What’s Punk?
Well known by “indie-parents” barely known by their children.
This past weekend, I drove up to Chicago to see two punk bands. The bands were Right of the Accused and, more notably, Naked Ray Gun. The two bands have been around for more than 20 years. The crowd was filled with 40-year-olds, which made me feel awkward. It was the first time in my life I realized that, yes, even our parents had their niches back when they were young…and in this case, it was punk music.
After what seemed like hours of traffic, I finally made it to the city. I got some amazing AUTHENTIC mexican food from Arturo’s on Western Ave. (seriously, they have the best burritos ever!) and then made a beeline to the venue. The two bands played at the Metro, a very nice venue near Wrigley field. Indie bands mostly play at the Metro (e.g. Fleet Foxes, The Raveonettes, Crystal Castles, and MGMT). This night was different however; the two bands that played were part of Riot Fest, an annual punk/grunge festival held in various venues across the city. Naked ray Gun, I would like to note, was one of the first post-punk bands of the early 80s, and has garnered a dedicated, and aging fan base.
I went with an old friend from when I used to live in Chicago. It was great seeing her, and it made me feel a bit nostaglic. I loved living in the city when I was little. There was (and still is!) so much to see and do. Growing up in a big city like Chicago makes you strong and thick skinned, and I thank my parents everyday for raising me, for at least part of my life, in the heart of the city.
Oh, and beware when moshing at a punk show! Someone ran into me and gave a split lip.
More info on Naked Ray Gun can be found here:
And Arturo’s very simple website:
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