A Night at the Screamo Bookstore
An Austin literary shop has branched out into loud concerts, cementing a place in the city’s DIY music scene.
On a typical night, Alienated Majesty Books near the University of Texas at Austin campus might host a conversation with a novelist or a poetry open mic. However, on this particular Saturday, the shelves and tables have been rearranged to make way for a concert.
The store, which specializes in books from small and indie publishers, works in translation, comics, and poetry, has gained a reputation for hosting bands from obscure musical subgenres such as shoegaze, noise, and hardcore punk.
As the three-man band takes the stage, the crowd turns its attention forward, and the singers fill the room with screams of "Check," into the microphones, transforming the previously quiet bookshop into a vibrant concert venue.
Author's summary: A bookstore in Austin hosts loud concerts.