i just got back from seeing a documentary on the riot grrrrl movement of the early 90’s. i had missed that movement completely when it happened cos i was too busy buying dance records and going to raves, but the documentary was great and the music was really wonderful. now i have to go out and buy some bikini kill records.
it’s been such a long time since i was intensely involved in the world of punk rock that i, at times, forget that it exists. but i was reminded of how much i used to love going to punk rock shows in crappy bars and nightclubs.
ah, youth… and, in my far distant punk rock youth, i saw so many amazing bands. i saw black flag (many times), bad brains, necros, the misfits, the circle jerks, angry samoans, and a lot of the good old connecticut bands, like violent children, reflex from pain, c.i.a, etc.
ah, the good times we had. little kids from connecticut going to hardcore shows and trying to not get destroyed by the big guys in the pit. fun fun fun.
i remember this one time when we (vatican commandoes) drove to akron, ohio to play a show. the drive was 12 hours, with about 15 people in a tiny (and freezing cold) van. we got to akron, went to sleep, played the next night (to 10? maybe 20? people) and then drove 15 hours back home in the freezing cold van.
and it was fun. my first experience on tour (even if it was only one show).
now the memories come flooding back: fitting 2 guitar amps and an entire drum set into the back of my mom’s chevy chevette, cutting my hand on my guitar and not realizing it until the next day when i looked at my guitar and it was covered in dried blood, taping punk rock songs off of wnyu, being star struck when i met ian mackaye in 1983, thinking that ‘damaged’ was the best album ever made, etc, etc.
sorry for such a long winded and punk rock proustian update.
but it was a wonderful time, and i’m glad that dirty, underground punk rock still exists, cos it’s a wonderful thing.
-moby