Thirty years ago, the face of music was forever changed with the birth of punk rock. Determined to shake up the world of music, punk rockers created their own sound and style--in opposition to the mainstream. The corporate music industry, only interested in what it could mass market, wanted nothing to do with this grass roots phenomenon. So the punks kept doing it themselves. They started their own record labels. They booked themselves into basements, dive bars, and community centers--any place their bands could play. They developed their own lo-fi media to spread the word. What started as a small movement in a few big cities grew until the mega-money labels saw the grafitti on the wall and began paying attention. Many bands "sold out" and jumped ship, giving rise to a pale form of punk co-opted by major labels and clothing chains. But there remained a dedicated core of true punk rockers: They didn't need corporate backing to thrive. All they needed was their message, integrity, and spirit. This show is a celebration of three decades of that spirit, featuring bands from all over the U.S., representing every generation of punk.
The Effigies and Toxic Reasons are among the first Midwest punk bands, dating back to 1979. They toured widely and released great records while most bands were still playing in garages. Destroy Everything emerged from the Chicago punk scene of the mid-80s. Recording and publishing their own records, booking and promoting their own tours, they've left their mark in day-glo stickers all over the country. U.S. Bombs , founded by original punk pro-skater Duane Peters, has become one of the most respected punk bands in America. They've expanded on that So Cal punk rock sound that has influenced every kid with a funny haircut and a non-conformist view. Eyeball Skeleton (Mayo Elementary School's most popular band) is the future of punk rock. These two kids, ages 8 and 10, offer hope for the perseverence of the punk rock attitude. Their self-titled, web-distributed song has been downloaded over 20,000 times--proving once more that you can do something worthwhile even if you're just doing it yourself.
All the bands on this bill represent the diversity of punk rock's past, present, and future, yet they all share a few common ideals:
"Well, I think we're the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world." -Joey Ramone"We are better than anyone, ain't we? Except for the Eagles, the Eagles are better than us." -Sid Vicious
"You suck! Get off the stage!" -Random audience member at any given punk rock show
This show is a celebration of not only where we've been, but also where we're going. Hopefully, you'll come along for the ride.