Within the past year, Phoenix has witnessed a punk music revival, with teenagers attending local shows and being a part of a returning scene of misfits.
“A lot of younger people have been introduced to alternative music and cultures they previously might not have known about. It’s no surprise that a little scene started to form in Phoenix,” said Hayden Syllaba, lead guitar player of local punk band “Skitzoid.”
Punk music originated in the mid 1970s where it was met with disapproval and shaming from a conservative population.
The origins of punk are highly debated because everyone has a different definition of “punk rock.” On top of such, Punk is considered to have many foundation stones in various countries, so identifying the sole birth of the musical genre is deemed near impossible.
In New York, bands such as the Ramones, Talking Heads, and Blondie became popular because of their shared geographical location and refreshingly original style of music.
However, across the pond, London gave birth to its own legends. Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Slits were all products of a dismal United Kingdom economy and changing times.
According to Brittanica.com, a British based online encyclopedia, unemployment rates were at an all time high, so the youth of London were out of work and rebellious, birthing a new culture.
“Bands like the Clash, the Damned, and Bauhaus all came from a different period and had a different sound and attitude. As far as why I liked them, most had something to say about the current environment,” said Kip Dent, a punk fan.
Moving forward to the mid 1980s, the punk scene flourished with thousands of people adopting its hardcore and crude culture. Since then, Punk music has evolved into countless sub-genres.
Today, cities such as Scottsdale, Cave creek, and Phoenix are seeing a similar revival. Students are starting their own bands, embracing the core breakneck music from decades before. Bands such as “Skitzoid”, “Fight the Vomit,” and “Wrong Way Out” are perfect examples of student-created bands that draw inspiration from not only each other, but punk bands that came before them.
“Our band draws heavy inspiration from west coast hardcore, power violence, and beatdown. We have a range of influences,” Continued Syllaba
Lately students have been using houses, garages, and backyards to house local shows, with various bands playing. The punk community has come together to create an open invite community to attend these shows in order to not only gain exposure but share a good time.
“Punk music is very loud and aggressive but the shows are very inclusive and welcoming, a lot of the time they are free and allow any age, it’s super easy to be social,” said Flynn Shelmire, A senior.
As time progresses, the scene in Phoenix is destined to grow and evolve as students continue to discover the timeless genre of punk music.