Pictures of Mike Park & co’ @ 924 Gilman Street
Seeing the legendary Mr. Park and company at Gilman was kind of like a dream for me. Interviewing him was just icing on the cake. For a lot of people (most of you), you probably don’t know the history of 924, or of Mike. 924 Gilman was the venue that spawned bands like Operation Ivy, Green Day, Fifteen, and nearly every other punk/ska band that’s ever been a part of the scene. Seeing where these people cut their teeth, while watching one of the legends himself bare his soul on stage was simply… breathtaking.
Mike Park has been one of the staples of the independent music culture for like 15 years now. He started out as the frontman of Skankin’ Pickle (yeah, great name!), continued with the Bruce Lee Band, the Chinkees, and now his own solo project. He’s also been running Asian Man Records the whole time, supporting some of my favorite bands. Oh, and he runs the Plea For Peace Foundation, trying to educate people and build a community center in San Jose. Suffice to say, he’s one of the few people who I can honestly say has inspired me in life. I’m still glowing.
justinª