With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
An ‘Ode’ To LA’s Backyard Gigs And Punk Scene
Alice Bag was born in East LA and was a huge part of the early punk rock movement in Los Angeles.
(
Alyson Camus
/
Courtesy Alice Bag
)
Topline:
The impact of East L.A. on punk rock has been overshadowed by the genre's explosive early years in Hollywood in the late 1970s. But journalist (and punk) Stephanie Mendez says the scene on the other side of the L.A. River, rooted in backyard gigs, has in recent years been finally getting its due.
Why it matters:
The influential backyard gig scene in Boyle Heights and East L.A., which began in the early 1980s, came about partially out of necessity, Mendez told How To LA host Brian De Los Santos. Turned away by Hollywood clubs, and sometimes openly racist bookers, East L.A. bands started putting on gigs anywhere they could.
Sponsored message
“It's also this very Latinx cultural inclination,” Mendez says, “to throw our quinceañeras, our bodas, baptisms, birthday parties in our yards. It's just easy. It's accessible, especially for low-income communities.”
Now, backyard gigs have spread and are considered a quintessential California thing. “We have East L.A. to thank for that," Mendez says.
Listen to the Conversation (warning strong and derogatory language):
Listen
18:07
A SoCal Punk’s ‘Ode’ To LA’s Backyard Gigs
Go deeper:
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
