reviewed The Stowaways issues 5, 6, and 7
STOWAWAYS, THE #5
Full-size, copied, 17 pgs.
The layout for this is pretty goofy: full size and stapled in the corners. But it fits the feeling of the zine: youthful, raw, and full of excitement about music. It's filled with local show reviews, a tour journal, and an interview with Creatures. I'd say it's worth it if you want to feel all warm and fuzzy about DIY music. The writer's voice is disarming and loveable. - Katie Dunne (The Stowaways, 5082 Wendover Rd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886)
STOWAWAYS, THE #6
8 1/2" X 11", photocopied, 8 pgs
Christopher, fold your zine! You've already been scolded for this in this very publication! You have no excuse! First of all, a stapled, 8 1/2" x 11" zine consisting of six pieces of paper is easily destroyed in the mail, in a backpack or just about anywhere. On top of that, there's enough content here for several more pages of a half-size zine, making for a more attractive, less thrown-together-looking, thinly-spread package. Aside from the aforementioned annoyance, I'm a fan of The Stowaways. There's a certain charm and love of life to Christopher's writing. My favorite part is the show reviews, where he manages to talk about anything but the band that played, focusing, instead, on human interactions and hanging out that happens as a result. His reviews of stuff like records and zines are really fun and awesome to read; I can't explain how or why, they just are. He's just got a certain breezy, carefree style of writing. I was left wanting him to review everything. His lunch. His town. His parents. His shoes... well, all right, that's enough. I just wish it were longer because I really liked it. That's all. His band interview, however was a poor way to translate his passion. He comes off like a star-struck fanboy. He's super excited about the band, Moses Campbell, but the questions are about boring shit like where they recorded their album. He needs to step up his game in this area or cut the interviewing out altogether. Otherwise, totally recommended. So, order this zine and hope it holds up in the mail. While you're at it, get the Roman Candles tape. It's the guy's singer-songwriter project and it's good. -Craven Rock. (The Stowaways, 5082 Wendover Rd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886, romancandlesmusic@gmail.com)
STOWAWAYS, THE #7, $1,
8 1/2" x 11", 20 pgs.
Sloppy cut-and-paste fanzine out of Yorba Linda, California. This thing comes out like, every two months or somethings, which I totally admire. This issue doesn't break any new ground - show, record, and zine reviews, an interview with the band Merry Christmas. I think that's fine, but I wish it did more with all this stuff. The Merry Christmas interview seems specifically designed to bore the shit out of anyone who isn't a rabid fan/personal acquaintance. The reviews are pretty good, and if you're coming to this looking for perspectives on music and zines then that may be what wins you over. For me, it was the badass fan letter from a prisoner in the back, brimming with humor and punk. -Dave Brainwreck (The Stowaways, 5082 Wendover Rd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886)
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