Meet Dee Strychnine | The Coop Ringmaster & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dee Strychnine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The Coop started when I just turned sixteen. I was in a riot grrrl band, and we struggled to get gigs. Most venues favored our male counterparts, and some just didn’t want to deal with new bands full of teenagers. There was a lot of toxic masculinity in the scene that made me and our friends feel unsafe. I wanted my own safe space, a place where our friends could come, hang out and know they were supported. I also wanted a place that wasn’t as exclusive as local venues, somewhere bands didn’t have to worry about their follower counts or streams in order to get a spot. We threw our first show in 2019, the feedback was great, and I thought “wait, I could really do something with this.” And the rest is history!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The Coop itself is really unique, in my opinion! The space is in the middle of the desert on an acre of dirt, rocks, and cacti; it’s pretty often that we stop mid-song to listen to coyotes howling, we very frequently get packs of wild dogs coming to visit too. The atmosphere is so special, and I think it’s really hard to find a space like that these days. But who knows! I could just be insanely out of the loop.

I would never say that the growth has been easy, in fact, it’s been pretty difficult, but I think it’s already paying off. There’s a lot of vetting and research that goes into booking, it can be a little harsh on our wallets because everything is self funded and we don’t profit at all, it’s also a bit scary when I realize it’s only me, my mom and sometimes my dad at the helm keeping everything under control. I’ve learned how to be proactive and a leader, that it’s okay to say “no” to people, and not every night is going to go the way I want and that’s okay!

The Coop is my baby, and it’s been really awesome to see it grow. It started with tiny shows with just me and my friends, sometimes bonfires with guitars and hotdogs, and it’s turned into a space where people can come and hang out and listen to some amazing bands. I would’ve never guessed in a million years that we’d host touring bands! Just a few weeks ago, we had a show with a turn out of 150+, and we also hosted Well Hell and Incari, which are doom metal touring bands that I’ve adored for a while. Despite the challenges, it’s really important to see the growth and know that it’s only up from there.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Good food and better drinks are my lifeblood, so my go-to restaurant is almost always Mi Nidito. Their flat enchiladas have kept me going for 22 years, and their margs for a bit over one year. Woolly Fern is the “you have to check it out!” spot, because I LOVE oddities and vintage trinkets, and it’s such a unique place in Tucson! My bars will always be the Jack Rabbit and Kon Tiki, but lately I’ve added Brodie’s to my list of go-to bars.

Madera Canyon and Tanque Verde Falls are my favorite hiking spots, Gates Pass area is a close runner up but I’m biased because I grew up not to far from there! I always recommend those three places for good views.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank Kathleen Hanna, because without Bikini Kill, I probably wouldn’t have started a band or the space. And also my mom, for taking care of the booking when I don’t feel like it. Shout out Llevame De Gira! Big thanks to my partner who is like my emotional support labrador, who runs me coffee and keeps me calm on show days. Lastly, shout out to the Coop’s official mongrel, Pebbles, who keeps the space free of vermin and eats all of our cheese slices.

Website: https://thecoopaz.ju.mp/

Instagram: thecooptucson

Other: We don’t totally exist on the internet that much. Instagram is where we advertise our shows, the rest is word of mouth or by leaving fliers around town.