Too Old To Punk?

One of the things that makes punk so interesting is how people constantly find new ways of expressing themselves within it, challenging what came before and opening up spaces for those who might otherwise have felt excluded. Sometimes it's about finding your place in a scene where you don't quite feel you belong, and sometimes it's about creating that space yourself, making it your own and opening up possibilities for others. In this episode, we sit down with Mark, whose journey through hardcore is a great example of exactly that. Growing up in Rexford, just outside Albany, New York, Mark discovered hardcore through the bands passing through the area, with his mum regularly driving him to gigs. We talk about his early fanzine Trial By Error, joining Life's Blood under slightly dubious circumstances, and how discovering Born Against opened his eyes to a different side of punk, challenging some of the attitudes of the New York hardcore scene and introducing him to new political ideas. We also discuss his experiences coming to terms with his sexuality and finding his place within a scene that wasn't always welcoming. This eventually led to forming Limp Wrist with Martin Sorrondeguy, creating the kind of openly gay, unapologetically aggressive hardcore band he'd wanted to see but couldn't find. From running his own record label and playing in countless bands to settling in Richmond, stepping away from music for 14 years, and eventually finding his way back through Under Attack and Life Abuse, Mark's relationship with punk has continued to evolve.

In this episode, Karl (with Gaz away on an extended fika break) sits down with Cormac O'Síocháin. Intelligent, articulate, creative and never afraid to speak his mind, Cormac takes us through a life shaped by punk, politics, travel and more than a few questxionable decisions, with plenty of hilarious stories along the way. From discovering punk and playing in his first band while unknowingly putting on DIY shows in a small Irish town, to finding freedom in Copenhagen with Nuclear Death Terror, Cormac's story rarely stands still. We talk about returning to Dublin to finish his degree while somehow continuing to play in a band based in Copenhagen, scraping by in Mexico on freelance music journalism, and eventually finding himself in London, teaching English, getting immersed in the squatting and rave scenes, and recording a black metal album in the basement of the legendary Dew Drop Inn squat pub. Along the way we discuss apolitical fashion punks, the devil's dandruff, unlikely friendships, moving to Melbourne, joining Kromosom, touring extensively, playing with Geld, and the occasional confrontation with Nazi skinheads. We also explore how every move, every band and every city has shaped Cormac's ever-evolving perspective, and how those experiences continue to inform his diverse musical output. Open about his struggles, willing to question himself and always looking for something new, Cormac reminds us that punk (whatever that means) isn't something fixed, but something that can change and evolve along with us. Ultimately, just a dead good, funny chat with a mate—and there's still so much daftness we didn't get around to! Photo for this episode is by Nicole Goodwin  (https://www.instagram.com/nicolexgoodwin/) Cormac O'Síocháin – Musical Projects Anti-Hero: Vocals/guitar, 1997–1999. Punk rock (Roscommon, Ireland). Nerdlinger: Vocals/guitar, 1999–2003. Punk rock (Roscommon, Ireland). Scientific Bong: Vocals, 2001–2004. Grindcore (Dublin, Ireland). Nuclear Death Terror: Guitar/vocals, 2004 onwards. Crust (Copenhagen, Denmark). Assassinators: Bass, 2005–2006. Melodic punk (Copenhagen, Denmark). Fag Enablerz: Vocals, 2006–2008. Melodic punk (Dublin, Ireland). Fuck You Written In Shit: Drums, 2006–2008. Prog (Dublin, Ireland). Fuil Na Seanchóille: All instruments, 2007 onwards. Black metal (Dublin, Ireland). Raw Arse: Bass/drums/vocals, 2008 onwards. Raw punk (Hulta, Sweden). Krömosom: Guitar, 2010–2016. Raw punk (Melbourne, Australia). Geld: Guitar, 2014-2024. Hardcore (Melbourne, Australia). Nightpig: Vocals/drums, 2016 onwards. Black thrash (Melbourne, Australia). Metatyrant: Producer/DJ, 2021 onwards. Electronic, techno, industrial. (Melbourne, Australia) Sionnach Tine: Various instruments/production, 2024 onwards. (Melbourne, Australia)

In this episode we sit down with Bry, multi-instrumentalist, gig organiser, record label enthusiast and one of those people who seems to have spent most of his life making things happen in the DIY punk scene.  Growing up in Brigg, discovering punk and skateboarding through Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Keith Flint, Bry takes us back to his early days making a racket upstairs while his mum was trying to watch Coronation Street. We talk about starting bands at 14, his ace mum driving him and his mates to gigs, and the musical journey that eventually took him from small-town punk shows to touring the world. From Cop Out and Dry Heaves to Rat Cage, where he writes and records every instrument himself, Bry's enthusiasm for making music has never waned. But it's his experiences touring Europe's squats and social centres that helped shape his understanding of what DIY could be, eventually inspiring him and his friends to establish the Lughole in Sheffield. We discuss the collective effort behind creating and sustaining independent spaces, putting on gigs, and building a community around music. Now a dad and working as an electrician, Bry remains as committed as ever, helping organise the brilliant Noise Annoys Fest at the new Lughole. And if dislocating his collarbone while dancing to Larma in Stockholm is anything to go by, his enthusiasm shows no signs of slowing down! Bry's story is a reminder that "DIY or DIE " is more than an overused slogan,  and about more than playing in bands. It's about friendship, collective action, and making things happen rather than waiting for someone else to do it. Loads a links (and lincs)..and don't forget the latest ratcage album is out on La Vida Es Un Mus Discos (photo of Bry by Christina Inferno) https://www.lughole.org https://ratcage.bandcamp.com https://sievehead.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-blue https://heavysentence.bandcamp.com https://straybullethc.bandcamp.com https://youtu.be/pG58AymfD6E?is=j6V-LsJW-IqzratH https://skiplickers.bandcamp.com/album/mindfucked-ep

In a world where punk sometimes feels like an endless production line of manufactured rage, with bands simply going through the motions, there are still voices that cut through the noise. Voices with a texture and presence that transcend language, grabbing hold of even those of us who don't understand a word of Finnish. Helena is one of those voices. She has what a certain clever French bloke once called the grain of the voice. Intelligent, humble, idiosyncratic and fiercely enthusiastic, Helena takes us through a life shaped by music, from growing up in small Finnish towns and learning the violin through fear and discipline at music school, to discovering punk and searching for a place within the scene. We talk about struggling to find bands that would accept her, the two punk girls at high school who took her under their wing, and eventually finding her feet in the Finnish hardcore underground. Having played in bands including Kylmä Sota and Selfish, Helena tells us about taking matters into her own hands in 2012, deciding to try singing and forming Kohti Tuhoa with guitarist Ville. We discuss the importance of friendship and trust within a band, the remarkable fact that Kohti Tuhoa have maintained the same line-up since the beginning, and the determination to keep pushing their music forward rather than simply repeating themselves. With a fourth album on the way, that creative restlessness is clearly still alive. We also explore the less glamorous but equally important realities of playing in bands: being organised, making things happen, balancing touring and creativity with parenthood, and finding ways to keep music an essential part of life as circumstances change. And, as if she wasn't busy enough, Helena has now taken up the drums in black metal band Frigid Winter! From the young outsider searching for a place in the scene to the vocalist who went on to create one of Finnish hardcore's most distinctive bands, Helena's story is one of perseverance, friendship and doing things on your own terms. Helena talks about making space for new, young and upcoming bands on the  Helsinki punk scene, even English pop singer and former glamour model  Sam Fox gets a mention. Bands: Transkaakko (Violin) Khatarina (bass) Kylmä sota (bass) Stumm (bass) Palace Beautiful (guitar) Selfish (bass) Kohti Tuhoa (vocals) Frigid Winter (drums)

This is first episode we recorded, so it's more of chat between old mates, really setting the tone for the whole d.i.y unprofessional project. Although he was originally meant to be our first 'guest', it's somehow fitting that Gareth "Gaz" Smith closes the season. Musician, writer, coffee drinker, devotee of fika, picker of wild blueberries, and lifelong participant in heavy music, Gaz reflects on a life shaped by class, love of heavy music, becoming a dad, and punk rock. From growing up in the working-class steel town of Corby to playing in bands including Raging Speedhorn, Victims, Diagnosis? Bastard! and Alarm!, we talk about discovering heavy music through bands like Iron Monkey, finding politics through punk, touring, writing, moving to Sweden, and the experiences that took him from major labels and tour buses back to the DIY underground. Having experienced both worlds, Gaz explains why he ultimately chose community over industry, and why the DIY ethos continues to shape the way he lives, creates and relates to others. Thoughtful, self-deprecating and full of stories, Gaz reminds us that punk isn't something you grow out of: it's something that grows with you.   Watch out for next season starting sometime in september!! ALARM!: https://alarmhardcore.bandcamp.com/ Victims: https://victims.bandcamp.com/ Diagnosis? Bastard!: https://diagnosisbastard.bandcamp.com/ Nubenegra: https://wearenubenegra.bandcamp.com/ A\\VOID: https://avoid2.bandcamp.com/ Raging Speedhorn: https://ragingspeedhorn.bandcamp.com/music/ Battle of Santiago: https://battleofsantiago1.bandcamp.com/album/a-lamp-of-hope/  

This episode features our good friend Darren "Tadpole" Bourne. For more than three decades, Darren has been one of the quiet forces behind the Brihton/UK DIY punk and hardcore scene,through Tadpole Records, Tadpole Fanzine, the Just One Life Collective, Rigsby Zine, and countless gigs where he's usually found at the front with a camera rather than on the stage. We talk about growing up working class on the south coast, discovering heavy metal through the back of an older kid's denim jacket, skateboarding as an escape, and finding a home in hardcore through its politics, friendships and sense of community. Darren reflects on singing in Ättestor, running a DIY record label, becoming a father, and why he ultimately realised he enjoyed supporting bands more than being in one himself. At a time when so many people look backwards, Darren remains driven by curiosity. He's still discovering new bands, filming gigs, sharing music, and championing the next generation with the same enthusiasm he had as a teenager. Humble, generous and completely unpretentious, Darren is one of the unspoken heroes who remind us that punk has always been about far more than music, it's about community, commitment and showing up for the people around you.   Ättestor  https://youtu.be/t9RiGlZOmzM?is=e_8BiuwrctamTy6K/   System Defector  https://youtu.be/INo2swO4yL8?is=tgu-8yjvS9YA_nW2/   Unslug https://youtu.be/iGxUB_GfBSo?is=SQZH-CdXzuVUhtJ4 Tadpole Records Bandcamp https://tadpolerecords.bandcamp.com/music/   Tadpole Records YouTube  https://youtube.com/@tadpolerecords?si=HtuK1VuU-8fl2771/    Tadpole Records  https://tadpolerecords.blogspot.com/2012/04/tadpole-records.html?m=1/  

Born in Venezuela and raised in Chile, Eva LeBlanc is the frontwoman of the hardcore punk band Traidora, as well as a multidisciplinary artist, musician and writer based in the UK. Eva's upbringing was a restless one, and she started her first band as a young teenager. After a life-changing visit to the legendary Dial House, she knew she had found a home—both in a new country and within punk. In this episode, Eva discusses her pathway into punk and how its intensity, its rage, joy and uncompromising spirit, has translated into a way of living, creating and resisting. Alongside Traidora, Eva has also collaborated with Eve Libertine of CRASS and continues to be an active presence in the UK's DIY punk scene.   https://traidorapunx.bandcamp.com/   https://www.lavidaesunmus.com/product/una-mujer-trans-sin-pais/   https://www.instagram.com/traidorapunk/   https://deadnamepunx.bandcamp.com/   https://www.instagram.com/disforiapunx/   https://www.instagram.com/lavidaesunmus/   https://calibansounds.bandcamp.com/    

In this episode, we speak with Marv Gadgie: legendary instigator of gig-time rumness at the  Indian Queen pub in Boston not Boston (the Lincolnshire one, not the American one), zine and book writer, and a sharp observer of both the absurd and the hidden wonders of everyday life. We trace Marv's journey into punk, from discovering Discharge to moving to Boston and helping transform the Indian Queen into an unlikely but vital stop on the DIY touring circuit, welcoming bands like Tragedy, Victims, Fucked Up, Warhead, Code13, DS13, Catharsis, Phobia, Stupids, Varukers, and Municipal Waste. More than just a venue, the Indian Queen became a meeting place where friendships were forged, ideas exchanged, and an international network of people connected through punk took shape. Along the way, we explore the rich history of Boston's punk scene, talking about hometown heroes such as Urko and the much-missed Jas Toomer, as well as newer bands like Gristle. Throughout the conversation, we reflect on how punk is sustained not simply by records and gigs, but by the friendships, generosity, and communities that grow around the music, alongside plenty of stories, humour, and an appreciation for the extraordinary hidden within the seemingly ordinary. Excuse the audio quality on this one..and the regional accents... Thanks to Rob Migone for doing his best with the audio!! Gadgie zine in the Guardian newspaper https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jul/15/uk-fanzines-zine-radical-resurgence?fbclid=IwY2xjawTEcExleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEerx2hcYMso9C0FRb7jX045qVbpJ1a4AvF3OhbZcPLErUfa9jtiNMcwGYH2b0_aem_hJudwicbDfiStR1Yc9LRGA R.I.P Jas Toomer https://iqhc.bandcamp.com/album/urko/ R.I.P Darrel Skinner https://iqhc.bandcamp.com/album/poindexter/ https://iqhc.bandcamp.com/ Intro: Gristle.....Maximum Power https://gristleboston.bandcamp.com/ Outro:  Onlooker … Peaceful Protest … https://onlookertheband.bandcamp.com/ Boston Bands over the years: https://iqhc.bandcamp.com        

In this episode, we talk with Scoot about far more than punk. We discuss growing up in a poor working-class family, the perspective that came from a career spent caring for others, and how that shaped the way he viewed the opportunities music gave him. From touring the world to remembering that his first trip abroad wasn’t until he was 19 — a journey to Belgium with Doom — we explore what those experiences meant in the context of where he came from. We also reflect on Scoot’s relationship with alcohol, the challenges of navigating life on and off the road, and how gratitude, class, and personal growth have remained constant threads throughout his journey. It’s an honest conversation about punk, work, privilege, addiction, and never losing sight of where you came from. Intro:Retsu ..lessons in self destruction https://retsupunk.bandcamp.com/ Outro: Extinction of mankind...Inside my fears https://extinctionofmankind1.bandcamp.com/album/slaves-to-no-one/ https://ukdoom.bandcamp.com/  

In this episode, we speak with the legendary, wonderful, and towering Jos Houtveen, known for his work with Total Chaoz, The Sextons, Lärm, Staathaat, Seein’ Red, and Disturbers, as well as for being the driving force behind AutoReverse Records. Jos may be retiring this year from his job as a head teacher at a school, but when it comes to punk rock, he shows no signs of slowing down. SEXTONS : https://www.bacteria.nl/the-sextons/ DISTURBERS:  https://www.bacteria.nl/disturbers/ TOTAL CHAOZ: https://www.bacteria.nl/total-chaoz/  LÄRM: https://www.bacteria.nl/larm/ Seein' Red: https://seeinred.bandcamp.com/ KUIPVREES (New 12 inch in the works): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elY1OEBKOnE/   KRIEGSTANZ: https://opiaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/kriegstanz-10/   ORWELL NATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLVu0436qM8/ STAATHAAT: https://opiaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/staathaat-s-t-lp/