Air crackles with a mix of adrenaline, anticipation, (Christmas spirit!) and rebelliousness when kids and adults alike gather for an evening of impenitent music, mosh pits, and the usual punk rock music mayhem. Have nothing to do during your two weeks over winter break? You can go to a Punk concert! This is a special 101 on how to survive a punk rock concert. -- Kaliyah Smith, 8th grade
Air crackles with a mix of adrenaline, anticipation, (Christmas spirit!) and rebelliousness when kids and adults alike gather for an evening of impenitent music, mosh pits, and the usual punk rock music mayhem. Have nothing to do during your two weeks over winter break? You can go to a punk concert! This is a special 101 on how to survive a punk rock concert.
What is Punk Rock?
Punk rock (or just punk) is a music genre full of short, fast-paced melodies and hard-edged singing styles. The genre originated in the mid-1970s when kids rejected by mainstream music and social scenes formed underground bands and played small venues, sculpting what we know today as punk.
Essentials:
When attending a small concert with a maximum of 50 people in a dirty record store with loud people pushing you around and jumping off the walls, there are some essentials you'll need with you.
Headphones like these provide protection for your ears in case the music is too loud for you. Just putting some armor on can enhance your experience even more. Ruby Deetz, an 8th grader in the Literary Arts program at OSA says noise-canceling headphones go in and out of style, but are overall the best alternative when going to loud, sweaty concerts. “Noise-canceling headphones can also prevent hearing loss due to being around loud noises such as concerts.”
With all the body heat and people jumping around in mosh pits, rubbing against each other and pushing into others, you should be aware of what you’re wearing or you could overheat. Declan McMahon, a senior in the literary arts department says “Really whatever you want! It's all about self-expression, and I've seen some crazy costumes in the pit. I would advise against anything overly cumbersome, hot, or prone to slipping off”
Having a friend or adult with you can be extremely important when attending a concert, small or big. People are dangerous and you can fall over, or be made uncomfortable, or put in weird situations. Lots of things happen at concerts that could put you at risk, but more than likely, the environment is safe and people around you will help you out. Camila Gaytan a 7th grader in the Fashion department at OSA agrees with this. “You should always bring an adult with you because anything could happen and its also good to have supervision when going to concerts.”
Mosh pits
Mosh pits happen when others form a circle and dance to alternative music in a violent manner involving jumping up and down and deliberately colliding with other dancers. If it is your first time at a concert like this, it's not recommended you jump in. When a mosh pit forms, keep your hands at your chest to avoid being pushed over and push anyone who comes too close to you away to avoid injuries. Mosh pits can be dangerous but are one of the most exhilarating parts of a concert.
Crowd surfing
Crowd surfing is when you're on top of the crowd and being carried around. Something like this typically takes place at bigger concerts with more famous, well-known bands like Minor Threat, Sex Pistols, or Bikini Kill. Something super small with 50 people won't be able to get you on top, but you can still enjoy the concert all the same.
How to find shows playing near you!
Looking on the internet is probably most people's first choice but there are other things you can do like look at posters stuck to power lines or shop windows to find small bands trying to make a living, if you don’t have the time for that, search up “underground bands playing near me” choose a website you think is suitable and scroll away. A big thing with this is also prices. Tickets to small venues like this can range from 5-20 dollars but a bigger concert for a more famous band could cost up to hundreds!
Upcoming Shows in the Bay Area
Rebel Punk: Dec 8th, at the Hotel Utah Saloon (500 4th st. San Francisco)
Social Distortion: Dec 10th, The Fillmore (1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco)
Black Flag: Jan 5th, - DNA Lounge (375 11th St, San Francisco)
Like punk but don’t know any bands? Here are some to start!
Sex Pistols
“The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London, in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became one of the most culturally influential acts in popular music.”
Minor Threat
“Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C.The band was relatively short-lived, disbanding after only three years together, but had a strong influence in the emerging American hardcore punk scene, both stylistically and in helping to further establish the "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and concert promotion.”
Misfits
“Founded in 1977, The Misfits is an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery.”
Dead Kennedys
“Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk bands during its initial eight-year run.”
Descendants
“Descendents is an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo, and drummer Bill Stevenson as a power-pop/surf punk band, In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a singer, and reappeared as a melodic hardcore punk band, becoming a major player in the hardcore scene developing in Los Angeles at the time.”
Now, with the information you’ve gathered, I hope you’ll find in your time to attend a punk show, having fun and partying, Punk on!
What is Punk Rock?
Punk rock (or just punk) is a music genre full of short, fast-paced melodies and hard-edged singing styles. The genre originated in the mid-1970s when kids rejected by mainstream music and social scenes formed underground bands and played small venues, sculpting what we know today as punk.
Essentials:
When attending a small concert with a maximum of 50 people in a dirty record store with loud people pushing you around and jumping off the walls, there are some essentials you'll need with you.
- Noise-canceling headphones.
Headphones like these provide protection for your ears in case the music is too loud for you. Just putting some armor on can enhance your experience even more. Ruby Deetz, an 8th grader in the Literary Arts program at OSA says noise-canceling headphones go in and out of style, but are overall the best alternative when going to loud, sweaty concerts. “Noise-canceling headphones can also prevent hearing loss due to being around loud noises such as concerts.”
- Wear something light.
With all the body heat and people jumping around in mosh pits, rubbing against each other and pushing into others, you should be aware of what you’re wearing or you could overheat. Declan McMahon, a senior in the literary arts department says “Really whatever you want! It's all about self-expression, and I've seen some crazy costumes in the pit. I would advise against anything overly cumbersome, hot, or prone to slipping off”
- Don’t go alone
Having a friend or adult with you can be extremely important when attending a concert, small or big. People are dangerous and you can fall over, or be made uncomfortable, or put in weird situations. Lots of things happen at concerts that could put you at risk, but more than likely, the environment is safe and people around you will help you out. Camila Gaytan a 7th grader in the Fashion department at OSA agrees with this. “You should always bring an adult with you because anything could happen and its also good to have supervision when going to concerts.”
- Something to protect yourself.
Mosh pits
Mosh pits happen when others form a circle and dance to alternative music in a violent manner involving jumping up and down and deliberately colliding with other dancers. If it is your first time at a concert like this, it's not recommended you jump in. When a mosh pit forms, keep your hands at your chest to avoid being pushed over and push anyone who comes too close to you away to avoid injuries. Mosh pits can be dangerous but are one of the most exhilarating parts of a concert.
Crowd surfing
Crowd surfing is when you're on top of the crowd and being carried around. Something like this typically takes place at bigger concerts with more famous, well-known bands like Minor Threat, Sex Pistols, or Bikini Kill. Something super small with 50 people won't be able to get you on top, but you can still enjoy the concert all the same.
How to find shows playing near you!
Looking on the internet is probably most people's first choice but there are other things you can do like look at posters stuck to power lines or shop windows to find small bands trying to make a living, if you don’t have the time for that, search up “underground bands playing near me” choose a website you think is suitable and scroll away. A big thing with this is also prices. Tickets to small venues like this can range from 5-20 dollars but a bigger concert for a more famous band could cost up to hundreds!
Upcoming Shows in the Bay Area
Rebel Punk: Dec 8th, at the Hotel Utah Saloon (500 4th st. San Francisco)
Social Distortion: Dec 10th, The Fillmore (1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco)
Black Flag: Jan 5th, - DNA Lounge (375 11th St, San Francisco)
Like punk but don’t know any bands? Here are some to start!
Sex Pistols
“The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London, in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became one of the most culturally influential acts in popular music.”
Minor Threat
“Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C.The band was relatively short-lived, disbanding after only three years together, but had a strong influence in the emerging American hardcore punk scene, both stylistically and in helping to further establish the "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and concert promotion.”
Misfits
“Founded in 1977, The Misfits is an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery.”
Dead Kennedys
“Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk bands during its initial eight-year run.”
Descendants
“Descendents is an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo, and drummer Bill Stevenson as a power-pop/surf punk band, In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a singer, and reappeared as a melodic hardcore punk band, becoming a major player in the hardcore scene developing in Los Angeles at the time.”
Now, with the information you’ve gathered, I hope you’ll find in your time to attend a punk show, having fun and partying, Punk on!
