Imagine me, in business casual (barely), sitting in a dirty Brooklyn dive bar to see one of the DIY punk bands I’ve been following for all of three months. I can barely stay still from the excitement. Yet, I notice, like I always have, that I stick out like a sore thumb. I’m not referring to the business casual attire; we all do what we can to survive in the city.
Regardless, I’ve started to challenge myself and ask, “Do I really stick out at these shows?” Partly because I always end up leaving with a new friend when I attend a show alone.
And mostly because whenever I go to a show, the band’s lead singer stops their set to discuss a political issue that belongs to the ideologies of the left. As a black woman, this makes me feel safe. As an avid music fan and someone who is hyper-fixated on the history of anything and everything, I’m intrigued.
Uncovering Punk’s Anti-Establishment Roots
For the next few days after the concert, I did a deep dive into punk music and its anti-establishment roots. In the mid-70s, the punk subculture emerged in the United Kingdom and New York.
The punk movement began among teens and young adults looking for a more combative approach to rebelling against societal norms compared to the tamer peace and love movements of the 60s and early 70s. Punk music is and has always been grounded in counterculture — from fighting for working-class inequality to fashion to non-conformity in the realm of self-expression.
I discovered that you can’t separate punk music from politics, even in the slightest.
@mycelium_queen Replying to @mycelium_queen ♬ original sound - Mycelium Queen 🦋
Death Versus Bad Brain
As soon as I was old enough to go to shows alone, I submerged myself in the DIY scene. I had no idea what I was doing, I scoured the internet to find “small concerts,” as I called them, in Boston, where I went to high school.
I identified with punk for myself. But when I made the connection between punk and politics, I opened myself up to a whole new world of music.
Lyrics like: “Politicians in my eyes / They could care less about you / they could care less about me as long as they are to end the place they want to be,” from the band Death — considered to be the pioneers of punk music as a genre — spoke to me.
I was even more pleased that the actual founders of the genre — originally a jazz fusion turned hardcore punk band called Bad Brain — were Black Musicians.
I once declared that I’m only an amalgamation of those who came before me, so hearing this quite literally brought tears to my eyes (I’m so far from joking, it’s almost funny again). At my favorite DIY punk, emo, and rock concerts I belong just as much as anyone else.
I’ve always loved that punk music and its subculture take a stand for its listeners.
Feminist Punk: The Riot Grrrl Movement
Shortly after fully immersing myself in the scene, I was introduced to Bikini Kill and the Riot Grrrl movement. Emerging in the early 90’s, the Riot Grrl movement came about out of necessity for a space for women in the punk scene. Riot Grrrl directly combats sexism and works to normalize female anger and sexuality.
In 2023, I began filming a documentary about Boone, North Carolina — a small town rich in music, culture, and activism, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. My production team and I soon noticed that the conversations solely about the music scene quickly became political, especially for Babe Haven, a Riot Grrrl band hailing from Boone.
I now have the pleasure of calling the band members my friends. They’re an integral part of the history of punk and the Riot Grrrl movement, from their songs about objectification of women, like “Uppercut” and “Daddy’s Little Girl” to firsthand accounts of the band from those who believe that punk music has always been all about men — particularly white men.
“Riot grrrl is the way we dress, the way we talk, and the way we stand up for ourselves and other feminine folk. It’s aggressively inclusive, and that’s why we’re so drawn to it. We have on one hand, this outlet for our collective anger and grief, and on the other, we have this platform for queer and feminine celebration.” – Babe Haven
Jonathan Courchesne
Through the Looking Glass
Now, my eyes are peeled for signs and signals of the punk scene and its connection to politics. From the moment of silence for Gaza at a November concert to the New Jersey-based punk band Funeral Doors’ moment of silence for Gaza, and Brooklyn-based band Talon in February.
I remember standing in the crowds at that concert in February as the business casual people entered the bar, expecting a relaxing after-work drink with some light chatter in the background. I watched their faces as they slowly backed out of the door. While they heard howling, the fans listented to Juni, the lead singer of Funeral Doors, screaming, “F*ck trans genocide!”
Everyone was immersed in the safe space the band had provided us. Somewhere in the crowd, there was someone — or 3 or 4 individuals — struggling to truly be who they are. And — if only for a brief moment — they felt like they belonged.
Lead singer of Funeral DoorsERYNN WAKEFIELD
Inevitable Misunderstanding
Although there are essential conversations happening within the punk and DIY communities about what it means to be a part of the subculture, we still have work to do. Recently, I had an extremely jarring experience as I was peacefully scrolling through TikTok.
I came across a string of videos about right-wing punks trying to claim the subculture for themselves. Soon after my feed was flooded with stitches and clapbacks from left-wing people explaining the subculture of punk music and the inability to remove it from left-leaning political discourse.
@c4b1n_1n_th3_wxxds_ Sorry i look kinda bad 💀 ive bad a rough few weeks . . . . . . #punk #punkstyle #punkclothing #punkrock #punkfashion #crustpunk #folkpunk #queer #gay #lgbtq #pride #leftist #leftistpolitics #anarchism #Anarchy #Socialism #anarchocommunism ♬ original sound - C4b1n 🔻
Punk's Proclamation: A Movement Rooted in People’s Power
I’ve said it time and time again: artists must reflect the times. It’s both comforting and empowering that this genre I love so much does not deny me. And it wouldn’t be what it is without me. As silly as it sounds, I often return to a meme, one that declares that people — if they choose to create — need to carry the burden of the world they’re living in. This has only proven to be true.
Punk music and the subculture behind it aren’t merely screaming and studded belts from your local Hot Topic (if they’re a thing anymore). The punk scene highlights the struggles of the working class, sheds light on political issues relating to marginalized groups, fosters community, and fights for what’s right.
Punk music has always held a space for me; all I had to do was claim it.
@wormtriip via Instagram
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The Inside Scoop On The Latest Teeth Whitening Trend Everyone Is Talking About
We're living in an age of endless photographs, dating apps, and living our lives online. So sometimes, it can feel like we only get one shot at presenting ourselves to the world.
So, we get it. We all want to look our best. And the old saying is true: there is nothing more beautiful than a big, confident smile.
Our editors have tried just about every teeth whitening treatment under the sun, from whitening strips that were super painful to charcoal toothpaste that worked, but made such a mess - oral care is always at the top of our beauty research.
We're always super eager to try anything that combines beauty with practicality, so when we discovered the BURST Electric Toothbrush, we were intrigued by its promises to not only clean better than any other toothbrush but to also whiten your teeth.
What makes BURST different than other electric toothbrushes?
Everything! BURST is one of the only brushes on the market that has the goods to back up its claims. Recommended by over 25,000 dental professionals, it is clinically proven to remove up to ten times more plaque than its manual counterpart. The 33,000 sonic vibrations a minute and thin charcoal bristles make reaching those hard-to-clean places a breeze.
How exactly does it whiten?
When we tried the whole charcoal toothpaste trend, we were super impressed with the results, but boy did it make a mess in our all-white bathroom! BURST'ssoft charcoal-infused PBT bristles are designed to remove surface stains gently and effectively, leaving your teeth looking and feeling radiant. Seriously, our teeth haven't felt so clean since our last visit to the dentist!
I have sensitive teeth and gums, is BURST right for me?
YES! Most people assume that harder bristles result in a deeper, more thorough clean, but in fact, the exact opposite is true. Softer bristles are kinder to your enamel and will actually clean much better.
With BURST, there's no need to scrub your teeth in a back-and-forth motion, all you have to do is let it work its magic. It will prompt you to move to a new part of your mouth every 30 seconds by gently vibrating, and will automatically turn off after 2 minutes (the perfect brushing time recommended by dentists!)/ BURST also helps reduce bleeding gums by up to 3 times in just 15 days when compared to a manual toothbrush.
What else do you love about it?
So much! The timer is not the only cool tech feature giving BURST its edge on all the rest. Its long-lasting Lithium Battery lasts for a whole month once fully charged, so you can take it with you anywhere without having to lug around a charger. Plus, they're super convenient subscription delivers a new replacement head right to your door every 90 days for as low as $6. We also love that BURST comes in 3 colors; black, white and our personal fave, rose gold!
There's a reason everyone is talking about BURST. It cleans better than any other toothbrush we've ever tried, whitens and removes surface stains, and has an insane battery life. With kits starting at only $74.99 (with free shipping!) BURSTis the perfect way to marry your oral care and beauty routine together to get the beautiful smile you've always wanted.
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