Not just a punk

Top 40 music listeners are exposed to popular genres of music from folk to hip-hop depending on any given week. On occasion they may even get to hear some punk rock in its more mainstream form.

The punk-counterculture that evolved through bands like the Ramones doesn't have a single face, but in fact many many forms and subcultures.

 I want to tell you about what some of those faces look like, where they come from and what they sound like. I can't give you a complete history because, a) I don't know it all and b) there are tons of books on it so I couldn't even begin to get there.

I'll touch on some of my first hand experience with some of the less recognized punk genres and subcultures.

Borrowed from fellow blogger PUNK1977

First lets look at crust punks.

They epitomize the image of counter culture and the rebelling of social norms. They listen to fast raging, distorted rock with anarchist and antisocial themes.

To be a crust punk you have to look like a crust punk. It's about accessories and representing your bands and ideals with patches and buttons on your self studded vest or leather jacket.


While crust punks may be the most easily spotted out in a crowd they are not the only radical ones. Next I want to talk about the punks that don't really have a label, they're rowdy, sometimes anarchists and love blending musical influences.

image from baeblemusic.com

Gypsy and Cabaret punk is the best way I can put it. A couple of bands that come to mind when building this scene are The World Inferno Friendship Society, Guignol, and GoGol Bordello.

These punks may be dressed in three piece suits, they may play instruments you've never heard, but you'll certainly find in them a passion to destroy their surroundings.

Fans of the World Inferno are famous for tearing clubs apart, worshiping the Great Pumpkin, starting fires, and of course waltzing.

Guignol fans appreciate the instrumental group and dance like maniacs, particularly when they banded together with folk-punk band Mischief Brew.

GoGol Bordello coined the gypsy punk term and certainly have let it run wild. Though they were formed in New York, the band is known for their diverse membership and the lead singers distinguished Ukrainian accent.

Finally, one of my personal favorites folk punks.

It's not always distorted and it's not really about style. Folk punks can play amped up plugged in or acoustic. It can be one singer song writer  or a whole band of folk punks like Defiance Ohio, Andrew Jackson Jihad, and Mischief Brew. Popular punk band Against Me! and singer Tom Gabel even find roots in folk punk.

Their songs tell stories of characters, history and the usual punks fighting the power. Folk punks have passion and don't need distortion to show it.

There are certainly more punks to be explored, so please comment with thoughts and other punks that deserve credit.