Meri St. Mary has been a long time fixture in the California punk scene. Punk Globe interviewed her a few years ago and we decided it was high time to find out what she has been up to lately...

Meri has been very busy!!! Doing a stint as a Dee Jay at KVMR in Nevada City, CA with her own Underground Punk Show twice a month.... She is also performing with her band The Housecoat Project along with solo acoustic shows...

She has also found success doing spoken word and will soon be releasing a poetry/art book with Cold Water Press...

It has been a while since our last interview.... Tell us a bit about what you have been doing since that interview?

I've been doing radio, my acoustic songs, the band (Housecoat Project) & poetry readings.

How is your Dee Jay work at KVMR coming along?

Well I'm still there, I became a certified broadcaster in 2007. I started my Underground/Punk music show (twice a month) so that's going strong. I also do a Gospel show the first Sunday of the month. I received a rookie of the year award in 2007 & then a late night award in 2011 of which I'm very proud of & keeps me going carving my own niche at a really cool radio station. Always nice to be acknowledged by your peers for doing good radio.

For people who are not aware of KVMR. Can you give them some details about the station?

KVMR has been around 33 years now and started at the top of a mountain with a handful of folks. KVMR has grown considerably in the years and is a well respected station among other grassroots radio stations. It is operated and run by a plethora of volunteers with donations from folks who realize the importance of non-commercial radio. Go to KVMR.ORG to check out what's going on in our area and the schedule of shows one would be interested in. It's an eclectic progressive bunch and one of our last forums of free speech, both locally and worldwide. Support the little station that could!

What is the radio station's special connection to Michael Moore?

His sister lives in Grass Valley so he has a connection there and he supports community radio and all we do so.. He often comes up and does talks for the people and the station. Amy Goodman is another regular at KVMR events.

Tell the readers more about your radio show on KVMR?

The Underground Sound is my first love, it's a 4 hour block of time (from midnight to 4AM) that gives voice to underground/punk music from all over the world and locally, it is usually twice a month. I support new and old music that is not likely to be heard on any other show and have alot of fun with it. My Gospel show is a 1 hour block of inspirational music ranging from South Africa to Urban/Contemporary/Old timey that is on the first of the month Sunday and celebrates the spirit and music of this music, the show is from 12noon to 1PM.

Are you open to submissions from the readers and if so in what format?

I get music from folks I know and I don't know from all over the globe - mostly for my underground show, if I like it I'll play it. I can work with MP3's, CD's & Vinyl. Just send to me c/o KVMR 401 Spring Street Nevada City CA 95959 - bio's are imperative, the more artistic the better.

You also are doing now doing more interviews on your show am I right?

Yes, I started doing the interviews in 2010 to promote and bring attention to my friends who have been doing counter culture work for over 30 years and as I have a four hour block of time why not give voice to the artists/poets/publishers/musicians/writers/photographers I love/respect for an hour! I don't think anyone else had the time to do hour long interviews on their shows so it was a chance for me to promote others. I then started pod casting the interviews and they sort of took off. KVMR is a local station but we stream worldwide (FCC bound). I also did a KUSF in exile show (because what happened to them was just plan wrong). Basically I do what I believe in. I also give voice to the local outsider artist young folk because I liked what they were doing and wanted to get them on the radio. I like giving people a start in radio - some pursue it to become certified and that is my payday right there.

Tell us about some of the people that you have interviewed?

Oh jeez, there are a whole bunch of interesting and thriving folks: Let's just start with the women: Ginger Coyote, Kathy Peck, Carole Lennon, Janet Cunningham, Jenny Lens, Tequila Mockingbird, Dinah Cancer, Kira, Cara Vida -V.Vale, Monte Cazazza, Don Bolles, Paul Roessler, Museum of Death, Lennon Studios, Jack Sargeant, Jim Morton, Lob Instagon, Dave Boles, Adam Parfrey, Fred Gianelli, LUSTMORD, Steven Gray, Jon Moritsuga and Amy Davis. These interviews are all pod cast - one can find them on KVMR.ORG or links on my website www.meristmary.com. - listen in they're fun and informative.

How do you find your guests?

Most of them are friends and/or acquaintances whose work I admire and believe they deserve an hour of radio time. Often times it's like having a conversation over the phone about what they've done, how they survived doing what they do and to plug whatever new works they have and how can people get a hold of them and check out or support what's going on now.

You also have been busy doing shows with Housecoat Project.. Who is in the current lineup?

The current lineup is Meri (vocals),Jay Crawford (guitar) , Bob Bartosik (sax), Mike Simms (drums) and Whitey Cox (bass)

Do you have any shows coming up that you would like to promote?

Housecoat Project is playing The Eagle in Exile at the El Rio in SF on April 1st: 5 o'clock. The Eagle got the boot and they hold a once a month show for folks who support the Eagle and support the bands that play. This will be our first show in SF since our record release party at Lennon Studios in late 2010.

You finally released the long awaited Houseoat Project LP. Tell us about that?

I had heard the second Housecoat Project record on someone's shitty cassette and I thought "wow, this still stands up", so I went to Steve Tupper at Subterranean Records and said "can we release this record" that was recorded 25 years ago when everyone sorta dropped the ball. He said "put a band together and I'll do it". The band was formed, we gelled so we played our first show in 20 years at the Eagle, meanwhile all the original artwork was destroyed so I came up with a cover (thanx John Whitehead) and Tupper remastered it - Then it took about 2 years from conception to get the record out. With new technology it was a long time working it out (a whole new dialogue) a lot different then doing our first release in the 80's, so needless to say, I learned a whole lot, but it was (as everything I do) a labor of love and I'm quite pleased with the end result. "girlFIEND" is vinyl only at this time. One can also try and get the 1st Housecoat Project release "Wide Eye Doo Dat" from Subterranean (but I believe it's out of print).

How can readers buy a copy?

Go to my website www.meristmary.com or go directly to Subterranean Records . You can also call Steve Tupper at (415) 821 5880 or email him at steve@subterranean.org

Are you also doing acoustic shows?

Yes, in 2009 I released my first solo acoustic CD (recorded by Lemon de George). I again had the concept art along with what I wanted to hear so (as with my other recordings) I produced, came up with the cover and concept. It's entitled "I'M BACK" and is available through my website, CD Baby and other avenues. Dominique Leslie, Ronni Guitar and Jay Crawford played on it, but when I do shows (depending on where I am logistically) I collaborate with others or I can play alone (shout out to Tyler Cook and Caleb Lee Friedenfelt).

Tell us about the book "Homage To a Word?"

I have been doing poetry readings out and about. I have been published in some very fine literary magazines, so I met Dave Boles at a reading and we immediately clicked. He puts out the publication Primal Urge (A Journal for Diverse Humans). On several other occasions I would ask poet friends of mine to open for HP & this was no exception. Dave and Bill Gainer came and read at our Nevada City/Grass Valley record release and they were both wonderful. Dave then put his reading (deregulation) into a book called "Homage to A Word" for (Meri St. Mary). I feel quite honored to be a part of this book.

You also have quite a few side projects. Tell the readers about them?

I did mention poetry readings (which I love to do) and appreciate how busy and motivated the poetry scene is in every city. I'm working on a poetry/art book that will be out this summer on Cold River Press.

You have also been spending some quality time in Los Angeles.. Tell us about that?

Housecoat Project came to LA in January to open the Punk Rock Museum and I ended up staying for about 3 weeks. In that time I reconnected with some very old friends and fell in love with LA again. I also had the chance to revisit some musical projects that I'd been in 28 years ago, so we all got excited by the prospect of doing a show/rehearsing for ROADHOG and TOEJAM. As a result I came back down after being in the country for a month. We have all tried to see if it would work: mad props to Nickey Beat, Maggie Ehrig and Rhys Williams. Needless to say, Maggie and I had a fun surprise for folks at her Birthday on March 17!!! I also felt alot of love and support when I needed it from countless others. I grew up in LA so I had forgotten how much I love it there, and yes there is culture (you just need to know where to find it) not to mention how far back those roots go with friends I've known 30+ years.

Can you tell us about your new website and give the readers the address for it?

Yes, that was alot of fun working with my friend Julia who took my ideas and put them into a website format, I love working with people who say "Yes" to the pictures in my head and to make them tangible. GO TO www.meristmary.com and enjoy!

Any other Internet addresses you would like to share?

I'm on Facebook as Meri St. Mary, myspace is Housecoat Project, KVMR.ORG type in my name and find me there, also, www.meristmary.com has links to my podcasts or just plain ole google.

What does the rest of 2012 hold in store for you?

The poetry/art book, more shows with Housecoat Project, more readings, acoustic shows and of course listen in to my radio shows on KVMR! I also have 160 minutes of electronic music I did with Monte that I would love to see the light of day, however, it's in a rather rough format at this time so we'll see. I had alot of fun using machines to make music and beats.

Thanks so much for the interview Meri. Any parting words for our readers?

DO YOUR OWN THING, ON YOUR OWN TERMS, AND GET WHAT YOU CAME HERE FOR!!! Oh and be YOURSELF - that is one of the bravest things in life you can do!