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Whoever said punk is dead must have never been to eastern Maine. On Friday, Sept. 26, it was apparent the same radical punk rock scene born in the back alleys and seedy dives of New York and London is alive and well in the Bangor area. A punk rock show, organized by a group of University of Maine students called the 105 Collective, transformed the Worker Center in Brewer into a hub of music, culture and activism.
The night centered on the performances of diverse local acts. The show, running close to five hours, featured Taco Apocalypse, Clinic Bomb, Megatime, Anal Jesus and a surprise set from Kicking Dicks. Fans filled the majority of space in the small venue, coming and going throughout the night, but maintaining a high energy level. Circle pits, awkward versions of the twist and even plastic sword fights abounded in the audience for each set.
The Worker Center has experienced growing success by transforming a simple meeting place for the local labor movement into a venue for alternative acts. The Center has become a hub for the countercultural community.
Martin Chartrand, co-founder of the Worker Center, said, “The punk scene definitely existed beforehand . We just opened [the Worker Center] up to shows at the right time for the scene to continue.”
The activist side of the Worker Center remained prominent during the show. Between sets, Chartrand spoke to the audience about the issues the Worker Center is concerned with and offered ways to get involved. Literature on union laws and recent legislation was also available, and volunteers ran tables containing information on activist organizations.
The success of the eastern Maine punk scene relies upon more than passionate fans and a solid venue; at the heart of the scene is the music itself. The performances on Friday were undeniably punk – dirty, sometimes unrehearsed or unfinished, yet oozing emotion and intensity. Punk traditionally relies on its simplistic sound and haphazard style as a way of breaking away from the norm.
Every band that played had something to offer, like the brutality of the bearded front man from Anal Jesus or the energy from the mohawked guitarist of Kicking Dicks. Taco Apocalypse’s performance featured everything from catchy guitar riffs and lyrics about circumcision to a guitar breaking apart and being thrown on the floor.
Clinic Bomb’s co-ed dual vocalist style gave them an exciting flair as they cursed the American government with choruses such as “Uninsured, underpaid / How many working class died today?” echoing the Worker Center’s ideals. Megatime, who commuted from Portland, blew the crowd away with old-school punk and blues vibes, sounding like a mix of The Clash and AC/DC.
Shane Garland, member of both Taco Apocalypse and Clinic Bomb, also commented on the Center, saying, “It’s really a central meeting point that brings people together.” Garland referred to himself not as an artist but simply a “rock and roll enthusiast.”
Chartrand’s message with the Worker Center is simple: “The basic premise of the Worker Center is about people working collectively to accomplish things. Shows like this are a perfect example of that.”
With such innovative musical acts, diehard fans and a cooperative venue, the Maine punk scene has all the right ingredients to thrive. Perhaps most inspiring about the show was the fact that ordinary young people worked hard to create a place for themselves.
“People involved with punk music have this reputation for breaking stuff,” Garland said. “We’re all really nice kids.”
