Sloan Convention Center hosted the Punk Rock Flea Market on Saturday, Aug. 30. Chad Sheppard, creator of the Offbeat Horror podcast, said he has organized the event for years, though last week marked its first Bowling Green debut.
“Today it was just about getting as many people as I could in here to have a good time,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard said he made an effort to keep the cost of entry cheap. He also gave away free tickets at multiple store locations in order to make the event as accessible as he could.
“I came from a very broken home, so I found family in the punk rock community growing up,” Sheppard said. “That’s kind of where I found my friends and, you know, how I could sit in my family.”
Doug Byers, owner of the Hard Copies music store at Greenwood Mall, said his store was a sponsor of the event, and that he was handing out free tickets to customers.
Byers said his alternative sensibilities were molded by Black Flag and other punk bands of the mid-‘80s. He also said that his view of the genre is centered on its rebellious conventions.
“No matter what was going on with you and your head, or how you looked, or what you did, they [the punk rock community] accepted and embraced you as part of their culture.”
Byers said that over the years, punk rock has “watered down.”
“Back in the ‘80s, it was very political, it was very, you know, voicing their displeasure with the government,” Byers said. “That seems to be kinda taken out of the punk scene.”
Byers’s assistant manager, Katherine Wilkins, said that punk is more of a mentality and mindset to her.
“I think that it is equality and wanting good for all people, not just your people,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins said she learned about the world of punk rock during her time in college. During this time, she said she connected to the X-Ray Spex, a British group featuring a frontwoman and saxophone. She said she also enjoys newer bands like the Los Angeles-based Linda Lindas.
Wilkins also said that the punk mindset is visible in music from long before London came calling.
“I think it’s interesting, because there are a lot of people who have made music over time that doesn’t necessarily have the sound of typical punk from the ‘70s and ‘80s that I think really embodies the punk mentality,” Wilkins said. “A lot of ‘60s music, I think punk kind of evolved from that.”
Adam Embry, keyholder of Hard Copies, said his perspective on punk rock differed from his mentors.
“I’ve kind of been listening to punk forever,” Embry said. “Probably the first one was Green Day, but recently I’ve been trying to find old recordings of Scream and stuff like that.”
Embry said he has an appreciation for all aspects and eras of punk, growing up after its most intense and controversial shifts. He also said he disagrees with the notion that punk must be inherently combative toward mainstream opinions.
“I think that everything that is punk and everything that will be punk is always going to be embedded in there somewhere,” Embry said. “There’s just times where some characteristics of punk will outshine others.”
Crystal Womack sold handmade crafts for their small business, Chains By C, during the event. They said punk rock was an important creative outlet to balance their day job as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
“I have a very monotonous job,” Womack said. “How can I take all of that and move it to something else?”
Womack said they were apprehensive about categorizing art.
“Punk rock to me is the things that make me happy,” Womack said. “So I am here being a punk rock artist, the things that make me happy outside of my day job.”
Jahi Gardner-Palmer, shop assistant for the day and full-time faculty at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, said that punk rock stands up for itself.
“I would say punk rock is music that fights against the system, against the regime,” Gardner-Palmer said. “Maybe it’s counterculture, maybe it’s not counterculture, but it’s whatever music that speaks to the people listening to it as opposed to the system that might create it.”
Rylynn Strange, a high school senior and creator of Cryptic Creationzz, said she sold custom-designed pants. She also sold handcrafted jewelry made of bones.
“Punk rock, to me, is getting my aggression, and honestly, my femininity out,” Strange said.
Strange said she frequents a local skate shop that regularly hosts punk shows.
“When I’m there, I just let my violence out,” Strange said. “And it’s like, violence mixed with some softness, too. I love to do a little ballerina twirl here and there, too, you know, have a good balance.”
Strange said punk rock has helped her explore her own identity.
“I go to Barren County High School, it’s totally frowned upon to be even labeled as gay,” Strange said. “Just getting out there and meeting new people that are really weird like me made me want to be even weirder and match my last name, Strange.”
The event’s advertising largely centered around its celebrity guests, who were all lined up with their own meet-and-greet stations. Among the guests was Blake Best, author of multiple “A Nightmare on Elm Street” novels. Mick Strawn, architect of horror sets throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, also appeared. Additionally, John Dugan, known for his portrayal of Grandpa Sawyer in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” showed.
David Calabrese also known as “Abominable Dr. Chud” appeared as the fourth guest. He is most known for playing drums in The Misfits throughout the ‘90s.
Calabrese said that he would describe punk rock as a sense of freedom. He said the modern political landscape was his inspiration to join The Karens, a young punk rock band.
“The government isn’t being so nice to the people,” Calabrese said. “I think it’s really important for us to fight back. Just, truth to power.”
