Folkpunk - Blog Posts
Sean Bonnette performing Alpha Rats Nest (originally by The Mountain Goats) at The Deaf Institute in Manchester, England. 10/2/2014
Video credits to Luke Bather on YouTube
AJJ performing Still Smokin' at a house show. 12/22/2007
Video credits to Don Cheney on YouTube
Rent Strike performing VIII: Shadow & Gloom at Waller's Coffee Shop in Decatur, Georgia. 9/24/2023
Two days ago Rent Strike released their newest album (Mobius Strip Mall) You (🫵) should listen to it. It's really very good you're gonna love it i promise <3<3
Video credits to Dakota Floyd on YouTube
The Taxpayers performing The Cold Front at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. 7/15/2024
I recorded this one :D
Ramshackle Glory performing Last Song at Township in Chicago, Illinois. 6/23/2014
Video credits to ralieghTsakers on YouTube
The Taxpayers performing No Lodging For The Mad at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. 7/15/2024
Video recorded by me :3
Apes of the State performing I Shot A Gun Today at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. 7/15/2024
[Context for April's speech: this show was two days after the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump] -> "Nobody deserves to die as a result of political violence, so rest in peace to the person that fucking died because that kid missed, but the only people that do deserve to die as a result of political violence are the 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 themselves that perpetuate violence across the globe. That promote genocide, that build cop cities, and that refuse to take action on climate change. So that being said, fuck the United States government."
Video recorded by me :3
Mischief Brew performing The Government Stole My Germs CD (originally by Erik's first band, The Orphans) at The Note in West Chester, New York. 7/24/2011
Video credits to West Chester Rock City on YouTube
Suggested Song
(do you want the history of your favorite folk song? dm me or submit an ask, and I'll do a full rundown like here)
"Plastic Jesus" Tia Blake, 1971
Plastic Jesus was originally written by George Cromarty and Ed Rush in 1957 and performed live in 1962 at the San Francisco State College Folk Festival, where it was recorded and released later that year in their duo band The GoldcoastSingers.
the back of their debut Album reads
"On a foggy Sunday afternoon in March of 1962, THE GOLDCOAST SINGERS clambered on stage at San Francisco State College before an unsuspecting audience of 1,000 or so. After they were introduced as the final performers at the San Francisco State Folk Festival, people in the audience mumbled, "Who?". This query was followed by shouts of "More!". The reaction was, to say the least, wild. After five encores, breathless and perspiring like pigs, they came on for one last "song," entitled "Plastic Jesus." This ode flattened the audience. All through the performance people had been walking out of the auditorium grumbling, "Mis-guided youth" and "Whippersnappers," but the finale was too much for those whose soft spots had not yet been touched. A dozen (actually twelve) marched up the aisles in righteous indignation. The remaining nine hundred some odd rose in a tremendous ovation. Fortunately that concert was taped, and this record is the product"
I think that the truth is stretched here a bit, and like with the song "Plastic Jesus," it is meant to be comedic.
This is the only album produced by The Goldcoast Singers, but George Cromarty would continue to produce music as a solo artist.
later, in 1964, the song was recorded and performed by Ernie Marrs and was mentioned in Vol. 14, no. 2 in "Sing Out! Magazine.
with Ernie Marrs being credited with writing the lyrics.
Later, in 1967, the song was featured in the movie "Cool Hand Luke", performed by Paul Newman. Interesting for taking the satirical and comedic song and reimagining it as somber. this movie is likely what popularized the song in addition to its feature in the magazine.
in 1971, Tia Blake released what is effectively her only album in France, which led to it being mostly forgotten until it was re-released in 2011. Since then, it has become more well-known. This makes me very happy because i love this album! i think all the songs on it are beautiful and wonderfully made. It's a shame she didn't record more.
I think something very interesting happened with the song, and these 4 covers effectively tell a story with how they each re-imagine it.
the original lyrics by The Goldcoast Singers are biting with satire and are funny if not a bit mean-spirited. We, as the audience, are not meant to relate with the person with the plastic Jesus bobblehead.
then, ernie marrs' version doesn't have the intro of the original duo, and shortens the lyrics a bit, but like other works that Ernie Marrs helped write like "The People are Scratching" and "What a Friend we have in Congress" (1966) and (1963)
the humor and satire are a bit more gentle and more subtle. To me, it feels like if you aren't really paying attention, you could miss it. it's comedic, but it could pretty easily be remembered as a charming fun folk song rather than a satire on Christian commercialism and a way of making fun of rednecks.
the movie version song is completely different. I'll be honest, i have not seen this movie, but it seems like this song is 1. completely genuine and devoid of sarcasm, and 2. very, very sad. the song morphs into bitter melonchy. it is the farthest thing from funny.
Tia Blake's version returns the song to its roots. kind of. Her version is certainly happy, but it's also painfully genuine. It is also the only song in her 1971 album that i would describe as happy, the rest being mournful, spooky, or full of longing. plastic Jesus is an odd choice. AND, her cover is my favorite. I think there is something beautiful and whimsical about the story presented in the song, about having so much joy come from a mundane object. Its a cheerful and hopeful song in an otherwise tragic album.
the first time i heard the song by tia blake was in a folk punk playlist. i didn't understand why it was on there at first, but i do now. there is a sort of revolutionary optimism in finding hope from the mundane in the midst of hopeless circumstances.
for @ruzqtx
AJJ performing People II: The Reckoning at Trunk Space in Phoenix, Arizona. 8/17/2017
Video credits to PHX STATIC on YouTube
Ramshackle Glory performing We Are All Compost In Training at the Black Sheep Cafe in Springfield, Illinois. 6/11/12
Video credits to Garret Schuelke on YouTube
The Taxpayers performing Stealing Apples from the Man at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. 7/15/2024
This one was recorded by me :3
Apes of the State performing O, Pennsyltucky! (Originally by Mischief Brew) at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania. 7/15/2024
Video recorded by me :3
The Taxpayers performing Black Batons at VLHS in Pomona, California. 12/9/2011
Video credits to RazorcakeGorsky on YouTube
Sean Bonnette and Blunt Mechanic performing Brave As A Noun at Transitions in Tampa, Florida. 9/18/2010
This is undoubtedly my favorite Brave As A Noun performance <3
Video Credits to MyCommentsAreFact on YouTube
The Taxpayers performing Militaristic Kitchen (with a tutorial on the Magic Fingers Tornado dance!) at VLHS in Pomona, California. 12/9/2011
Video credits to RazorcakeGorsky on YouTube
Erik Petersen performing Departure Arrival at 7th Circle in Denver, Colorado. 4/16/14
Video credits to Aaron Saye on YouTube
Ramshackle Glory performs The Club Hits Of Today Will Be The Showtunes of Tomorrow at The Union Project in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 6/26/14
Video credits to Folk the System on YouTube
Sean Bonnette and Jeff Rosenstock performing El Principito at El Cortez in Brooklyn, New York. 3/4/2019
"It's called Little Prince, it's a punk rock n roll song :)" ily sean bonnette
Video credits to Aiden Mitchell on YouTube
AJJ performing Growing Up at a house show. 12/22/2007
Video credits to Don Cheney on YouTube
AJJ performing Jesus Saves at The Troubadour in Hollywood, California. 3/26/2012
Video credits to doraller on YouTube
Sean Bonnette performing Hate and Kill at The Champ in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. 4/19/2013
Video credits to frankykapone on YouTube
The Taxpayers performing Hungry Dog In The Street + He Was Born Outdoors at Golden Bough Bookstore in Macom, Georgia. 2/10/2011
Video credits to Chris McDonald on YouTube
Ramshackle Glory performing Last Days at the Black Sheep Cafe in Springfield, Illinois. 6/11/2012
Video credits to Garret Schuelke on YouTube
AJJ performing All The Dead Kids + Unicron at The Hickey Underworld, 5/15/09
— Video credits to BrantosIscariot on YouTube —
AJJ performing Just Like Old Times (originally by Todd Snider) at the Che Cafe Collective in San Diego, California. 5/17/2009
Video credits to Don Cheney on YouTube
Pat the Bunny, playing solo as Wingnut Dishwashers Union, performing For A Girl In Rhinelander, WI at an unknown venue in Chicago, Illinois. 7/14/2009
Video credits to migosset on YouTube
Rent Strike performing Oh, Ads! at Waller's Coffee Shop in Decatur, Georgia. 9/24/2023
The band released Oh, Ads! as a single on Bandcamp almost two weeks ago, it's great! Listen to it here ->
Or, if Spotify is more your thing, they released it there the day after. Listen here ->
Video credits to Dakota Floyd on YouTube