How to Find Good Punk Bands

While it's easy to find a country or pop singer, the quest for good punk bands takes a bit more searching. A music fan can discover plenty of good punk bands beside the usual pop-punk bands touted in the mainstream press. If you want to find good hardcore or old school punk bands, read the following tips.

Instructions

1. Mosh at the local punk music club. Hang out with other punks in your area, and frequent shows at local rock clubs and at the VFW Hall and other obscure locations. Punk bands often play out of the way clubs and usually sponsor all-ages shows. Check your local alternative paper like the LA Weekly for listings.

2. Listen to great punk bands on iTunes and podcasts. Check out punk Internet radio stations like Punkradiocast and podcasts with names like The Punk Rock Demonstration and Garage Punk. Even MySpace profiles offer tons of good punk pages, so click away.

3. Ask your parents. Some of the best punk rock music originated in the 1970s and 1980s, played by bands like the Sex Pistols, Ramones, Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys and many lesser known punk bands. Many of these bands still tour and release music with one or more original members.

4. Browse vinyl on eBay and in indie record stores. Punk bands still release vinyl as a way to connect with their loyal fan base and create collectible material. You can bid on old and rare punk vinyl from bands around the world and find rare treasures on the Net or ask the clerk at your favorite store for suggestions.

5. Surf websites like Aversion and Interpunk for the latest news and interviews. Read Punk Rock Confidential, Maximum Rock and Roll and other punk zines for reviews of good punk bands, old and new.

Resources

• Listen to Good Punk Bands at Punkradiocast.com
• Find Good Punk Music at Aversion