Sienna Stone | Writer
October 3, 2024
Every so often, teenage appreciators of bands like Green Day and Dead Kennedys dress in the style equivalent of the clothing section in Spirit Halloween. They attend the concerts of local youth bands, held in willing venues to gather in a rather chaotic expression of their punk-rock-loving unity. To have the most accurate literary accounting, I immersed myself in the experience with a fellow writer, Sarah Houston, to have a front-row seat of a scene that dominates SCHS students’ Instagram stories but possesses an unimaginable reality. And I found that behind this deafening show of musical talent and anarchic madness of the audience’s display of passion for it, lies one of the most accepting, authentic, and inclusive places I have ever had the privilege of experiencing.
It was as if the 80s had survived the modern era as upon entrance, a sea of mohawk-haired heads and chain-adorned figures bustled in intimately close proximity. The entirety of the Stuft Pizza, that had hosted the event, was filled to the brim with life and was in a constant rate of rapid motion. Evidently underdressed and searching for a way to avoid the poser allegations, Sarah and I sought out a blue-haired regular, who lent us each a studded leather bracelet, kindly allowing us a taste of the alternative fashion.
Several bands played, including Citizen Kane, X-Acto, and Street Goblins, and rocked with genuinely impressive capability on blaring speakers, their energy so electrifying it surged the entire crowd into unique dance and turbulent movement. The experience was completely new to Sarah and I, and seeking advice and direction, we turned to the comfort of camaraderie with familiar San Clemente students who attend these concerts frequently.
One SCHS Junior, Devon Murphy, suggested for us, along with all newcomers, to “be respectful,” and reassured our inexperience by claiming that it “is ok if [we] don’t know much,” but to prioritize being “educated on etiquette.” Additionally, to be considerate of the culture that takes place and appreciate the sense of belonging it gifts open-minded attendees.
Most of the night was spent in the new company, as being stuck shoulder-to-shoulder in a room so heated it steamed the windows was the ultimate icebreaker. Everyone treated each other not like the strangers most were, but like they had already known each other for years. Students I passed wordlessly in the school halls were now welcoming me into their friend group for the night, and I conversed with the widest variety of individuals I think I ever have. And every single one of them eased me into extroverted chatter with their unexpected kindness and refreshing authenticity.
Though not personally involved in this crowd, Seniah Field, another junior at SCHS, gave her detached observational perspective and admired how these events are an outlet for “people to express themselves,” and stated she thought of it to both be “unique” and “interesting.” Even individuals who don’t participate in the concerts themselves or associate with attendees can still recognize the sense of community cultivated by a spirited shared passion for heavy music.
Though punk rock listeners are seemingly in decline, the underground society of San Clemente teenagers, who keep hair dye companies in business and welcome newcomers with the courtesy you’d pay an old-time friend, meet in the late of weekend nights to keep the spirit of a lost generation alive. And between the musicians’ skill and the crowd’s enthusiasm, the experience is more than mere entertainment, but rather a celebration of unique individuality and a haven of unconditional acceptance.
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