happy West Coast Punks.kinda feel bad for them. Saw Sex Pistols-era British punks the Vibrators in Portland, OR, and the crowd was barely more lively/violent than the audience at an Iron and Wine show. Didn't even see any blood, let alone vital organs on the floor.
I was thinking that it has to do with proximity. New York is a lot closer to London than the west coast is. Kinda think that anything authentically "punk" got lost somewhere in the middle of the country, and "west coast punks" are sort of just a simulacrum of "punk" and don't really have much more to go on than what someone from London or New York told them re: being angry about having been born. Kind of think (white) west coasters just believe that "it's all good" and "chill, man." I'm skeptical of anyone west of the Hudson River who thinks they're "authentically punk." Kind of think the West Coast is the most American place in America since it's literally the end of the country, and all of the good ideas ended up out here (like better weather, the "major motion picture industry," "progressive politics," meth, plastic surgery, and "enjoying life."). This is the land of plenty and oranges and Jerry Garcia. Don't really think anyone has anything to complain/mosh about.
(Beach Boys + the Eagles + "flowers in yr hair" + "Green Day" vs. Lou Reed + Debbie Harry + heroin)
Everyone in the crowd tonight was really good-looking and well accessorized. What's the deal with those girls who wear "cat-eye glasses" and bandanas in their hair and look all "ironically 1950's"? Are they being progressive females by reminding us of the oppression of women of yesteryear and "I Love Lucy"? Or were they just "not popular" in high school and now find meaning in their lives by accessorizing?
Just don't really think real punks use hair products they buy at Walgreens. Kinda think that real punks have acne and knives, and a warrant out for their arrest back in NYC. And a record deal with Malcolm McLaren.
2 comments:
there are Walgreens on the west coast??1!!1?
maybe there's no reason for angst and and no sense of oppression by "the man" when it's always sunny and famous people who represent "us" are out in droves. or maybe lou reed and joe strummer planned this all along; all while wearing leather in the rain.
i'm interested in your observations about the women at the show (obiviously). jezebel recently posted about the current 'pin-up' fashion/lifestyle trend. it's one thing to like cat-eye glasses but it's quite another to want to emulate the pin-up woman. it seems a bit regressive, no? 5 bucks sez there were no womens in the band. they were prolly too busy picking out accessories to become not/sort of authentic punks.
Post a Comment