For bands just starting out, a common obstacle is finding places to perform and places to sleep while touring.
Pyrate Punx is taking care of those needs.
Pyrate Punx is an organization dedicated to supporting punk rock bands around the world, helping them to book places to perform, produce records and even housing out-of-town bands and giving them food.
“For traveling musicians, especially starting bands, it’s really difficult,” said Chris Solis, a member of the punk rock band Alcojuana, of Oak Harbor. “They help get you out on the road and make sure you have a safe place to be when you get there.”
The Whidbey Island chapter of Pyrate Punx was founded by Jason “Potbelly” Rodger.
Having toured himself, Rodger said he knows how important it is to get that kind of support on the road. Not only does he sing for his band, Potbelly, he also plays guitar for another band, Porn Stars of Horror.
“It gets expensive and it’s hard on the road,” he said. “It’s a great time, but you get tired.
“With Pyrates, when there’s touring bands, we try to make them a home-cooked meal and give them a place to stay and just make them feel welcome and (that) what they’re doing is worthwhile.”
“The first tour that we did was strictly Pyrate Punx-based shows,” Solis said. “We played like two weeks, from here to Oregon to Idaho, all the way down the California coast and back up, and pretty much every show was based off of the Pyrate Punx.
“So each place we went, we had a place to stay, someone to receive us when we got there.”
Whidbey Island Pyrate Punx has helped the punk rock scene flourish. Rodger said the organization has even had visits by bands from Italy and China.
(Below: Guitarist Josh Stalsworth performs with Gutter Gourmet at a Pyrate Punx gathering. Pyrate Punx is an organization dedicated to supporting punk rock bands around the world, helping them to book places to perform, produce records and even housing out-of-town bands and giving them food.)
Next summer, there’ll be bands visiting from England and Indonesia.
“It gives the kids something to do besides smoking crack and playing Nintendo,” Rodger said. “I think it’s been a real positive thing overall for everybody, bringing all these shows in, all these touring bands.”
The intent of Pyrate Punx is to be all-inclusive.
Sara Martin, current captain of the Whidbey Island Pyrate Punx, grew up on a four-acre alfalfa farm in Michigan and she described herself back then as “an anomaly.” When she moved to Whidbey Island four years ago, she was introduced to the Pyrate Punx.
“For the first time, everything clicked,” Martin said.
She said that from the beginning, she was welcome, and she never felt the need to prove herself.
“There’s an intense love and protection of a safe place to go and express what we artistically want to express,” Martin said.
There’s a sort of punk rock hippocratic oath, she said. “We operate under the guide of ‘live and let live.’”
“The general idea is anybody can be a part of it,” Rodger said. “Anybody, literally. Punk rock in general is giving a safe place for every misfit kid to go.
“It doesn’t matter what sexual orientation, what religious background, girl, boy, gay, straight, black, white. None of that matters to us.
“With us, and punk rock in general, it will always be, you’re welcome. And we’re thankful for you being here, no matter how small.”
Pyrate Punx is all-inclusive and non-judgmental, and they welcome every band and person coming through, Martin said.
“There’s always a niche for people, and sometimes, it’s harder found than others, but it exists,” she said.
“It’s there. It’s waiting to bring you into the fold.”
For information, visit the Whidbey Island Pyrate Punx Facebook page.
