Every underground music scene needs someone as devoted as Brett Schwaner and his partners who make up the group N.O. Punks. Since the beginning of this year, they have been tirelessly promoting bands, venues, shows, independent booking companies, and all things punk in the city of New Orleans.
I chose to profile Schwaner in lieu of a band or performer this month because half the artists I’ve interviewed for “St. Rock” so far have showered praise on the efforts of N.O. Punks. Schwaner and company do their best to shine a light on a scene that was long believed to be on life support. “I started the N.O. Punks web site because I was sick of the apathy that people seemed to have towards our scene, as if it didn’t exist.” The slow disintegration of punk rock booking agency Devil Dolls Productions and the closing of the Shim Sham Club, among other things, caused a great deal of hopelessness and inspired the “New Orleans punk is dead” attitude. The true wake-up call for Schwaner was when he contacted a few nationally known, touring punk bands. “We contacted them when we started the web site, to see what people in general thought of our local punk scene, and the most common and eye-opening response was ‘I love New Orleans, I just wish someone would revive the scene down there.’ So even on a national level, people thought our scene was dead.”
So in January of 2004, Schwaner and three friends (Alix Hainkel, Kurt Agnelli, and Marshall Fleig) took matters into their own hands and started the N.O. Punks web site. (http://www.nopunks.20m.com) It is designed as a one-stop source for all things related to punk rock in New Orleans, featuring extensive show listings, links to local bands and booking agencies, and community message boards. The latter has truly made the biggest difference in rebuilding the New Orleans punk scene.
Schwaner explains, “I was surprised that so many of the bands didn’t even know each other existed, so we started gathering contact information from every band we saw and putting them up on the web site.” This initial self-promotion brought together young bands like Hello Asphalt, Fatter than Albert, the Suburban Rats, and the Picts, not to mention their fans, allowing for more frequent and better put-together shows. The N.O. Punks crew also takes tons of pictures at each show they go to, especially their “official” photographer Ally LaBruzza, and posts them on the site, which they initially began doing “just to show people that there are punk and ska shows still going down in New Orleans.” Also, Hainkel designs and posts flyers for shows and events throughout the city.
The web site (put together on web space given to Schwaner with his Tulane tuition) and flyer distribution make up the soul of N.O. Punks, which is promotion in the purest, most non-profit sense of the word. This sets them apart from similar web sites like NOLA-DIY, whose creator Bryan Funck is also a well-respected promoter who books shows and runs his own indie venues. “We don’t book shows or sell merchandise or anything like that,” says Schwaner on his labor of love. “We don’t make a dime from our efforts and do the web site in our spare time.”
The mission of N.O. Punks consists of multiple goals, all of which are aimed at the same outcome. “There is a misconception around here that punk rock only happens in New Orleans when a famous touring band like Rancid or NOFX comes down,” says Schwaner. “But in reality, you can see any number of punk shows with local bands every week.” Alternately, strong local support attracts larger bands and tours to the city, which according to the web site is their “ultimate goal.” N.O. Punks also believes that punk shows should be all-ages because of the nature of the audience.
“A lot of people my age love punk, but over half the real punk fans out here are teenagers who can’t get into most shows.” This was also the focus of their first major “community effort,” a petition drive to Louisiana lawmakers asking to ease restrictions on venues that might want to host all-ages shows. Above all, N.O. Punks is focused on unity within the punk scene, bringing bands, fans, venues, and promoters together. This means accepting styles and subcultures that have sprung out of punk rock, like third-wave ska and emo, something that a few “purists” balk at. “We’ll talk to or hang with anybody, I mean we’re not punk snobs,” says Schwaner. “For example, I’m not crazy about emo, but the kids at the shows are, so I still promote emo shows as an outgrowth of punk. Snobbery is really the worst thing for any scene.”
THIS MONTH IN… METAL?
November is a banner month for metalheads all around the city, as some of the genre’s biggest, most legendary bands descend upon New Orleans. Here’s the rundown:
Fear Factory November 5 at House of Blues: Fear Factory is one of those bands that had a real buzz about them. The late ’90s saw the release of their excellent Demanufacture, with its cutting-edge industrial riffs and Orwellian lyrics. They were the next big thing, and then they got popular (their big hit was a cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars”) and broke up amidst fights between members shortly after. Now reformed and on a new label, the Factory strikes fear into our hearts once again on the 5th with fellow metal monsters Lamb of God.
Metallica November 14 at New Orleans Arena: It’s hard to believe that Metallica has been around for over 20 years now. Sure, they may have fallen into a weak slump since at least their 1996 disappointment Load, and did a lot of anti-Napster bitching in the meantime. But it’s hard to deny that they’re a very important hard rock band, if not among the most important of the last two decades. They come to the Arena on the 14th to support their latest, St. Anger, with Godsmack, who are headliners in their own right.
Cradle of Filth November 19 at HOB: There was a villain on the Power Rangers (remember that show, kiddies?) called Rita Repulsa, who had the most wretched, high-pitched screech of a voice I’d ever heard. I had the “pleasure” of hearing what that voice sounded like shouted from the depths of hell when I first heard Dani Davey, lead singer of Cradle of Filth. The British group has arguably the biggest following of any black metal band currently on the scene, and it’s been that way for a good while. With their penchant for spooky, elaborate stage shows, this should prove to be an interesting show. Opening are Himsa, Bleeding Through, and Arch Enemy.
Slayer November 30 at HOB: The long-time gods of speed metal turned the rock world on its ear in 1986 with their groundbreaking (and at 29 minutes, terse) album Reign in Blood and its chaotic title track single. Eighteen years later, the band hasn’t lost a shred of its intensity or respect in the metal circles, underground or otherwise. Their most recent release, the five-CD box set Soundtrack to the Apocalypse, is evident of their legendary, monolithic status. They return to New Orleans with up-and-comers Killswitch Engage and Mastodon.
And just when you thought you’ve recovered from the mosh pits, I hear that GWAR is coming next month. Rock on.
