What the DIY scene taught me about sobriety
Day 15 - 31 daily tips for staying sober in Dry January
DO IT YOURSELF
The Cavern in Exeter gave me my first lessons in punk rock and DIY. Within weeks of arriving wide-eyed to University, I’d become a regular at the basement club and saw shows that’ll be forever etched into my heart - the crushing, starsailing 90 Day Men, the scrappy urgency of The Lapse, the bleak, discordant piano-led hardcore of The Paper Chase and an immense double bill of The Locust and The Murder Of Rosa Luxembourg.
Most telling was how everything that mattered musically in the city happened inside those four walls — an endlessly busy calendar of events, a bustling cafe in the day, a DIY label, packed local shows and a palpable excitement about a bunch of bands breaking nationally out of the city.
(finally getting to play Exeter Cavern as a performer, May 2010)
The Cavern’s contributions to music in the city showed anything was possible, and provided me with some early inspiration for the work I’ve gone on to do over the next 20 years in music.
I learned that making things happen was all down to me, and wanting to make a change and acting on it with my whole heart could get me there: in my career in music, and later in sobriety.
I felt powerless in my struggle with alcohol for a long time until I understood that everything was under my control should I want it enough. Only I could make those positive first steps. The first drink was always my choice, and I had the ability to make that change.
Role models like Pippa and Dave at The Cavern showed what you could do if you gave it everything. Thank you so much for what you gave to me in those four pivotal years when Exeter was my home.
Let’s celebrate our role models - who has inspired you?