Old Tricks, New Treats By Ruby Dee Philippa (Earth Island Books)

Ruby Dee Philippa’s Old Tricks, New Treats, the third installment in the Bag Of Tricks trilogy, is a high-octane collection of short stories that transports readers headfirst into the chaotic, drug-fueled ecosystem of early 1980s San Francisco punk rock. Like previous volumes, this book promises a deep dive into the culture, complete with all its euphoria, destruction, and eventual paths toward survival. Like before, this book also follows the exploits of a sprawling, memorable cast, a rag-tag gang including members of the band The Shits, Val, Sophie, Babs, Carla, Red, Marco, and Bags. The story centers on their adventures as they roam the volatile terrain of youth on the fringe, making mostly bad and occasionally good choices while aiming toward lives entirely of their own making, however uncharted they might be. The stories chronicle the highs and lows that define a subculture built on discordance and rebellion.

For those whose familiarity with the late 70s and early 80s punk scene is limited to black-and-white photos or polished documentaries, Philippa offers a necessary corrective. She pulls back the curtain on the romance, revealing the stark realities that underpinned the aesthetic. As she notes, while the punk world offered off-the-beaten path experiences and great music and all sorts of crazy shenanigans, it also housed profound darkness. Many of the punk rockers she knew were estranged from their biological families, often lived on the streets, and relied heavily on drinking and drugging as part of their daily existence. This commitment to stark realism is perhaps the most defining and powerful aspect of Philippa’s authorial voice. Her goal, articulated with clear intent, is to bring this part of my history, and that of many others, to light. She is deliberate in warning readers that certain passages may be disturbing due to the stark descriptions of drug use, emphasizing that she wrote it exactly like she remembered it and didn’t pull any punches. This honest stance becomes an essential piece of cultural documentation. Philippa and her former cohorts agree on a need for these stories to be told, suggesting this work is not an exercise in nostalgia, but a necessary historical record, capturing the full spectrum of a life that was brutally destructive, but also entirely free.

The unique perspective, an analytical mind filtered through raw street experience, is what gives her writing its distinctive weight. The woman who co-founded North Coast California Earth First! in Arcata, fished Alaskan waters, and then went on to become a successful restaurateur and a thrice Grammy-considered singer/songwriter with Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers, is not an observer looking in. She is a survivor looking back. The transition from engineering student to punk rocker to roots-rockabilly musician lends a powerful authenticity to her recounting of these lost years, which she revisited for this work after reconnecting with old friends. She wrote the book based on real events, only taking liberties and changing some details because she could, a prerogative of the survivor shaping the historical record. Old Tricks, New Treats is not a comfortable read, nor is it intended to be. It is a vital compilation that captures the beautiful, desperate energy of a seminal youth movement. By refusing to shy away from the hard edges, the estrangement, the street living, and the heavy drug use, Ruby Dee Philippa makes sure that the legacy of this punk generation is remembered in full, complex color. This trilogy is an important achievement, offering an exciting story and a necessary cultural artifact for anyone seeking the real truth behind the safety pin and the leather jacket. An essential read for any true punk rocker interested in the eighties San Francisco punk rock scene. Head to Earth Island Books for more information about ordering.