Punk Rock Writing

While I grew up in Waltham, Massachusetts, my musical heart was in Newport, RI and the fantastic scene there. It was where I discovered punk rock via an old record player in a third story bedroom. My mom grew up there and we were lucky enough to spend many summers and school vacations there hanging out with the families of my mom's two sisters, Pat and Nancy, who lived on Aquidneck Island, in Newport and Portsmouth, respectively. During my time away at college, my parents moved to Newport full time and have lived there since. The city by the sea continues to be a great place for music to this day. My cousin Johnny D, who was hip-deep in the Newport music scene, and I were close and went to many shows together. I cover some of our escapades in my Johnny Thunders piece but many of our adventures entailed going from Newport to Rhode Island's shrine for independent music, The Living Room in Providence, for shows with many of our favorite punk rock acts like Black Flag, Hus...

Dad Punk: Circle Jerks Still Running Wild  As a teenager growing up just outside Boston, the Circle Jerks were my baptism into live punk rock in a show at The Channel in 1983 with local hardcore heroes Gang Green. Hooked on the art form from jump street, the slam-dancing pit became a place a kid like me could get lost for a few hours on Sunday afternoons. The kids from Hermosa Beach with Keith Morris on vocals and Greg Hetson on guitar were the punk band I saw the most in my youth.  On March 5, 2022, at the cavernous Showbox Sodo, the Circle Jerks headlined a three-act bill with fellow 80s punk stalwarts Adolescents and Negative Approach. I attended with friends in their 50s and 60s. About the half the crowd were punk rock old guys like us and the term “Dad Punk” came to mind. But I also noticed many younger faces sporting t-shirts of the bands playing and other groups from the 80s and that gave this aging punk fan some hope for the future.  Detroit’s Negative...