To summarize a particular genre of music, I will employ the phrase "unconventional community." Any guesses as to what that genre could be? The world of rock is filled with seemingly endless genres and subgenres. From indie to alternative to hard rock and post rock, fans of all shapes and sizes populate audiences sheltered beneath the umbrella of rock. But what about punk rock? If we revisit the summary above, we may catch a glimpse of what being a member of the punk rock community really means.
1. Individuality
Do you like pink hair? Sticking your pants inside your socks? Rebelling against the government? If so, punk rock is for you! Above all else, punk embraces the unique traits of every "square peg in a round hole" individual. Where you typically stick out awkwardly in society is where you would thrive in punk rock circles. Being a punk rocker means loving your quirks.
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2. Community
As mentioned in the point above, punk rock relationships run deep. If you love punk, then declare it to the world. Bond over it with your punk rock brothers. Scream lyrics with your arm around the person next to you as the rain pours down on a warehouse. Once you have come to terms with your own special and colorful qualities, learn to love what makes other people different. Then allow your uniqueness to bring you together in a way that no other rock community could.
3. Engage
This next part of becoming a punk rocker may prove challenging to the more introverted crowd, but it is a necessary step nonetheless. For a punk rock band, the audience and the band members are one. Whether this means the bass player plays a solo amidst the crowd or a fan sings the lyrics into a microphone, musician and fan base are meshed together in a soup of intimacy and deeply rooted emotions. Punk rocking means creating, even if your addition to the stew is one whispered G note.
4. Perspective
Being a member of the punk rock community should open your eyes to the reality in front of you. Life is filled with emotion and that emotion is fused into the heart of punk rock. In punk song lyrics, understanding the beauty and the pain of this world becomes easier and can even prove comforting, especially if you are in Christ. Punk should change your perspective on society.
5. Rebel (if necessary)
Because punk rock highlights much that is wrong with the world, it can cause anger to well up inside you. But instead of destroying or throwing objects across the room, allow the feeling inside you to fuel change. For example, if you are listening to a song about divorce, that may prompt you to become a marriage counselor or a social worker to help mend broken families. Or maybe you are mad about how women are mistreated around the world and that leads you to treat women kindly in whatever ways you can. Whatever lights the fire within you, if you are a punk rocker, allow the music to start a rebellion against the mainstream evils of this present age.
A lot can be said for the sometimes overlooked genre of punk rock. Amongst other things, a deep communal bond, elevation of the individual, a new pair of eyes and even rebellion can be attributed to the punk name. Zack Bowman, lead singer of Primer and Grayscale and inspirer of much of this article, describes punk rock as "the island of misfit toys in the music world... home to some of the most marginalized people in society." If you want to be a punk rocker, embrace yourself in the fullest sense of the word. Initiate conversations with people into the punk scene. Create a DIY spray paint and stencil shirt, then hit up a local house show. Run onto the stage if that is your jam! But most importantly, do not allow society or conventional bands to scare you away from experiencing some of the deepest and most beautiful music of your life.
