If you’ve ever plunged deep into the rabbit hole of 1980s musical subculture, chances are you’ve already tripped through the riotous lands of crust punk music. If you haven’t, buckle up. We’re going underground.
Crust punk, the musical offspring of punk rock and extreme metal, emerged as a distinctive subgenre in the late 1970s in the U.K. as a direct response to profound social and economic upheaval of the time. Born of activism and anarchy, its lyrics boldly confronted issues ranging from social inequality and environmental degradation to corporate greed and beyond, all propelled by the thunder of pulsating drums and driving, distorted guitar riffs.
By the 1980s, crust punk crossed the Atlantic to the U.S., flourishing most vibrantly within the shadowy recesses of metropolitan centers, ultimately extending its reach to offbeat house venues nestled in the heart of Columbia.
Today, an online search for “American Crust Punk” leads enthusiasts to the nationally renowned band “Antischism,” a Columbia-based anarcho-punk group that once stood as a cornerstone of the genre in the region. Despite disbanding in 1997, their influence catalyzed a punk renaissance in the city, ushering in an influx of diverse subgenres.
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Making a home
Now, there are places like “Commie House,” a dynamic local house venue that embodies the DIY ethos central to crust punk culture. Run by John “JoJo” White, Commie House serves as a unifying community space where many punk visions converge under the banner of DIY ethics.
Stepping into Commie House is an experience in its own right — the doors open to a striking display of vibrant murals adorning every inch of wall. These murals — there are dinosaurs, princesses, a sprinkle of profanities and a whole lot of cats — serve as a canvas to every hand that enters. The living masterpiece reflects the colorful and chaotic spirit of punk rebellion, providing the perfect backdrop to the cacophony of subcultures gathered within.
Murals cover the walls at the DIY venue Commie House in Columbia, where punk and metal converge to create community with an emphasis on self-expression.
“The way Commie House utilizes their space is a foundational steppingstone to being able to build a scene from the ground up again,” said Gage St. Don, a Commie House volunteer. “I think what Columbia is missing is more Commie Houses. More community hubs. More people using and creating space for the community to flourish.”
DIY house venues like Commie House and its many predecessors serve as more than just platforms for artists and musicians; they cultivate a sense of camaraderie and mutual support within the community.
In a world where mainstream society often overlooks, or misunderstands, punk ideology, Commie House offers a place where individuals can express themselves without fear of judgment or constraint.
Savannah Young (left), John “JoJo” White (center) and Gage St. Don at the DIY venue Commie House, where punk and metal converge to create community with an emphasis on self-expression.
“We created this to build community. And I think that the longer these DIY spaces exist, the healthier our scene is going to be,” said White. “There are a lot of people trying to start punk bands here. I want to give them the chance to create their own scene instead of holding on to an old one.”
Commie House muralist and musician Savannah Young agreed. “It’s a challenge to find spaces to be creative, freely. There are only a select few in Columbia who really want to nurture these safe spaces for expression,” she said. “But I feel like this community is locking into that right now.”
Not for faint of heart
House shows pulse with an electricity that’s not for the faint of heart.
As a night at Commie House wears on, the energy in the room intensifies. Bodies collide in the mosh pit. People crowd-surf, others dance with reckless abandon. Amid the frenzy is a tangible sense of solidarity — community among the chaos. The crowd moves this way and that, but they’re linked by the shared experience of music, rebellion and self-expression.
Gage St. Don is a self-identified crust punk who volunteers at the DIY house venue Commie House in Columbia.
“I’ve never seen a fight break out at a Commie House show. Bruises happen, but people always help one another out,” said St. Don. “There’s this impression of the punk scene as these rugged individualists who are going to do things their way only, but I don’t think that’s the culture or environment that we breed here. We actually breed a very unique atmosphere of interconnectivity.”
For those seeking a slightly tamer punk experience, traditional music venues like Art Bar and New Brookland Tavern offer excellent and frequent alternatives, but for those in search of the basement experience, Commie House is as close as you’ll get.
Savannah Young (left) and Gage St. Don stand in front of the eclectic murals at the DIY venue Commie House in Columbia, where punk and metal converge to create community with an emphasis on self-expression.
“Is crust punk dead? Yes. Is it a good thing? Yes. Because, being dead is exactly where crust punk thrives,” White said.
If you find your crusty curiosity piqued, make your way to Commie House on Feb. 21 for one of Columbia’s “crustiest” lineups: Physique, Abacus, Prosperity Gospel, Lobstrocity and Axattack. The show promises to be an anarcho-punk, black metal, thrash, punk smorgasbord that tugs on all of the strings of crust ideals.
