Every scene has its fashionistas, and punk is no exception — anyone who remembers attending an AFI show in the ’90s and being denigrated for wearing Abercrombie or having a San Pablo-style perm can attest to that. But in punk rock, elitism is really the exception to the rule; since this scene grounds itself in its populist sensibility, it’s ultimately about letting everyone get in where she fits in. And Berkeley’s mighty 924 Gilman Street warehouse is as punk rock as it gets. Volunteer-run, all-ages, drug-free, staunchly not-for-profit, and committed to giving unsigned bands a chance, 924 Gilman is one of the few venues where you can go and represent your punky, funky self. In addition to its stable of hardcore and thrash acts, Gilman showcases a lot of rare and unusual performers: potty-mouthed comedians, Los Angeles-raised ninjas … even accordion players (the club has unreleased documentary footage of Jason Webley leading a crowd in the “Aardvark Song”). You just aren’t gonna see that anywhere else.
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