KARISHMA D'MELLO
CAUGHT BETWEEN ROCK AND AN INDIAN PLACE:
Punk in India
If you thought metal heads in India were
uncommon, then you should know that punk
fans are an even rarer find. Sure, they say it’s
still alive and well out here, but it’s hardly
thriving. You’d think that with all the concerns
we Indians are plagued with, our often
questionable political choices, the new wave
uprising of authoritarian angst, the growing
dissatisfaction that seems to have taken over
the general public, that we could all use a good
dose of punk rock rebellion right about now.
Unfortunately, as much as I’d have loved to say
that, a new age form of a non-violent movement
has taken over as a consequence to a seemingly
crummy state of affairs in the form of some
sort of 21st century punk rock revolution,
it continues to lead a largely underground
existence – often overshadowed by other genres
or invalidated as a style of musical expression.
Explaining punk to the average person can be
hard, seeing as the word itself is either alien to
a lot of people, or is limited to mean (and often
synonymous with) “Green Day”. Attempting
to get rid off the popular notion that punk is
nothing more than three chord progressions
performed by emotionally strung out teenagers
singing in mindless, angry, nursery rhyme-
esque verses doesn’t make for a particularly
fun Sunday afternoon conversation
either (Tuesday, on the other hand!).
It’s not like punk is suddenly going to
kick off overnight – it’s not like it’s the
70’s, and it is exactly like this is India, but
at the occasional concert, you may get a
taste of that punk rock rebellion you’re
looking for, with its occasionally cheeky
and often political, lyrical inspirations.
So let’s take a moment, to appreciate
some of these talented musicians
making a commendable effort at
keeping punk alive in India!
Da Primitive Future, Darjeeling
Check out: Chor, Frontline, Vatkeyaeko Yaatri
Available on: SoundCloud, YouTube
Death by Fungi, Mumbai
Check out: Attrition, I was so mad I wrote
a strongly worded letter elucidating
my point of view, Dead Soil
Available on: SoundCloud, YouTube
False Flag, Pune
Check out: Spectrum Disorder
Available on: YouTube, Band Camp
The Vinyl Records, New Delhi
Check out: Ready Set Go,
Authority, Apocryphal
Available on: YouTube, SoundCloud
Punk on Toast, Mumbai
Check out: Be Hind-U, Gods own city
or just the WHOLE album – “We abuse
a lot, so what?” and “For Hire”
Available on: SoundCloud, YouTube
Pip of the Fourth Mother, Shillong
Check out: I thought I was a
Protégé, Hit me, Lun
Available on: ReverbNation
The Riot Peddlers, Mumbai
Check out: Sau Rupiya, Bollywood Songs
Available on: YouTube
Tripwire, Mumbai
Check out: That’s not what I
want, God likes to sleep
Available on: SoundCloud
Jeepers Creepers, Kolkata
Check out: Taxi Ride, Monkeys. Trees. Me
Available on: YouTube
Doctor Zebra, Pune
Check out: Surfer Girl, Find the time, Blast Off
Available on: YouTube, SoundCloud
Grammy Winning Effort, Delhi
Check out: Care about Steve,
Dead horse wagon,
Available on: YouTube, SoundCloud
And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to
check out some of the better known punk
rockers on the scene - Unohu, Rainvan,
Messiah, Indigo Children, The Lightyears
Explode, Lavender Carnage and Skrat.
If you’re a fan looking for some raw,
unadulterated, hardcore punk to
add to your playlist, give these guys
a listen, you won’t be sorry!
Maybe someday, we’ll see better for times
for this outsider genre and these outsider
bands that embrace rebellion in all its forms,
move beyond social convention, stand up for
what they believe in and more importantly
(and hopefully), never, ever sell out!
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
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