#punkethos

i love music. i really do. and i love that people are making it, sharing it, showing up for each other. i’m not here to put anyone down for doing what they love.

but i’ve been thinking a lot about how we label things—especially in underground scenes. like, calling a show “punk” doesn’t make it punk. punk isn’t just a vest or a mohawk or a loud pit (though those things have their place). punk is purpose. punk is resistance. punk is community. punk is absurdity. punk is asking why are we doing this at all?

and when shows feel like they’re just entertainment, with fancy Canva posters and no backbone behind them, i get confused. like—where’s the message? what are we saying here? is it punk just because it's loud? because we’re all wearing black? i’m not trying to gatekeep, just trying to ask… are we thinking about what we’re doing, or are we just vibing with an aesthetic we saw online?

i’m not saying punk can’t be fun, or chaotic, or just-for-the-hell-of-it. but i do think it needs something—a spark, an ethos, even just a little weirdness for weirdness’ sake. otherwise it becomes just another scene, like any other.

and then there’s the whole music industry thing. how did we get to this point where one viral song = arena tour? no slow build, no playing in basements, just instant industry plants on massive stages. i think about artists like gracie abrams (nepo baby pipeline in full force) and how easily people just accept that. where’s the critical thinking? where’s the challenge?

i know this might sound bitter, but it’s not. it’s love. it’s love for music and for scenes that could be something real. i’m just thinking out loud. something to think about.

Nicholas Rombes, Ramones, p. 13