Reno Punks of Wingfield
I face an increasingly un-minx like moment a few times each week when I walk from my building to the Riverside theater or other locations in weffi (west/first street); a potential encounter with the Wingfield punks. Looking close to circa 1978, the Wingfielder’s dress in an array of black clothing, leather, threatening boots, hair spikes, bandage straps, etc., and hang out in the Christmas tree pavillion surrounded by piped in music ironically from the big band era. The background music would seem to make the pavillion a strange hang out spot for the us vs. them crowd, but there they are, nearly rain or shine.
Honestly, I like seeing them there most of the time. They remind me of my childhood friends in Salt Lake City (You remember right?) They heckle me sometimes in vague, non-threatening ways because, let’s face it, I’m an over thirty afterthought. But as an old school (always non-signifying) punk, I am chagrined and torn between an urge to volunteer my services as a possible punk historian and the urge to take them to task for what I, rightly or wrongly assume, is poseur behavior–always the ultimate punk insult. But what do I know about the new punk anyway?
I admit, I don’t understand the new “punk” and haven’t made much of an effort to try. But have they had their history lessons? Do they know about the , the , , or ? (Everyone knows about the Ramones, Blondie, and The Talking Heads.) How about the L.A. scene? The D.C. hardcore scene? What about the rockabilly influences on early punk bands–, Chuck Berry, etc.? I could go on and on and get so much more obscure, but that isnt the point I’m trying to make.
There are many exceptions I’m sure but the new crop of punks illustrate my general beef with American culture on a small scale….a lack of historicism in the sense: “Philosophy is the history of philosophy.” To understand a movement, you must put that movement in its societal and historical context and understand the forces that shaped its development. Zietgeist baby. What’s a new punk know about punk without knowing punk’s history (and being able to name four British punk groups isnt going to cut it).
At a party a few weeks ago, I met a young kid wearing all the right punk accoutrements–blue spiked hair, Doc Martens, and a sort of gas station attendant jacket in flack green decorated with several punk band patches including The Sex Pistols and The Ramones. I joking told him he was missing a Clash patch and later found myself wondering about the odds of his knowing any Ramone’s songs besides what you hear on the radio (Sheena’s A Punk Rocker, I Wanna Be Sedated, Rock n Roll High School etc.). As for the Pistols, well, there’s really only one album to track down unless you count the Great Rock n Roll Swindle soundtrack–not much of a back catalogue to familiarize yourself with. I think he sensed my implied challenge and moved along quickly. But seriously, If you are going to wear a patch and signify, you should be able to back it up, right?
But not knowing your history is nothing new. Kids are always in search of their own Zeitgeist, believing that nothing and nobody but they themselves can define them.
I worry about the new punks–that the lessons from the first round haven’t been learned. I suspect specters of punk’s past–speed, infighting, racism–have been rearing their ugly heads. They also seem to just be hanging out–not doing much of anything. Where’s the DIY influence in which punk began among the Wingfield punks? But maybe that’s the point too. Kids always have to learn the lessons of youth themselves. But a little history cant hurt.
About a year ago, I witnessed a very strange event from my window. It looked like a cross between a punk gang jump-in and fight club except each confrontation appeared to consist of just one punch. Whoever punched hardest, won. Simple as that. The barest form of infighting I’ve ever witnessed. It didnt leave me feeling very optimistic about the future of my neighborhood punks. I hope they surprise me.
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I know!
I was riding by the park one Wednesday during their Food not Bombs serving and I swear they started talking a little smack. Hey, I was doing the Food not Bombs thing when they were still playing T-Ball!
But i’d still have to say that these kids are still one of the raddest things about this town.
Up the punks!
Now that I know more about Reno’s chapter of Food not Bombs, I concur that Reno’s punk scene is something positive to have–that group and its affiliates are definitely DIY. But would they let me into their Wednesday night gigs dressed like this?
While Food Not Bombs can tend to be youth-oriented, most of the “kids” active in Reno FNB are in their mid-20′s, a couple of us are in our 30′s, & I’m fairly certain that we don’t have a dress code.
Everyone’s welcome, so come say “hi”…
I know, I was being a snob wasnt I? Thanks for the comment. See you around.