40 Hands
New member
I wouldnt advise anyone to go out of their way to come out to Rockford IL aka Screw City, but if ya happen to be in the area this could really help out. The citys pretty decent for skateboarding and squatting, seeing how in every extreme corner of the city there is a skate park of some proportion, and theres parking garages downtown with elevators that just kick ass. Also theres more abandoned houses here than ive seen in most places. It seems as though property owners are trying to by up whole blocks to have torn down and filled in with new apartment complex's or something. So instead of fixing the places up they let em rott till someone comes along and buys them out.
Disastr House located at 714 Locust St. RKRFRD IL, is a Punk House Coop dealy smack in the ghetto on the west side of rockford. They run 2 community gardens for the po' folk around the area, and themselves. Theyre rapidly building a community computer lab and library (chalk full of anarchist and communist goodies from orwell to marx and off to detailed comics about the revolution). Theyre starting a bunks for punks program and for $50 you can build a bunk and set up shop for the month (i believe the first $50 is used for materials to build your bunk still). Dont wana stick around for a month? Theyre always willing to lend a helping hand finding a safe squat, and usually have a couch open for a couple people. They throw punk and grind shows regularly, and rarely go a full month without a show. Shows attendance is around 60-100, and they draw bands from all over the midwest, and always looking for new acts and genres. Oh and these guys here happen to be some avid skateboarders, theres about 7 functioning boards in the house, so its hard to not get on one while your there.
The city itself is a fairly shitty place. Crackheads everywhere and a cozy little "stop shooting" zone. The kickdowns are few and far between, but i guess it all depends on your luck and location. Theyre also fairly strict about loitering, ive seen blocks with 6 no loitering signs on it, and theyre no NY sized blocks either. They do have a fair amount of rooftops to hop but be warned, some are loaded with cameras from punk kids throwin parties on em. So if your ever in the area, stop by and tell them (5t) 40 hands sent ya. Theyll have a shower, and a list of food pantries. If theres a show goin on id recommend that ya stick around and check it out. Its not uncommon for them to throw a mean keg party. And if you dont suck they will probably hook you up with a ride back across town to I90 or wherever.
(the picture below is the back yard while running a basement show. We had a few dudes outside playing some originals and covers on acoustic guitar. Shit like johnny hobo, leftover crack, minor threat, ect.)
View attachment 9552
Disastr House located at 714 Locust St. RKRFRD IL, is a Punk House Coop dealy smack in the ghetto on the west side of rockford. They run 2 community gardens for the po' folk around the area, and themselves. Theyre rapidly building a community computer lab and library (chalk full of anarchist and communist goodies from orwell to marx and off to detailed comics about the revolution). Theyre starting a bunks for punks program and for $50 you can build a bunk and set up shop for the month (i believe the first $50 is used for materials to build your bunk still). Dont wana stick around for a month? Theyre always willing to lend a helping hand finding a safe squat, and usually have a couch open for a couple people. They throw punk and grind shows regularly, and rarely go a full month without a show. Shows attendance is around 60-100, and they draw bands from all over the midwest, and always looking for new acts and genres. Oh and these guys here happen to be some avid skateboarders, theres about 7 functioning boards in the house, so its hard to not get on one while your there.
The city itself is a fairly shitty place. Crackheads everywhere and a cozy little "stop shooting" zone. The kickdowns are few and far between, but i guess it all depends on your luck and location. Theyre also fairly strict about loitering, ive seen blocks with 6 no loitering signs on it, and theyre no NY sized blocks either. They do have a fair amount of rooftops to hop but be warned, some are loaded with cameras from punk kids throwin parties on em. So if your ever in the area, stop by and tell them (5t) 40 hands sent ya. Theyll have a shower, and a list of food pantries. If theres a show goin on id recommend that ya stick around and check it out. Its not uncommon for them to throw a mean keg party. And if you dont suck they will probably hook you up with a ride back across town to I90 or wherever.
(the picture below is the back yard while running a basement show. We had a few dudes outside playing some originals and covers on acoustic guitar. Shit like johnny hobo, leftover crack, minor threat, ect.)
View attachment 9552
