Boulder DIY scene: punk rock shows raise money at Community Cycles

BOULDER, Colo. -

The image of bike enthusiasts doesn't immediately fit with the image of punk rock, but born out of a counter-culture of being self-sufficient and independent, punk rock has more in common with bike riding than we think. The affinity that the do-it-yourself (DIY) underground has for bikes comes naturally with the territory of trying to remain independent of corporations and mainstream society.

Since February, bikes have gotten a little more punk rock in Boulder. Community Cycles, the non-profit with the notable Earn-A-Bike program, has been hosting punk rock shows as a fundraiser. Earn-A-Bike allows adults and youth to get a bike by volunteering for 10 hours at Community Cycles, then picking a bike and tuning it to specific preferences. Community Cycles has been in Boulder for over 3 years and helps about 250 Boulderites earn a bike each year.

Denver underground music writer Tom Murphy said that many in the punk rock scene like riding a bike because it enables them to rely on something only powered by themselves. According to Josh Brown, Director of Development for Community Cycles, bikes give you autonomy because you are getting yourself where you're going, not a car and not gasoline

"Bikes are totally punk rock," Brown said.

Tonight, Community Cycles is hosting a show with Fort Collins' 10-4 Eleanor, Denver's No High Fives To B.S., and Denver's The Other Russia. All of the proceeds benefit the Youth Earn-A-Bike Program. They've had three similar shows so far, featuring bands Off with Their Heads, Bomb the Music Industry and most recently, punk-folk band, Andrew Jackson-Jihad.

While Denver has Rhinoceropolis, the Boulder DIY scene is bleak. Community Cycles' shows are a step underground for the city, giving local and touring punk bands an outlet.

"Someone asked me if I could put on a show and I hadn't thought about it," Brown said. Having set up shows in high school for touring bands, he had the epiphany: "Oh yeah, I have a bike shop that I work at."

The shows have been successful, drawing crowds despite having little in the way of marketing. Community Cycles' doesn't advertise their shows on Facebook, Myspace or even their Web site. Instead, recalling punk rock shows from an earlier time, they rely on word-of-mouth and fliers.

At the Andrew Jackson-Jihad show, July 18, there seemed to be no problem with the strategy. The small shop held about thirty people, all clearly fans of Andrew Jackson-Jihad, singing along and dancing in the bike garage-turned-venue. The band, a two-man band from Phoenix with a stand-up bass player and guitarist/vocalist, ended the show with a set full of crowd requests and a sing-a-longs.

The benefit was the band's second show of a five-week tour. According to vocalist Sean Bonette and bassist Ben Gallaty, they try to play as many benefits as they can, especially to help bike shops.

Gallaty says that he likes to go as long as he can go with out driving his car. The band sees bike riding and underground culture as being supportive of each other.

"It kind of fosters the lifestyle of really living for yourself," said Bonette, "not supporting anything else but the things you do, and things you love, and the people you love."

"Plus," Gallaty said, "Punk kids are (expletive deleted) broke."