
The gig is, of course, all ages, with a suggested donation of $5.
More information can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/events/675868085767706
DITKalamazoo 