Punk ratchets up in Downey

HELL hath no fury like a punk bar in Downey.

The Anarchy Library is so punk rock, even the beer has mohawks.

It’s so punk rock, after a fight breaks out in the mosh pit, everyone shakes hands. From the walls of painted flames lapping at the stage to its blackened interior, you’d think you were in a Sid Vicious dream -- one that included blue-haired punks left over from ’77 and fresh-faced Latinas sporting Betty Page ‘dos and fishnets.

The nightclub, located on a quiet stretch of Woodruff Avenue, lives and breathes punk, but with a cheeky wink and nod. From the bold anarchy symbol above the doorway to a photo of Barney Fife greeting you at the entryway, the Anarchy Library offers the visual and aural trappings of all that’s good about the P-word.

Owner Kevin Mendoza, a drummer who clearly marches to his own beat, teamed up with Kenny Gonzales and bought the neighborhood bar two years ago. They loaded the place with iconic images of artists ranging from the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag and the Cramps to Salvador Dali, Marilyn Monroe and Bluto (John Belushi in “Animal House”).

“All the great places were closing,” Mendoza says. “Al’s Bar was gone, Linda’s Doll Hut was gone, the Foothill was over. There was this big void, and we wanted to create a place to fill it. It took a bit of time, but it worked. You’ll find a mohawk next to a pompadour and everyone gets along.”

Despite its scholarly name, there’s not a book in sight, but it does have an encyclopedic jukebox containing punk classics by TSOL, the Germs, Social Distortion and Generation X.

“I feel like I’m in my bedroom,” says Preston Peck, an Anarchy Library regular sporting a White Trash Debutantes T-shirt. “It’s like, the posters are up, the music’s playing, everyone’s drinking beer and Mom’s gone for the weekend.”

To be sure, the Anarchy Library feels like a well-worn Doc Martens, one with a little bounce left in the sole. From the shabby pool table that anchors the bar to the duct tape that keeps the popcorn machine together, it’s a workin’ man’s dive. And you can forget about ordering an apple martini. At the Anarchy Library, the house specialty is “the Blaster.” It’s a half-can of Red Bull dumped in a plastic cup with a shot glass of Jagermeister floating in the middle. Woo, feel the burn.

THE club, which in true punk spirit books any band that asks for a show, schedules touring acts along with a slew of locals. “We book a lot of first-generation punk bands,” says Landon Gale-George, the club’s booker, who is also the tour manager for the Dead Kennedys and the Angry Samoans. “But the truth is, if you take the time to contact me, you’ll get a gig.”

There are rock en espanol nights, plenty of rockabilly and, on Saturdays, an all-day beer bust with as many as 10 bands.

“This place rocks,” says Sandra D. Rodriguez, a Bell Gardens resident who hangs at the club weekly. “It’s a punk-rock bar where you can be yourself and feel the energy of everyone around you. I’ve learned so much from people here, especially from the punk vets who were at the shows I only dream about.”

“I love the crowd -- it’s totally my element, working-class blue collar, everyone is so cool because there’s no elitism,” says Ali Ohta, who owns Big Al’s Tasty Franks, a hot-rod wienermobile that camps out in front of the club on many nights.

Serving up generous portions of kosher and veggie dogs, Big Al’s feeds a late-night crowd, who happily cough up a couple bucks for a foot-long frank before hightailing home. (Hey, there’s no Pink’s in sight.)

“Even though I live in Venice, I’ll make the trek to Downey because the Anarchy Library books the best up-and-coming punk bands, bands I wouldn’t have heard of if I hadn’t gone there,” Ohta says.

“The best part -- it’s in the middle of nowhere,” Preston Peck says. “It’s like my own country.”

*

Anarchy Library

Where: 13250 Woodruff Ave., Downey

When: Open nightly; 21 and older

Price: Covers, $5-$10

Info: (562) 803-9134

Heidi Siegmund Cuda

can be reached at [email protected].