The Offense Book of Books Release event at Ace of Cups allowed me to think about music writing within context. The book is a compilation of The Offense post punk zine published from 1980 to 1982 curated by Tim Anseatt.

 I first came across The Offense Zine in 2009. I was impressed by the layout, the writing. I was impressed by the people writing for the zine. The writing was succinct. The Offense writing was funny. If the writing wasn't succinct the text was pre-familiar.

Book of Books is the correct name because the zines were compact and neatly designed. The writers themselves were the list of what defined Columbus, Ohio's national music image within rock music for the past 30 years: Ron House From Great Plains and Mike Repp were the names that kept me turning the pages of the Offense zine because I was listening to their music.

At the Ace of Cups show, Ron House and Mike Repp were joined by Great Plains' Paul Nini, Mike Ravage from Screaming Urge, Lynn Whitacare, Nancy Kangas from Naked Skinnies, Shirley Tobias and of course Tim Anseatt with reading excerpts from the Offense. The musicians (House, Repp, Ravage, Kangus, and Nini) played acoustic sets.

Michael Ravage played some song whose name I can't remember about Hitler residing in South America.

This brought to mind President Donald Trump's efforts to aid upheaval in Venezuela for oil profiteering. Perhaps the one terrifying motivation for the TrumpShutdown is the possibility that people might be fleeing their countries because of fascist efforts.

Ain't that funny, a self feeding fascist loop. The question is: is the potential desire for political asylum from Venezuela from fascist efforts large enough for the need for added security in Texas? We read the Trump Shutdown as a distraction from the Russian investigation, and fanning the flames of racism to hopefully utilize an irrational misogynist dislike of Nancy Pelosi for political and financial gain.

He could be into oil profiteering and understanding the effect. It seems like the President lost this round.

But who knows in what manner our worsening economy would effect psychological responses over the next couple of years if Venezuelan migration becomes an issue. This context aided appreciation for the continuum of counter culture.

Kangas played with Repp. Whitacre danced while Ravage played. Wytteker read a review of an earlier U2 concert in Cleveland. The Offense had content from those and about who defined Columbus music. The Offense also had intimate moments of bands before they were popular.

Anseatt discussed 80's punk and New Wave venues like Mr. Brown's. He told stories about flyering from South Campus to Clintonville. He talked about publishing the zine with the help of Magnolia Thunderpussy Records.

There was banter regarding comments that music writers made about other critic musicians.

Ron House was quick to say, “Yeah, I'm still mad about that comment.” Then Ron House would continue with the conversation with respect.

Ron House discussed being disappointed when Ronald Reagan was elected. He'd voted 3rd party. Ron felt guilty Jimmy Carter didn't get his vote.

There is another The Offense Book of Books Event at 2 Dollar Radio 2/13/2018. Tim Anseatt is releasing another book this year, The Offense Book of Newsletters. Mr. Anseatt published the Offense Newsletter from August, 1982 to July, 1989. Tim Anseatt hosts a WCRS show with similar tastes called Yesterday's Top Secrets. Times New Viking were the ones who shared the Offense Zine with me.

It seemed appropriate to visit Adam Elliott and Beth Murphy of TNV's Art Show the evening prior to the Offense Book Of Books' Release. TNV and friends along with CDR Records were the people who helped spread the legacies of Ron House, Mike Repp and Jim Shepard.

The show was consistent with TNV's album art work and history of utilizing screen printing techniques with iconography and words. While visually there is an understanding about printing that you could tie into the Offense but the show wasn't documenting Columbus' punk music history lineage.

The St. James Pool Table areas were adorned with posters that said things like “Reedom.” and “Music is the best.” Van Halen and Iron Maiden's logos were utilized. Lester Bangs was referenced with his “Last of the White N's.” I never read him. I can't relate.

I prefer TNV's “Louder than Master Of Puppetz” campaign circa to Iron Maiden. This made me understand the fuzzed out distortion in a manner Guided By Voices never articulated.

Compare the first song from Black Sabbath's 13 album or the last Metallica release to any of Van Halen's work with Extreme's Gary Cherone or Bruce Dickinson's solo work. Lulu can be endearing in the complete context in comparison.

I prefer TNV when it comes to punk, graphic design and The Offense.