Punk is Aging and Thriving and Why I Don't Follow My Friends

plus the men who really hate women

a continuous mix of articles, shows, books + more worth raving about

this week: punk—aging + thriving, the joy of not following friends. And the men who don’t like women. Scroll to b2b for a love song that is doing the most, and a song for the season.

The Evolution of the Local Show Scene

Last weekend, my brother’s band played our town’s much-loved pizza restaurant at a special, after-hours time slot. It was packed with aging punks and young kids alike, and the attendance reminded me how relatively young hardcore punk was in the 90s.

Back then, shows were at the VFW hall and one of two churches downtown, places that kinda couldn’t say no. The crowd was sparse, classic-looking ‘outcasts’ from school. Very Daria (I wished). 2024, the audience is everyone and their literal mothers.

Now it’s cool, accepted, allowed, not looked down on. The people running the pizza place are the kids who went to/played these shows. Everyone gets it, no one’s paranoid. So much support and community.

The kids still mosh. Probably more now

(that they looked up how to do it on YouTube ;)

Sounds like: Straight edge hardcore. 1998-ish at St. Joe’s Banquet Hall

No New Follows

Elements of these nights feel like class reunions. And, just like high school, I realize there’s no social media connections between me and a couple friends I run into. All the millennials are like boomers here - active on FB which I don’t have. If they’re on IG I don’t follow them cuz I’ve never needed to.

I see this guy out or I mostly don’t, but it makes the run-ins better. The other friend I text to hang out every 2-5 months, but otherwise never know what he’s up to.

Do you think you can be forever bonded to someone through intermittent years of assigned seating from 6th-12th grades? I’m convinced there’s a physiological response built into us. So familiar.

Shared history is meaningful. In history there are no filters, edits, or trash cans.

Men who Don’t Like Women

This post had a ripple effect, like her intro, where it got me thinking of my own list of men in my life who obviously dislike women and those who love and respect women. It’s flashes of sharp memories. Those guys are so obvious to spot.

Another thing that comes up in the article is do you listen to women? Read women authors, listen to women on podcasts?

Recently a template flew around IG stories for people to fill in 16 artists/bands that influenced their lives. I saw too many lists of all fully male acts. I’m gonna quiz every guy I know about if they listen to music by women.

back 2 back music bumps for the soul

Mk.gee - “Alesis”: Tear my heart wide open! A live video of my top looped song. The album is something you’ve heard before but haven’t, pulling from a perfect blend of influences to feel so cozy, familiar but new.

Because the astrology is good lately and the vibe is end of summer dance party: “Bad energy stay far away, make it stay far away”

Skepta and WizKid “Energy (Stay Far Away)”

btw, meta updated profiles with music, and istg it’s just another way for them to continuously market S*****a Ca******* at us!!