One of the settings in Hard Truths is a punk bar in Athens, graffitied inside and out, with draft Grimbergen on tap. Bars are fun to use in novels because of their flexibility: gritty or elegant? Earsplitting techno vs quiet jazz? An arranged meet, a new connection, or a fight?
Punk rock emerged in the 70s as an antidote to the excesses of rock in that era. Punk embraced hard-edged, short melodies, stripped-down instruments, and a DIY, anti-establishment vibe, with frank, confrontational lyrics. With the availability of recording equipment, garage bands had a chance to be heard, and independent record labels proliferated.
Early groups The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, The Velvet Underground, and The Clash achieved lasting fame, and spawned New Wave, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Post Punk, Noise Rock, and Emo, among others. In recent years, Green Day is one of the most well-known group in the US.
The term “punk” also came to be associated with a certain style (leather jackets, spiked collars, T-shirts designed to offend, safety pins, bondage wear) and culture (nihilism, alienation, gritty urban life, and sexual taboos), and debate rages over who is a “poser,” who loves the style, vs “authentic,” embracing antiestablishment values.
What settings do YOU enjoy in novels?
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