Categories: DIY & Crafts; Geek

Bring out your inner PUNK in New York City

By Chelsea
updated 2 months ago

The first real awakening I had about the whole culture of PUNK was when I saw the movie SLC Punk, and wanted Matthew Lillard to be my boyfriend. Before, I thought punk was just a type of music, but indeed- it is a way of living. Non-conformity, rebellion, individuality, and never, ever "selling out." Just as surfers live to surf, punk people- live to be PUNKS. From head to toe, from beer to music, location to attire. Punk is not to be taken lightly. It isn't just "PUNK ROCK" anymore....let me give you a little insight.

PUNK ROCK

Most people associate punk with Punk Rock, the greats like The Ramones (who hail from our dear Queens, NY and some consider the “first punk rock band”), Sex pistols, and The Clash.
Music is the building block of the punk rock lifestyle, it’s the foundation that the whole culture is based around. Singing along with anti-establishment, often politcally charged songs, while drinking a PBR and rubbing up against each other’s studs.
Music is what makes the punk’s MOSH, do the heel tap and head bob while standing in one place and do “the shake” the move that commonly looks like they’re shaking water out of their hair briskly. You’ve seen it.

MUSIC:
1. Anarchy in the UK- Sex Pistols
2. White Riot- The Clash
3. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend- The Ramones
4. I Wanna Be Sedated- The Ramones
5. God Save The Queen- Sex Pistols
6. Kill the Poor- Dead Kennedys
7. Rise Above- Black Flag
8. Search and Destroy- The Stooges
9. Where Eagles Dare- The Misfits
10. Kick Out The Jams- MC5

Arlene Grocery

95 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002

The live music is great but it’s really the rock and roll karaoke every Monday at 10pm that gives YOU the chance to let out your inner punk rocker.

Generation Records

210 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

Stock up on your punk TUNES. Rare stuff, new stuff, old stuff….you can complete or start your punk collection here.

Converse Inc

45 W 18th St Ste 3 L, New York, NY 10011

Though The Con’s are versatile, they’re also very well known PUNK accessories. I’m sure they were wildly offended when Mary-Kate Olsen was rocking a pair.

Trash & Vaudeville Inc

4 Saint Marks Place 4, New York, NY 10003

Whether you need something spikey, or something rubbery….? Trash and Vaudeville has your punk needs. From shoes to purses, leather undergarments or bondage plaid pants….they’ve literally, got it ALL.

Live Fast

57 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Sexy chick skull tees, skinny jeans, vampire graphics, black hoodies are the necessary garb to be a sexy punk chick. Oh, yea there’s stuff for the punk rock dudes too.

ABC No Rio

156 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002

A center for ART AND ACTIVISM, and has since 1989 hosted all ages punk shows every week.
Their website states, “It includes punks who embrace the Do-It-Yourself ethos, express positive outrage, and reject corporate commercialism. It includes nomads, squatters, fringe dwellers, and those among society’s disenfrachised who find at ABC No Rio a place to be heard and valued.”

Cbgb

23 Saint Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

Formerly a music club standing for “Country Bluegrass and Blues” CBGB was one of the main stages for American punk and punk influenced bands, known for its hardcore The club closed in 2006 with Patti Smith, and has since changed locations though it doesn’t host the punk like it used to you can still buy the gear and remember the better days when punk rocked on in the village.

Ace of Clubs

9 Great Jones Street, New York, NY 10012

More rock than punk though still has the same gritty, dim rocker vibe. Great music, and that dark shadowy vibe that punk rockers enjoy.

THE FASHION

Punks are concerned with individuality, but they are also all very concerned with their “look” which, just so happens to be very, similar. If I was sashaying down the street in a summer dress I wouldn’t be emmulating anything PUNK even if I held the same values.

There are certain staples that can be identified on sight as PUNK; mohawks, piercings, bright colored hair, spikes, leather jackets with buttons, safety pins, band t-shirts, studs, cuffs, Dr. Martens, plaid, and Converse.

New York Hardcore Tattoos

127 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002

Let’s be honest, if you’re doing that “TAT THING” and you’re a punk, you’ll probably end up getting them from more than one shop. Not only is this place awesome…..but it has HARDCORE in the name.

Punk Style

2254 65th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204

You may be able to make the dreads yourself, though that does take time and maintenance, but the colors are better done by a real stylist, not a box of Kool-aid.

THE DRINKS!

Punks are all about the party. And they’re especially fans of PBR (for those of you living under a rock, that’s Pabst Blue Ribbon) There are those super healthy punks who are busy being raw foodists or “straight edge” (which there are many of) and meanwhile, the others are making up for what they would’ve been drinking, had they been more- punk rock. And please, don’t get too carried away they you stand on a table and spew beer, that’s the worst move ever.

Lucky 13 Saloon

273 13th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

$2 PBR’S is where it’s AT!!! Not to mention the stripper poles and hot punk chicks. Good music, metal, harcore or any of the punk sub-cultures, Lucky 13 is the punk dream.