Reflections on a night with the Edinburgh Punk scene
I used look up to punk scenes as hotbeds of radicalism that create alternative and free spaces for people to come together, away from corporate intrusion and authority. You can almost take for granted that most punk scenes, judging by the patches and “anarchy is order” symbols everywhere, that most punks identify with libertarian and egalitarian ideals and taking personal responsibility for their actions, and that oppression would be swiftly kicked out the door.
I identify as an anarchist primarily, and possibly as a “punk with a small p” as one friend put it. I like anarcho-punk, and the anti-state/authority/oppression lyrics that go with it. I thought that inviting the punk scene for a post SmashNATO! party as a fundraiser and a way to unwind after a day of being pushed around by the police would be a good thing – a bit of fun and a way to raise some cash to pay for the anti-NATO convergence.
Some of the people who showed up for the gig and indeed some of the band members had been out on the streets with us that day. However, there were far more people at the gig than had come to the demo, which I found hard to understand.
What had started as a fun night of politically-oriented punk music quickly descended into a drunken, drugged-up, macho free for all. I was disgusted by the way that some of the men in the room conducted themselves – far too much alcohol combined with macho posturing created an oppressive environment, where the safety of other people in the room was completely disregarded. People who had spent the day fighting the police, and months before building up to a big political event had “stupid hippy cow” shouted at them. People who asked others to respect the safer spaces agreement and not to smoke inside were showered with abuse from these so-called libertarians.
At one point, someone who had spent the day being shoved to the ground by cops, followed around by evidence gathering teams and generally oppressed by white men took the microphone and had a go at people for their machismo, and asked people at the gig why they weren't at the demo earlier. That didn't go down well - she was immediately surrounded by angry men who tried to physically intimidate her into handing the microphone back. Minutes later, she was thrown to the floor and stamped on by one of these men. Quite rightly, he was tackled to the floor, and nearly thrown down the stairs, had it not been for the bouncer stepping in.
Granted, there was too much alcohol at the gig. BYOB and punk gigs obviously don't mix. But you would have thought that people could take more responsibility for themselves. Anarchism does not mean that you can do what you want and act how you want – that is individualist – anarchism is about taking personal responsibility for ourselves and those around us. It is about the collective, and looking out for each other. It is about defending our friends from oppressive behaviour. It is about creating spaces that are safe, regardless of whether you think someone is a “hippy” or not punk enough for you.
Then it came to closing time, and because everyone was so pissed and high, everything had run behind schedule and the last band was on stage for thirty seconds before everyone needed to clear out. It had been made clear that the gig needed to end and everyone needed to be out by 1am out of respect for the licence, and the fact that the Forest was good enough to let us use the space for the gig.
But people were not happy, and prioritised their “right” and desire to hear the last band over the sustainability of one of Edinburgh's only volunteer-run, free spaces. One punk (the one who doesn't like hippies) said “you'll have a riot on your hands” at the suggestion that the gig would end before the last band got to play. What a great cause – riot against people trying to create positive change and take on the military-industrial complex (anarchy in action) because people were too wasted to keep to time. Where were you when we could have rioted on the streets against imperialist NATO and fascist police?
And finally, when the hangovers cleared, “Boycott the Fascist Cafe” appeared on MySpace. In keeping with the reactionary and macho politics of its authors, the page has classics like:
“Punks and right wing hippies don't mix. We hope you will join us in boycotting the Forest by not going to their gigs and not playing there. We would like bands to actively boycott the place so as not to put the punks through the Forest bullshit! WE would like to also know your horrible experiences from the Forest Cafe...”
Well here's an account of a horrible experience from the Forest Cafe, involving Edinburgh's macho punk scene.
The Forest Cafe is one of the very few free, volunteer and cooperatively-run places in Edinburgh. Despite massive hassle and intimidation from the police, it helped the NATO Welcoming Committee find a convergence space. During the G8 it hosted the Indymedia Centre, and over the years has done loads for political causes in Edinburgh, whether as a meeting space, venue for fundraisers or through its grants programme. The thought that this kind of place would be boycotted and other corporate venues that are run for profit promoted ahead of it by people supposedly identifying as anarchists is unbelievable. How can we have a revolution if we don't support free and cooperatively-run spaces, but instead support gentrified and capitalist venues?
In conclusion, this is a silly argument to get into that distracts us from the important issues that people who identify as libertarians should be focusing on – like smashing patriarchy, the state and militarism. Hopefully one day, when the levels of machismo and alcohol consumption have subsided, we can call get along.
Re: Punk is Dead! (In Edinburgh) Reflections on a night with the Edinburgh Punk scene
punk ain't dead, it just smells that way.*
seriously, the forest rules. people fae round here don't realize how lucky they are. immature fools oughta try living in any of the cities or towns north of the central belt and see the difference.
and if you're no fae round here, go home for a wee bit, try finding a decent gig, or a place where you can chill out and play chess and chat without having to spend a fortune on shitty beer. good bloody luck
optionally, try quitting drink for a wee bit. you might feel better. i do.
-is me, innit
* yeah yeah, i stole that off a toilet wall at faslane, sue me