Music happens in waves. Bands, genres, scenes, movements—they feed off smaller currents, gather energy and swell, amassing strength, size, and force along the way. Eventually, if the timing and conditions are right, they might stir up enough power and noise to capture the attention of the broader world. But for the most part, they remain isolated, stranded in their own local or regional waters, unable to build enough momentum to crest and break. Anyone who’s spent time staring out at the ocean knows that even the biggest waves don’t always reach their peak; sometimes they just roll along, lose momentum, and ultimately recede and wash away.
For those who have been paying close attention to Atlanta’s punk scene over the past several years, there’s a discernible feeling that something special is happening, that a surge of exceptional talent has been building into something unique and potent. It’s not my intention today to draw out the specifics of this movement, but if you’re searching for an example that speaks to its depth, you need look no further than tonight’s triple release show at 529.
Featuring three of Atlanta’s finest newcomers, the bill highlights how even bands working within the same relative genre have been able to carve out their own distinctive spaces. While all three groups share some degree of overlapping audiences and a kind of dark nihilism as a thematic root, Death Stuff’s acidic noise-punk maintains only a passing semblance to Nag’s blistering hardcore, which itself has little in common with DiCaprio’s disaffected, atonal post-punk. And that’s the beauty of it all. Increasingly, local bands are shaking free from the shackles formula and imitation, and embracing their peculiarities. The result has been a more expansive and exploratory scene that has managed to grow in a manner that feels natural and organic.
But don’t take our word for it. According to Henry Owings, whose label Chunklet Industries is releasing all three singles being celebrated tonight, “Atlanta has been killing it for a while now.” To be clear, Owings isn’t interested in looking backwards and tracing the origins of this current movement. He’s lived in Atlanta long enough to remember a time when groups like the Marvelous 3 and Collective Soul were chasing radio hits and elbowing out smaller groups for local headlines. Since then, however, he’s watched wave after wave of bands roll in and out of the city. Some have left a lasting impact, but most have fallen into distant memory. So what has him excited about this particular moment in Atlanta music? “The ability to go out literally any night of the week and see at least one band that leaves you wanting to buy a record from them,” Owings responds. “Personally, the music scene in Atlanta right now is about as commanding a place you could possibly be. And yes, I’m including ’93 Chicago, ’99 Brooklyn, and even ’04 Atlanta, in this discussion.”
While that may read like a bold statement, Owings isn’t alone in his assessment. You don’t have to look long on this site to find similar assertions (here and here, for instance), and there seems to be a general agreement, especially in punk circles, that an undercurrent of innovative bands and music is continuing to build and gather force.
“A lot of the bands on the newer side (i.e. Mutual Jerk, Nag) really seem like they’re getting their footing,” says Death Stuff drummer Jacob Armando. “I’m really impressed with the releases this year and can’t wait for more to come in the next few months like the Uniform LP and hopefully a demo from Cashmere soon. All in all, Atlanta’s punk scene couldn’t be more thriving.”
For his part, DiCaprio drummer and Immersive scribe Russell Rockwell sees a convergence of several factors leading to Atlanta’s current abundance. From the scene’s prolific output, to the continuing emergence of talented new acts, to the introduction of exciting new venues, Rockwell argues there are a multitude of reasons to be amped about what’s going on in the scene. “There’s so much happening within the wide landscape of Atlanta punk right now, I can really barely keep up,” he says. “I recently saw Lois Righteous play what I’m pretty sure was their first show and they totally killed it, so I’m excited to see what they do in the future. Also, the folks at Rowdy Dowdy have made a habit of doing awesome stuff all the time.”
To help both celebrate and propel this growing wave of inventive local punk, Chunklet is simultaneously releasing three lathe-cut 7-inches—one each from Death Stuff, DiCaprio, and Nag. Each release was recorded by Graham Tavel, which helps coat the records in a similar gritty veneer, while still leaving room for each group’s unique aesthetic to shine through. Limited to just 40 copies, the pressing follows in the wake of similar Chunklet releases from Atlanta groups All the Saints, Slugga, and Shepherds. All three records will be available for purchase this evening, and according to an article from Creative Loafing, all seven songs recorded for the series will eventually be compiled and released on cassette tape.
But in order for today’s burgeoning ripples to become a full, roaring wave, there needs to be greater buy-in from the public at large. Custom releases and internet articles are one thing, but they need to translate into greater participation from local music lovers. Waves come and go, but the ones the leave the biggest mark are the ones that sweep up people in their wake, tosses them about, and forces them to pay attention. And according to Owings, that transformational change has yet to fully happen. “What’s surprising is that more people (people whose opinion I trust) don’t show up to more local shows except for the obvious ones,” he laments.
With an EP from Air-Sea Dolphin and a full length from All the Saints (“Definitely the creamiest cream of the Atlanta crop,” says Owings) currently in the works, Chunklet will continue to do their part to ensure what happens in Atlanta gets documented, if not always heard on a wider level. But for now he’s focused on the present, and trying to draw as much awareness to the three bands releasing records tonight. While the show will surely pack in a sizable crowd, the idea that similar levels of turnout and enthusiasm aren’t maintained for other shows leaves Owings scratching his head. “The fact that for a very small entry fee (of usually $5 or less) you can witness what’s going on in town should stand to show how incredible this town is currently. It’s literally in our backyard. It’s staggering. Music fans of every shade should be flipping out about the bands they can see in Atlanta right now, and yes, I feel sorry for those that don’t see it as obviously as I do.”
Death Stuff, Nag, and DiCaprio will celebrate the release of their respective 7-inches tonight at 529. Doors open at 9 p.m. Donations accepted at the door. 21+ to enter.