By Luka Cutts, Third Year Biochemistry
Starting out as a surf punk act, Descendents burst onto the '80s LA hardcore punk scene, soaring in popularity and standing out with their relatable angsty lyrics matched to their melodic catchy hooks. Cited as a massive influence on bands such as Green Day, Blink 182 and NOFX, the band has a lot of weight behind its name.
They originally gained traction through the underground LA skate scene, particular DIY videos of the day. Nowadays, people my age (20) are finding out about the band through videogames such as GTA V and their explosion on TikTok.
It would probably explain the very age diverse crowd, proving the bands longevity and timeless nature. The opener, Circle Jerks performed with all their intense energy still present, however the lead singer Keith Morris (previous frontman of Black Flag) figuratively circle-jerked himself.
He decided to take full five-minute intervals between songs talking nonsense, waffling about politics with no clear direction or actual point. One rant was about a Ukrainian sniper, with another about how Uggs and Crocs were punk rock, before ending his rambles with 'that's just food for thought.'
All I could think during these preachings was: ‘how many songs could they have played in this time’ and that ‘people spent £35 to listen to this’. Other than the babble, when the band played they captured the crowd and a healthy sized moshpit would form.
A reminder that they weren’t just any opener; it was a show for the Descendents and the Circle Jerks. When it came to the Descendent's performance, they really showed their mettle.
Despite drummer Bill Stephenson previously having a brain tumour and lead singer Milo Aukerman having suffering a heart attack, the band played with all the fury you would expect of a SoCal punk rock band.
I was moshing almost constantly, surrounded by folks of all ages adorned in '80s LA punk memorabilia. They even returned for an encore of three songs, a gesture of appreciation to all their mosh-hungry fans. All their songs were played full of the passion and anger they had when they recorded.
Something I find interesting is how the Descendents don’t follow the punk ‘rule book’ whatsoever, compared to the violent and bruising tunes of bands such as Bad Religion, Germs, Agent Orange and D.R.I. They seem to carry all the aggression and punch but directed completely elsewhere.
Songs with anti-drug sentiment, wanting to conform, living in a suburban home, and being hopeless at succeeding with women are some of the topics that make a common appearance. The Descendents are the anger outlet of the nerd, which I find refreshing.
Moshing to songs about nerdy teenage insecurity and entitlement is incredibly liberating. It’s being told you aren’t alone, and you can accept yourself (in a way that isn’t cringe). It’s incredibly clear how much they influenced the face of pop-punk, with albums like Dookie striking very similar feelings, only with less nerd and more loser.
An issue arises with the band holding misogynistic thought, within certain songs and lyrics, and somewhat pioneering the incel rage within punk. This fact is undeniable with songs such as: 'No FB' and 'Hope', and there are other songs where female promiscuity is shamed even though the singer wants to have sex so desperately.
These ideas are encapsulated in: 'Ride the wild', 'pervert', 'sour grapes', and '80s girl'. However, I do not believe the music is representative of Andrew Tate-era woman-hating thought, but instead an honest expression of how deep male adolescent insecurity manifests by blaming others, including unsuccessful romantic ventures.
I do not defend the lyrics, with some songs being just distasteful and morally questionable, but with the constant theme of juvenile expression throughout their discography, is it meant to be taken seriously?
For some people, it will be taken seriously, but that easily spirals into the ‘did heavy metal and violent video games make him a school shooter’ argument. The band does have moments of self reflection in songs such as 'Coolidge' and 'Pep talk', but there are certain others that leave a sour taste.
Descendents will forever be a classic in my eyes, with themes of unapologetic teenage insecurity, matched with their addictive, earworm-y melodies. Backed by raw, chaotic punk energy, the experience provides a fresh and unique feeling to punk where no other artist has been brave enough to go before. Their music stands the test of time and moshing to it was an experience I will cherish.
Featured Image: Benji ChapmanDo you think the '80s LA punk scene is misogynistic?
