New Zine! Paradise Lost: Sarasota, Florida Hardcore & Punk Scene 1980s-1990s

Completed just in time for St. Pete Zine Fest, Saturday, February 21, 2026. See you there!

Paradise Lost: Sarasota, Florida Hardcore & Punk Scene 1980s–1990s came about after five years of living in Sarasota, when I found myself at a house show watching a band called No Fraud. Shortly after, I met Dave “Spinach” Malinsky who has lived here his whole life and got into punk as a teen in the early 1990s. Those two moments combined to reveal that I was living in a small city with a punk past, despite its current reputation as a haven for upper-middle-class and wealthy retirees, northerners with second winter homes, and tourists. 

I made this zine in a frenzy of inspiration, buoyed by new friendships and the sudden ability to see beneath the surface of Sarasota, down into the subcultural strata that the white condos conceal. Now, I know which park Food Not Bombs used to happen, and where the old infoshop used to be. The natural environment with its bays and beaches, and the close-knit mid-century neighborhood where I live have made for a beautiful life here. But what I learned through these interviews gave me a deeper sense of connection and, at the same time, sharpened my awareness of the city’s limitations and shortcomings. 

Of course, Sarasota doesn't exist in a bubble, and the macro-level pattern of real estate as the top commodity under late capitalism is present everywhere. This dynamic, which reaches into every nook and cranny of society from here to New York City, is the elephant in the room of this zine. It's a culture-killing phenomenon. I hope people read these interviews and become more inspired to push back against the corporate mundanity that pollutes our physical spaces.

Resist psychic death!

CONTENTS:

Introduction by Osa Atoe

Interview with Jake Loomis & Dave “Spinach” Malinsky:

1985-1990s Sarasota scene, skate culture, downtown Sarasota, alternative venues and space

“Libel” Zine by Jenna DeLorey

Maps: Alt/Punk Places in Sarasota, Bradenton & Venice 1980s-1990s

Interview with Lali Donovan:

‘80s Sarasota punk moves to San Francisco in 1990

Interview with Dan Destructo of the original '80s hardcore band NO FRAUD:

1970s-1980s, beginning of Sarasota County punk scene, evolution of No Fraud, Venice scene

Interview with Howard Green Montaque:

late 1970s-1980s skate & surf scene, No Fraud roadie

68 pages, color cover, black & white interior

Hardcopy sold out. May print a second run. Please check back for updates.

All proceeds after printing costs will be donated to Second Heart Homes. If you're reading this for free online, consider throwing them some cash. If you're in the Sarasota-Manatee area, you can volunteer or donate food & household items, or donate artwork to their annual art auction fundraiser.

Remember: support the most vulnerable members of society. Fuck ICE and the entire prison industrial complex. Support the Miccosukee Tribe, Friends of the Everglades, Sarasota Waterkeepers and everyone doing their best to reduce harm. Keep making art. It matters.

Thank you for reading and caring about print media!