punkmovieguys
10/02/03, 01:13 AM
Most people's views of typical punk rock concert range from the social outcasts gathering to plot yet another horrible deed again their neighborhood to a bunch of freakish kids with crazy hair meeting up to crash into the each other while listening to their favorite devil worshipping, chaos craving bands completely destroying anything and everything in their path. Well, the concert that I decided to put myself in was probably somewhere smack-dab in the middle of those. I knew exactly where I was going to go. I like punk music, but I typically stray away from the concerts because the fear of being classified as one of those "freaks" scared the hell out of me. Well anyways, I had always wanted to go to a punk concert and see what goes on, and if I am going to go to a punk concert then why not go to one of my favorite bands, AFI? So i heard the assignment, bought my tickets and I was set to go.
So there I was with my thirty dollar concert ticket, so I can do some stupid research project that I really wasn't too crazy about to begin with.
So I wait for a week to roll around, and before I know it September 30 has arrived. I put yet another $20 in my truck to go to hollywood for this project. After getting stuck in traffic, and getting lost I finally get to the venue. I get there, and I immediately think "Lord, what have I gotten myself into?" Within the next three minutes I probably see the image of a kid with a leather jacket, a neon mohawk, smoking a cigarette on a curb, at least ten times. Yet, I continue on with my journey. After I get to the line I am told I have to wait behind a line of about 300 kids, just to see a band that I really wasn't that crazy about...yet.
I get in and wait for about ninety minutes waiting for AFI to come on. I decide to immearse myself into some conversations with these kids. After spending time with a couple of these kids my mind really starts to open to some of them. These kids aren't all about causing trouble. They are about having their voices being heard - by any means necessary. Whether it be through music, the way they dress, art, poetry, whatever. These kids want to be heard. They want to be like every other kid between 14 and 17. They want to be accepted. They want to be heard. And they are. I now love the way they express themselves. After having fifteen minutes to reflect the pure reason why I came arrived. AFI.
This was one of the best fifty dollars that I have ever spent. AFI, brought out the best in those kids. The power, the raw, yet emotion-filled music is exactly what these kids are looking for, and exactly what they can relate to. This band, this music, is these kids attitudes, their anthems, their souls.
On my way home I had a lot of time to reflect on my one-night journey through cultures. I wasn't sure exactly what it was I was supposed to look for tonight, but i found it. It was acceptance. These kids live for that one night, the night where they aren't seen as "freaks", but seen as individuals. These kids don't want anarchy, well most of them don't anyways. They want to be kids that can be different, yet normal. I am very thankful to have been able to experience this tonight.
So there I was with my thirty dollar concert ticket, so I can do some stupid research project that I really wasn't too crazy about to begin with.
So I wait for a week to roll around, and before I know it September 30 has arrived. I put yet another $20 in my truck to go to hollywood for this project. After getting stuck in traffic, and getting lost I finally get to the venue. I get there, and I immediately think "Lord, what have I gotten myself into?" Within the next three minutes I probably see the image of a kid with a leather jacket, a neon mohawk, smoking a cigarette on a curb, at least ten times. Yet, I continue on with my journey. After I get to the line I am told I have to wait behind a line of about 300 kids, just to see a band that I really wasn't that crazy about...yet.
I get in and wait for about ninety minutes waiting for AFI to come on. I decide to immearse myself into some conversations with these kids. After spending time with a couple of these kids my mind really starts to open to some of them. These kids aren't all about causing trouble. They are about having their voices being heard - by any means necessary. Whether it be through music, the way they dress, art, poetry, whatever. These kids want to be heard. They want to be like every other kid between 14 and 17. They want to be accepted. They want to be heard. And they are. I now love the way they express themselves. After having fifteen minutes to reflect the pure reason why I came arrived. AFI.
This was one of the best fifty dollars that I have ever spent. AFI, brought out the best in those kids. The power, the raw, yet emotion-filled music is exactly what these kids are looking for, and exactly what they can relate to. This band, this music, is these kids attitudes, their anthems, their souls.
On my way home I had a lot of time to reflect on my one-night journey through cultures. I wasn't sure exactly what it was I was supposed to look for tonight, but i found it. It was acceptance. These kids live for that one night, the night where they aren't seen as "freaks", but seen as individuals. These kids don't want anarchy, well most of them don't anyways. They want to be kids that can be different, yet normal. I am very thankful to have been able to experience this tonight.