Story and photos by Jonah Hinebaugh
Most days, The Slayground is full of badass roller derby players.
On Saturday, though, the warehouse on 35th Street transformed into a music venue and market.
The Slayground, which is home to the Deadly Rival Roller Derby team, hosted the “DRRDY Flea Market” featuring more than 20 vendors. It reached out to Swamp Sister – a local music booking and promotion company – to organize the bands.
“We usually like to do shows in kind of unconventional spaces, especially for something as rowdy as Jeremy and The Clones and Charles Irwin,” said Kai Holyoke, co-founder of Swamp Sister. “They already had the flea (market) happening, and we were also looking for a place to have this show, so it just kind of coincided nicely.”
Approximately 100 people filled the banks of the roller derby rink or perused the vendors set up on the outskirts of the building.
During the Jeremy and The Clones set, drummer Jeremy Treviño – who requested six lights be pointed at him – received an impromptu beard-shave from the band’s guitarist as attendees formed a mosh pit mere feet away.
Watching the antics from the outside of the rink was Michael Albrecht, an English instructor at USF, who was selling vinyl he’s been collecting for 30 years.
“I’ve been collecting vinyls since I was a teen,” Albrecht said. “My room got too disorganized so I started selling them.”
His simple two-table set up featured more than eight boxes full of records, organized by decade, that ranged from Simon and Garfunkel to Led Zeppelin.
“Our goal is building up the community where you kind of see people that you wouldn’t have met before,” Holyoke said. “Half of the fun of what we do is because it brings everybody together into this kind of comfy, safe space where you can have a bunch of different thoughts running around and people meeting each other. It’s a good environment.”
As vendors packed their bags, the last band took to the stage – or infield, in this situation – and the lights flicked off.
A few sparse red and blue lights illuminating them, Charles Irwin ended the night on a high note as everyone piled into the infield. Band members urged them to get as close as possible before starting their set.
Mosh pits ensued and dancing shadows covered the mural-filled walls.
Jeremy and The Clones drummer Jeremy Treviño performs at The Slayground on Saturday. 
Matthew Hartshorn sings during the Charles Irwin set at The Slayground 
Attendees stand in the infield of The Slayground’s roller derby rink to watch Jeremy and The Clone’s set. At one point, drummer Jeremy Treviño lost his drum stick and continued with his hand without skipping a beat. 
A member of the band 13% performs at The Slayground. 
Matthew Hartshorn of Charles Irwin performs at The Slayground with his other band members. Charles Irwin was one of four bands that performed Saturday. 
The red and blue lights propped up on the ground illuminate members of Charles Irwin during its set. Only a few feet away were a crowd of fans moshing in the dimly lit roller derby rink.
