Finally Punk

I think I acted a little more angry than i really felt because I knew that we were supposed to be really angry about it and that was a part of being a Riot Grrrl was always being really really angry. Which I think that now is that I deal with things with a lot more humour.  – Nomy Lamm

If you are thinking of starting up a band look no further for a concept than Finally Punk (although a bit more time on the name wouldn’t do any harm would it?) These guys are so cool that I’m wondering whether they’re not cool at all and just pitiful imitators that have found some kind of loophole granting irreducible coolness.

As the photo above illustrates, Finally Punk are neither sexual subordinates nor self-conscious feminists. Their shows maybe peppered with (male) bloggers and (male) photographers, but coming from Austin isn’t this inevitable? They appeared on the radar a few years ago but their sound has since evolved from après-riot Grrrl (©Pitchfork Media 2006) to something akin to garagepunk. Their songs range from lyrics about pregnancy to other more irrelevant topics, Manatee being a prime example of the latter. The band are part of the latest wave of punks beginning to take shape not least across this site (see here and here) providing great purpose to mint a new coinage, proto-Grrrl. The sound bares more resemblance to the female punks of the seventies/early eighties rather than the 90’s Riot Grrrl scene; proto-Grrrls are enthralling and fresh because the sound doesn’t carry the same dogmatic/dictatorial vibe which was at the heart of the controversy surrounding its preceding incarnations. It has the potential to be irrellevant, funny and self depricating, still championing sexual equality but without the anger.

In an interview with Shelley Hiam for the Austin Chronicle, Veronica Ortuño admitted, “my idea for Finally Punk is to learn my instrument and have fun with my friends,” which in the eyes of this writer is about as perfect a philosophy of intent can be. We want revolution girl style now!