Puzz by Brad Searles

In each issue of Good Citizen, I talk to the folks behind a different area 'zine. This issue's Puzz focuses on the man responsible for Durchsehen. 'Zine creator Todd Kennedy stopped by my apartment and here's what we talked about:

Brad: Okay, let's do the background thing. You know the drill. When did you start Durchsehen?

Todd: My first issue came out in November of '93.

Brad: Why do a zine?

Todd: Money! Lots of money! Nah, I guess it was boredom… nothing better to do, really

Brad: Other people have said that they started their 'zine as a reaction to other 'zines that they didn't like.

Todd:  I hadn’t really seen many other ‘zines, so I didn't start it because of them. But after I put out my first issue, I started reading more of them. That's when I realized that they all suck except mine.  

Brad: So why Durchsehen? Why a name that no one's going to be able to pronounce or understand? (By the way, it’s pronounced ‘Dirs-shane’, sort of). 

Todd: Mystery, I guess. Mystery. Do you want to know the real story? No one knows this story except for one other person. During a play we did at my school during my sophomore year, a friend of mine was wearing a dress that she swore you couldn't see through, but you could. And Durchsehen means 'seeing through' in German. It's not that grandiose or anything, just an inside joke.

Brad: So how many issues have you published?

Todd: My tenth issue came out in December, which was the two-year anniversary. Number eleven is coming out soon…

Brad: What was your favorite issue and why?

Todd: I’d have to say issue seven, ‘cuz it had a gun on the cover and said  “More Fun Than Killing For Crack!” on it.

Brad: Yeah, I like that one too.

Todd: I actually spent a lot of time on that issue, and it got a great review in Factsheet Five (the self-proclaimed bible of ‘zine culture… a ‘zine that reviews other ‘zines). It was also the first time I used the most recent format, which is my favorite of the three sizes I've tried. I also think my writing was better in issue seven. I reviewed Vegan Burgers and Night of the Living Dead, the original. That issue also had more ads than I've ever had.

Brad: What’s the best 

Todd: Definitely Casey (Rocketsled) Rea’s article "The Schtick of it All" because everyone got so offended by it. I thought it was funny, but no one got the joke . That article and another one he wrote called The Principles of Junt were pretty great. They're both in issue nine.

Brad: Let’s talk about Burlington for a little bit. I know you're pretty into the local music thing. What's good and what's bad about the way things are right now?

Todd: The good thing is the music, the bad thing is all the crap that goes along with it. Everyone who cares about seeing politics and all the egos and bullshit.

Brad: Do you think the scene's that's good as people seem to think it is?

Todd: Yeah, I really do. It's fun loving, closely knit. Aside from those who care more about the politics of it, like I said.Y’know, the people who think that everything is about cliques and close their minds to other kinds of music in town.Like, “He doesn’t listen to the same kind of music as I do, so I can't hang out with him!” Or,“He made fun of something I like , so I can never talk to him again !" Or even, “ He plays a different kind of music than me so I can't ever play with him.” I mean, who the hell cares?

Brad: I’m going to put you on the spot and ask you who your favorite local band is… and be honest about it.

Todd: I guess I'd have to say Never Only Once. They're not only one of the most musically talented bands around, but they're damn fun to watch.

Brad: Yeah, they're pretty great.

Todd: I would say Jesus Nut, but they don't even have a tape out, the lazy bastards. And you can print that!

Brad: I will! Say, you're graduating from high school soon, aren't you? What are you going to do with yourself, are you hanging around here?

Todd: hell no, I'd like to go to Massachusetts and be all emo-Mass style. I applied to Amherst. I would go to New York, but it's just too hardcore for me!

Brad: Rumor has it that the next issue is going to be the last  Durchsehen.

Todd: Well, rumors often hold some truth! It could be the last one ever. It'll definitely be the last one with me working on it, and it could be the last unless the rest of the crew wants to keep it going.

Brad: Who are the rest of the crew right now?

Todd: Mike Gatti of Jesus Nut, Casey, Mark Byland, leader of the Funky Bunch, and Josh Levy, bassist extraordinaire. I’ve heard that Mark might want to take it over, but I’m not sure…I guess we’ll find out!

Brad: Will it be strange to let go of it?

Todd: Not at all… everyone hates it! No, I don't really care. I may have started it, but it's time to move on. I'm going to do something completely different.

Brad: Another zine?

Todd: Yeah. The way that Durchsehen is right now is not really the way that I intended it to be, so I figured that I’d just stop it and start something new. It's going to be more personal, not as up off beat I guess. I want to do something(with much sarcasm) emo! You know, it's been three years and it was getting stale for me. I've already started working on the new zine.

Brad: When should we expect it?

Todd: Hopefully it'll be out in March or April. It's called Outpatient, in tribute to Jawbreakers' last good album.

Brad: And you can actually pronounce it!

Look for Durchsehen #11 wherever local zines are sold and keep an eye out for Outpatient. To get back issues, write to Todd at PO Box 332, Burlington, Vermont 05402, or email him at Dork66@aol.com.

Brad Searles plays drums in the band Starlight Conspiracy and runs Club Fub Records too. He's unemployed at the moment, so if you need any help, he's your man. And by the way, he didn't get paid to write this, so keep those unemployment checks coming!