TCK
Well-known member
First, an introduction to a very special place in Petaluma, The Phoenix Theater. Kind of a cool all ages club now, it has been around since the early 1900’s, and at least during my lifetime the Sonoma County venue for Punk Rock shows.
When we were “kids” (some thirty years ago in college), I spent many a weekend at the Phoenix, often with my girlfriend on my arm (that would be Mel), seeing shows that were loud and fast and full of kids. I personally have broken more bones here than anywhere (which says a lot for a guy who skateboarded into his mid-forties). As we were both fledging and moving into our careers, the theater was bought and converted to a non-profit that serves as “everyone’s building”. Open from 3-7 daily for “unstructured use”, they offer music lessons, tutorials, a place to skateboard (free of harassment), a teen health clinic, a place to hang out and even take a safe nap if you want.
Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought in recent years. I don't make too many punk shows anymore (old) and tend to go to the Mystic to see things like Gillian Welch nowadays…but then a friend who works at a restaurant we go to often started talking about his band playing there. He is a kid, and was really excited about the show- we did not make it (it started at 9pm!) but when I asked him how it went, the first thing he said was “the sound man was 12!”
This only happens in a community that embraces DIY, and while this aging punk is too old to run around in circles slamming into strangers…that sense of community and idea that anyone can contribute is still a core value of mine…which leads us to this week's challenge.
Punk is terribly hard to define, but I read somewhere while trying to do so “Punk is technically accessible and DIY”, and that is a great description of the Ukulele as well. It need not be odd looking or anti-social. It just needs to be simple, reflective, and without pretense. Easy enough right?
So- for this week, I would like punk songs. They can be covers of course, of any band that is called officially “Punk” or any band that is punk related (if someone plays “Have Love, Will Travel by the Sonics…I will just die! Garage rock is fair game). That is a lot of songs! Want to play a song by someone who was considered early punk and then went down a different road? Knock yourself out (there’s your Blondie, Pretenders, Elvis Costello and Talking Heads catalogs). Wanna play the Cramps or others like them who did not quite meet the classic definition…done. Do you have to play a song in “Punk” style? Nope. If you hear “Anarchy in the UK” as a ballad, go for it. Want to write an original punk song, I can’t wait to hear it. Folk Punk, Celt-Punk, Ska-Punk, Pop-Punk? Do it. Just let's not play the same Green Day song over and over, deal?
As a special bonus…if punk is so outside your wheelhouse that you cannot find a song to do, play us something that really pissed your parents off. Everyone has one of those.
TLDR- PLAY PUNK ROCK SONGS!
Normal rules apply:
Season runs from June 19th - June 24th
Please let us hear a uke in your recordings, and a zither. I would like a zither in there somewhere.
Collaborations are great- especially with dogs
Original works are most appreciated
There is no song limit- never will be when I am the host. Get CRAZY!
Every song sends a dollar to the Phoenix Theater Foundation…hand delivered. Have fun folks!
playlist
When we were “kids” (some thirty years ago in college), I spent many a weekend at the Phoenix, often with my girlfriend on my arm (that would be Mel), seeing shows that were loud and fast and full of kids. I personally have broken more bones here than anywhere (which says a lot for a guy who skateboarded into his mid-forties). As we were both fledging and moving into our careers, the theater was bought and converted to a non-profit that serves as “everyone’s building”. Open from 3-7 daily for “unstructured use”, they offer music lessons, tutorials, a place to skateboard (free of harassment), a teen health clinic, a place to hang out and even take a safe nap if you want.
Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought in recent years. I don't make too many punk shows anymore (old) and tend to go to the Mystic to see things like Gillian Welch nowadays…but then a friend who works at a restaurant we go to often started talking about his band playing there. He is a kid, and was really excited about the show- we did not make it (it started at 9pm!) but when I asked him how it went, the first thing he said was “the sound man was 12!”
This only happens in a community that embraces DIY, and while this aging punk is too old to run around in circles slamming into strangers…that sense of community and idea that anyone can contribute is still a core value of mine…which leads us to this week's challenge.
Punk is terribly hard to define, but I read somewhere while trying to do so “Punk is technically accessible and DIY”, and that is a great description of the Ukulele as well. It need not be odd looking or anti-social. It just needs to be simple, reflective, and without pretense. Easy enough right?
So- for this week, I would like punk songs. They can be covers of course, of any band that is called officially “Punk” or any band that is punk related (if someone plays “Have Love, Will Travel by the Sonics…I will just die! Garage rock is fair game). That is a lot of songs! Want to play a song by someone who was considered early punk and then went down a different road? Knock yourself out (there’s your Blondie, Pretenders, Elvis Costello and Talking Heads catalogs). Wanna play the Cramps or others like them who did not quite meet the classic definition…done. Do you have to play a song in “Punk” style? Nope. If you hear “Anarchy in the UK” as a ballad, go for it. Want to write an original punk song, I can’t wait to hear it. Folk Punk, Celt-Punk, Ska-Punk, Pop-Punk? Do it. Just let's not play the same Green Day song over and over, deal?
As a special bonus…if punk is so outside your wheelhouse that you cannot find a song to do, play us something that really pissed your parents off. Everyone has one of those.
TLDR- PLAY PUNK ROCK SONGS!
Normal rules apply:
Season runs from June 19th - June 24th
Please let us hear a uke in your recordings, and a zither. I would like a zither in there somewhere.
Collaborations are great- especially with dogs
Original works are most appreciated
There is no song limit- never will be when I am the host. Get CRAZY!
Every song sends a dollar to the Phoenix Theater Foundation…hand delivered. Have fun folks!
playlist
Last edited:
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