Counterculture historian Pat Thomas returns to the Make Out Room

Historian Pat Thomas returns to Oakland on August 4 to discuss his anthology, "Evergreen Review: Dispatches from the Literary Underground," which highlights pivotal figures in the fight for free expression. He joins Heyday Books publisher Steve Wasserman for a conversation about literature and culture. On August 5, Thomas will perform with his band Mushroom at the Make Out Room, a venue where they debuted in 1997. The anthology features covers and essays from the Evergreen Review, showcasing writers like William Burroughs and Henry Miller, who shaped the literary landscape. Thomas's work emphasizes the connections between music and radical culture, illustrating how these art forms intersected in the 1960s.

He has also explored the historical significance of music in activism, as seen in his previous publication, "Listen, Whitey! : The Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975. " The anthology serves as a visual feast, featuring full-color reproductions of all 100 issues published between 1957 and 1973. Thomas's dedication to both music and literature underscores the ongoing relevance of countercultural movements.