Narrator
Bex Zumbruski was born in Western Massachusetts, grew up in East Longmeadow, MA, a suburb outside of Springfield, and currently lives in Easthampton MA. Bex got her undergraduate degree at UMass, and was deeply involved in WMUA, the student-run radio station. Bex also worked at Main St Records, Dynamite Records, and For the Record. Now she works at MassMutual and is one of the hosts for Jazz a la Mode on 88.5FM. Bex also does a once a month DJ night at Jupiter Club Lounge, and is a member of two concert presenting organizations, Jazz Shares and Secret Planet. Bex has always been deeply involved in the music scene, played in two bands (one of which became The Moves), and is currently a part of local DJ collective Peace and Rhythm. She was involved with Flywheel, an all-ages music venue that has since closed its physical location, and is now volunteering for CitySpace. She also produced her first and only show with Tribe 8. Bex describes herself as queer now, but stated that she identified as a “punk rock dyke” in the 90’s and still believes in the “punk ethos of community.” She got married in 2012 to Kae Collins, and has one dog and two cats.
abstract
In this interview, Bex Zumbruski reflects on her childhood in East Longmeadow, MA, her time in college at UMass, and her experience in the Pioneer Valley queer community. She discusses working in local record stores like Main Street Records, and what it meant to be connected to the communities that create, buy, and sell records. Bex reflects on her first queer relationships, what it means to be a “punk rock dyke,” and provides insight on the use of the word “queer.” Bex also discusses the Pioneer Valley hardcore scene in the 90’s, and how it has evolved as the area changes economically and socially.