By Glen Aitken
She sits in a crowded café. Her dyed hair, tattoos and piercings seem out of place, as patrons stare and gossip. Her name is Alison Grant and she’s a punk, battling myths about punk culture every day.
Kamloops stereotypically isn’t known as a hot spot for radical thinking or social rebellion, but the population of people in Kamloops who associate with punk culture is on the rise.
Local punk Amanda Goar shows off some punk fashion while hitchhiking with friends.
There are hundreds of people in Kamloops—young and old—who believe in punk ideology. This is demonstrated by sold-out punk concerts and venues throughout the city, including The Dirty Jersey, The Loft and The Pavilion.
Being punk means challenging the status quo, thinking for yourself and opposing society’s trend of putting money and business over the well-being of people.
A subgroup of counterculture, punks’ ideals and social behaviour run counter to mainstream society.
Punk culture is visualized through fashion, music and art, expressive and passionate displays of non-conformity and self-expression that challenge the notion of not rocking the boat.
Forming out of political and social opposition in the 1970s, punk culture came to North America through the second British Invasion, which the feel-good pop songs of the Beatles were replaced by anti-authority anthems from bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash.
Society fears what’s seen as different or odd. Punks contend with a daily barrage of misconceptions and media stereotypes.
“When people see my piercings or combat boots, they think I’m starving for attention or approval,” said Grant, a local high-school student. “They don’t understand what being punk means, so they ridicule us or make us out to be criminals or delinquents. They’re misinformed.”
Unlike many groups in society, punk ideology is open to people from all demographics, regardless of gender, race, religion, class or economic background.
“As a girl, I face pressure to act like a young woman, to conform to what a girl is supposed to look and act like,” Grant said. “But punk culture allows me to act and think how I want. Punk culture is about freedom of expression and empowerment. It doesn’t discriminate or exclude.”
Photo courtesy of The Clash Website
A misconception about punk culture is that it promotes isolation and encourages adherents to lose touch with society and reality. Punks argue, however, that it’s about being a part of a community based on shared beliefs and values instead of money, class or race.
“Being punk opens up an avenue for friendship, shared ideas and having a good time,” said Mike Andre-Hull, a sociologist and graduate of Thompson Rivers University. “Punk culture instills independence, self-esteem and confidence in you to speak your mind, shake things up and take up a cause.”
Capitalizing on the rising punk scene, several stores in the city cater to punk culture, selling clothing, accessories and music
“Stores like ours provide punks with what they want,” said Mike Kart, an employee at Kamloops Rock and Smoke Shop. “They want items that fit their beliefs and ideals.”
A unique aspect of punk culture is the personal modification of clothing to allow for individual expression without saying a word. It’s an art form seen more and more in the streets of Kamloops.
Photo courtesy of Big L 1395 AM
“Clothes are a way to show what you believe in,” Grant said. “When you take the time to stitch or sew something onto a shirt or jacket, it is special and unique.”
School District 73 has taken notice of the rising punk and counterculture trend in local schools and has made sure students have a right to express themselves.
“Policy 249 is a guideline for what kids can and can’t wear,” said Elaine Burns, executive assistant at the school district. “So long as it doesn’t promote violence, hatred or indecency, a student’s clothing shouldn’t be an issue.”
While schools have made an effort to accommodate punk culture, Kamloops radio stations continue to ignore the rising punk population.
Of the city’s radio stations, none are dedicated to the punk genre. Instead, traditional genres like pop, country and classic rock dominate Kamloops’ airwaves.
“They say they don’t play punk because it doesn’t have the support to warrant it,” said Gord Liley, a local punk musician. “Yet every week there’s a sold-out concert or show playing punk music for a punk audience. The excuses are just that, excuses.”
The only station that plays punk music is Thompson Rivers University’s campus station, CFBX, with shows like Sick of Silence, Broken Glass and Hostage Radio.
Alternative punk band, The Arctic Monkeys perform in front of a sold-out crowd in Vancouver, B.C. Photo courtesy of Hugh Jeung
To get around the lack of support from those in the media community, punks have embraced the Internet, using programs such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube to broadcast their music.
“We have to act as our own promoters, or else no one will,” Kart said. “The punk community would become a lot larger if more people had a way to hear what being punk is all about, as friendship, music and opposing the status quo are attractive ideas.”
Being a punk in Kamloops is fraught with misunderstandings and social battles, but it’s worth it, Kart said.
“I’m an individual and believe in something others find unnerving. But there are hundreds of people in Kamloops who believe in what I do and that’s empowering.”
