The New Punk Rock?

John Phillips, July 22, 2019

Ever since Donald Trump was elected president, I have been waiting for some youth culture rebellion, some new kind of punk rock, to rise up. I mean, all the punks were pissed at Ronald Reagan in the 80’s, right? Reagan is really weak tea compared to Trump.

I kinda figured it would be a form of hip hop, this time. (And truth be told, this is likely the new punk rock.)

But for my money, the band bringing the new punk rock are the Idles.

Idles - Tiny Desk Concert

These three songs, “Never Fight A Man With A Perm”, “Mercedes Marxist” and “I’m Scum” are a good intro to the band. I prefer this live version of “Never Fight A Man With A Perm”, but the official video if a ton o’ fun.

The songs “Never Fight A Man With A Perm”and “I’m Scum” are off their latest full length album Joy as an Act of Resistance. Their latest release is the EP, Mercedes Marxist

The Idles - Danny Nedelko

This song is also from Joy as an Act of Resistance, and it got a fair amount of press, because while they look and sound a bit like hooligans, the lyrics are decidedly progressive:

My blood brother is an immigrant
A beautiful immigrant
My blood brother’s Freddie Mercury
A Nigerian mother of three