If you've ever been in a band, you've probably accepted things that would make people in almost any other profession immediately quit. Somewhere along the way, musicians collectively decided that complete chaos was simply "part of the experience."
The Punksters are no exception.
Here are just a few things every punk band somehow convinces themselves are perfectly normal.
The Van Has More Personality Than Reliability
Nobody asks if the van will make it to the show.
They ask if it'll make it home.
Every strange noise has been given a nickname, and everyone knows exactly how hard to slam the passenger door so it actually latches.
Equipment That Works... Most of the Time
Every amplifier hums.
Every cable crackles.
Every microphone cuts out at the worst possible moment.
Nobody replaces anything because, according to Jerry, "It's got character."
Sound Checks That Solve Nothing
The sound check lasts forty-five minutes.
The first song still starts with someone yelling, "I can't hear myself!"
The sound engineer shrugs because he stopped caring twenty minutes ago.
Payment Is Always a Mystery
Before the show, everyone talks about getting paid.
After the show, someone explains that "exposure" is worth more than money.
Bill points out that exposure has never paid a single electric bill.
Everyone Is Somehow Late
The rehearsal starts at 7:00.
Crash arrives at 7:40.
Jerome thought rehearsal was tomorrow.
Jerry insists they were all early because his watch stopped last week.
Broken Strings Have Perfect Timing
A guitar string will survive months of rehearsals.
The moment the crowd gets excited...
Snap.
It's practically a law of nature.
Nobody Knows Where Anything Is
"Who has the extension cord?"
Silence.
"What about the spare cable?"
More silence.
Jerome proudly announces he brought sandwiches.
Every Gig Is "The Big Break"
Every venue owner says the same thing.
"If this goes well, it could lead to bigger opportunities."
Five years later, they're still hearing exactly the same sentence.
Practice Is Mostly Arguing
Half the rehearsal is music.
The other half is debating song order, who missed a cue, whose amp is too loud, and whether Crash actually knows the lyrics.
He doesn't.
Somehow... It's Still Worth It
Despite the broken equipment, late nights, tiny audiences, bad pay, and constant frustrations, the Punksters keep showing up.
Because there's something about making music with friends that makes all the madness worthwhile.
Besides...
If everything actually worked perfectly, it probably wouldn't feel like a punk band anymore.
Bob Craypoe
Founder of Craypoe Productions and Creator of the Punksters
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