MIGRAPUNX

From the start of human culture and society we have banded together for safety, sustenance, love, hate and family ties. This site is here to speak about, explore and document one very small and very specific niche of punk rock music. Immigrant Punks of color have formed the nucleus of the punk rock scene from the start, at times what these people sacrificed for punk was their culture, ethincity and nationality. Eventually as a backlash against immigrants gained acceptance in the early 90's a new scene with old roots emerged, they were punx but with roots and culture. Some called it Latinocore, Raza punk, chicanocore, migrapunx. I called it my scene. Immigrants and the children or grandchildren of immigrants in punk band together every now and then to form a scene, some years it dies down other years it burns brightly, with this site I hope to keep it lit but only with your help.

[migrapunx]

Rich has a pattern of sexual assault, consent/boundary violations, emotional abuse and manipulation. This statement is based on the experiences of multiple women/nb people. He has victimized woc experiencing vulnerable or precarious life circumstances. Attempts to directly confront Rich on these matters has proven fruitless. This page will attempt to share helpful information in as clear and accessible a manner as possible.

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That's right! :)

[fuckyeahanarchistposters]

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One of the more enduring motifs in the development of American hardcore is the oft-repeated description of this burgeoning youth subculture as being a predominantly white suburban dominated one. While this might have been true in certain quarters of the nation during the hardcore explosion in the early '80s, the situation in NYC looked a bit different.

Kids growing up in New York's five boroughs, and beyond, came from extremely varied national origins, the Latino one being an especially prominent one.

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Javier Madariaga is originally from Mexico City and played in one of the first NYHC bands that put a record out, Heart Attack, on their God Is Dead EP from 1981. He also went on to play in the bands Reagan Youth and A.P.P.L.E. as well as his own solo projects. He is credited with playing what would become known as the first recorded version of the “blast beat” drum pattern, as heard on the song “From What I See” off Heart Attack's 1983 Keep Your Distance 12”. This drum pattern would become a big influence on the extreme hardcore/metal hybrid known as grindcore.

[nativepunxunite-deactivated2016]

Race Riot! zine tour touches down in Seattle

In Seattle and around the globe, people of color are carving out their own spaces in a traditionally white-dominated zine culture. Last Friday the POC Zine Project brought the 2013 Race Riot! Tour …

Well this is awkward.

I spoke at the damn thing for 30 minutes and traveled 6000 miles as an official coordinator for the tour, appear in Nia’s film but I’m not mentioned as one of the traveling artists/speakers/coordinators/zine makers. On top of that I’m the one person that’s actually from Seattle.

Not one word on Native Punx Unite.

Hope this gets amended soon.

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A zine to support people who are targets of sexual attacks (rape in all of its varying degrees)

P.s. fuck The Casualties, jorge vete a la verga!

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This San Jose band started in 2003 with three guys x Meño x, Robert and Mikey. Originally a Thrash-core band influenced by Vitamin X, Hostile Takeover and Brujeria they soon began experimenting with Power-violence and upped the Grind influence adding a bassist Juan who later became the guitarist.

  The lyrics were politically influenced by Los Crudos and touched on the immigrant experience, at the time there was a big movement of xenophobia in the U.S. with groups like the Minutemen. This was the Bush era and its influence can be seen in the anti-war, anti bush and anti religious lyrics found in many of Masacre's lyrics.

  Their sound ended up getting faster and harsher turning the band into a Noise/Grind band, they began to play shows with bands like Noisear and Despise you. They broke up in 2007 and split up into several bands including La Grita, Emesis, Tierra//Libertad and most recently These Are The Results Of A Thousand Electric Volts.

Fist to tha face, Masacre and These Are The Results Of A Thousand Electric Volts merged in Oct. 17, 2013 to start the band MONTE stay tuned for news on MONTE!

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Sometimes the internet is cool

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Have you ever had an eyegasm? Los compas de ACxDC getting some love? from Ian! Swoon! I am not being sarcastic.

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Check out La Haine from alburquerque, great screamy punk

Ill check them out!

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Interview with Sergio!! from Anti Christ Demon Core

  Ive been in Asshole Assassination Squad, Max Ward, ¡Libérate! and ACxDC. Im a first generation US citizen. I was born here in Hollywood. My parents were both from Argentina. They both moved here when they were 21 I believe. There was still a military dictatorship there at the time. I didn't learn English until I went to school.

I passed as white since I didn't have an accent and looked white. So no one ever really bothered me about it. I always kind of resented the typical comments about me being Argentinian. Everyone right away said oh you're European and this and that. Yes my history is one of European descent BUT I'm latino. My concept of myself isn't one of whiteness but of being latino. I actually got a lot of crap when I lived in Argentina for being a "gringo". Kids that weren't even born at the time of the Malvinas war with England hated me because Americans supported the British. Typical patriotic bullshit. We moved back to the US when we weren't made citizens out there (Argentina).

  Since I'm in the middle I hear a lot of white folks talking down on latinos around me and I call them out on it. They get sort of surprised haha. But the same stuff happens with latinos talking crap and I start speaking spanish and they're all smiles all of a sudden.  Same happens with my wife. She's Mexican but light skinned so she gets shit from latinos/ chicanos and she calls them out. Or white people wont talk to her if her hair is dark but when she dyes her hair blonde they get real nice all of a sudden.

MPT: What kind of music did you listen to growing up (before Punk)? Grunge! I still love it. Its a part of punk Id say. But not so straightforward. But before that Queen, Santana, Rock En Español, etc. Nirvana got me into everything. From dirty, dirty, doom laden stuff to fast, heavy, abrasive stuff to political, personal stuff. They kind of opened me up to all the music I listen to today. Nirvanas acoustic album. There was something raw to it. Something sophisticated too. Something about it said fuck you this is my art. They would also talk about bands and wear certain shirts that I would check out. This was pre internet haha. So I would have to dig. The first stuff that go me into what I would eventually get into was Propagandhi, Crass and Rudimentary Peni. 

MPT: What kind of Genre defines your early Punk years?

  Id say in terms of stuff I listened to it would be powerviolence, grind, sludge, doom, etc. Dystopia was my first punk record though. The music I grew up with in the LA hardcore scene though was definitely latin hardcore. Fast hardcore punk ala minor threat with almost entirely latino punks in them. Still my favorite style to this day. 

MPT: Did your parents have any problem with any aspect of your "new punkness"?

They thought I was in a cult! I think they still had a fear of openness when it came to politics and beliefs. They didn't really want me involved in organizing or participating in political actions. Which I still did but just kept secret haha. They were afraid of repercussions from police. 

When I started going to shows in the late 90s and early thousands shows were awesome! Always a great amount of kids and energy and no real violence from what I remember. There was quite a few places that threw shows consistently. Great restaurants that had shows and political groups. Lots of community workshops and stuff like that. I got to see bands like tragatelo, lifes halt, kontraattaque, sin orden, subsistencia, what happens next?, scholastic deth, limpwrist, shank, break fast, etc. 

  I noticed when I would take non hardcore people to shows. They sort of freaked out on me. They didn't feel comfortable going to "the ghetto" and hanging out with so many brown people. They didn't get why they were singing in spanish. They didn't like the shirts or pamphlets or lyrics. I guess I realized that I wasn't into "normal" safe punk then. Everyone always liked eating mexican food and hanging out with their latino friends as long as they acted white. Especially political punks that would talk about racism but they didn't have any friends of color. I looked white and that confused people. 

  MPT: What was the first "migrapunk" band you heard and or liked?

  Lifes Halt! they were one of the first bands to sing in spanish (in their scene). They were one of the first bands I heard that didn't sing about generic topics but stuff that affected them and the community and that I could relate to. It made me look at why I was angry. Not just verifying but actually helping me question and get to the root of my anger.

  MPT: What is your view on the migrapunk scene when did it really start? What does it mean? is it important/necessary? 

  It started when punk started. Especially in areas that you were already an outcast for being a person of color. Its important to scream about what were angry about. Its important to talk about and help our communities. Its important to help out people that feel left out. Thats what punk always was to me. Migrapunx, queerpunx, etc. Were all the same. So its important to recognize our uniqueness and what ties us together. LA has always been a great scene. Theres always been latino/chicano punks. I don't know how Id feel about any other place. 

MPT: When did you start ACxDC/Liberate!?

ACxDC in 03. ¡Libérate! in 06. I was asked to join ¡Libérate! after my band Max Ward broke up. ¡Libérate! started and the drummer of Max Ward knew I listened to latino hardcore and spoke fluent spanish so they asked me. 

MPT:LATINO FEST in Mentebello, what part did you play?

  I pretty much just helped where I could because thats what I like to do. So when there was almost a riot and the promoters were all outside being harassed by the cops they kept getting me info to announce so we could avoid more issues. It helped change my perspective in a number of ways. On the one hand it made me really happy to be a part of. A lot of friends from all over the US and the world were there. A lot of great bands. Its great to know we can accomplish something this labor intensive and unifying. But a lot of issues came up. Not at all a reflection on the promoters. But more so on the nature of people. People internalizing their oppression and taking it out on their own. Fights. People inciting others to fight the cops outside even though that would only get people deported or thrown in prison or whatever. People not being able to put aside things that aren't good for the community (ie alcohol, drugs, etc). Sexism. Etc. It always an uphill battle. But overall it made me extremely hopeful. I think more workshops and a diverse representation would be great.

MPT:Have there been other latinofests after that?

  Not as far as I know. At least not under the name Latino fest. It sort of took a lot out of people.  All the drama really hurt people and they couldn't get over it and move forward and learn.

MPT: From what I've been reading  and seeing Anti Christ Demon Core is really active right now but also you have had a family since I last saw you, how has the whole band experience changed now with a wife and kids?

  Its a lot more difficult. But difficulty shouldn't get in the way of things you love. You just have to plan a little better. Organize. Use your support system. Prioritize. Make sure you don't take things for granted. Planning pays off beyond anything else. Before it was sort of lets just have fun and see what happens. Now its lets have fun and make things happen.

MPT: As a father what are the biggest lessons learned as a punk that you want your kids to learn from you?

  Question everything. Use your natural curiosity. Learn. Be open minded. Be open to failure. Be open to others experiences. Be respectful. Be yourself. 

MPT: Do your parents know about ACxDC's lyrical content? how do they feel about it?

  To a degree. They haven't delved deeply but when they do I discuss it at length. I explain the nature of the music allows for only so many syllables to be uttered in a short time span. That explanation is definitely due but its also open a bit for the sake of interpretation, entertainment, etc. They know its all a bit tongue in cheek. They know that I mean well and they support me. Besides im 28 now so they know it isn't a phase anymore ha.

  MPT: How would you compare the Liberate! sound from the ACxDC sound? what are the influences lyrically and musically? 

  ¡Libérate! is definitely a latino hardcore band. Its sort of like Charles Bronson meets Discarga and Crudos. It was straightforward. More sociopolitical and no interpretation needed. I said what I meant. ACxDC was more powerviolence, grind and hardcore. Lyrically ACxDC was always a bit more silly. I was told by my original guitarist to not be preachy to be silly sort of like Spazz. So metaphors were used to mask sociopolitical lyrics haha. 

MPT: What are some NEW Migrapunk bands that have you excited?

I don't know if they consider themselves migrapunks but I love Impulse, Generacion Suicida, Syntax, Nomads, xSWAMPx, Minority Unit (RIP), Rapturous Grief, Fraude, In Disgust, Permanent Ruin, etc.

MPT: Any Messages for all the migrapunks of the past present and future? They've all given me so many great messages. I think that's all Id like to say. 

  SERGIO from ACXDC

  *this interview has been edited for continuity and clarity

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"Beyond The Screams is also beyond the stereotypes. Latino punk bands? Writing from here in Gringolandia, I never knew of such a thing. Wasn't punk the exclusive property of hardcore white guys from the proletariat?" Martin Sorrondeguy, lead singer of the Chicago-based band Los Crudos, takes us on a musical history tour, from the roots in the L.A. renaissance circa 1976, and bands like The Zeros, Plugz, and The Brats, to the latter nineties and the post-nihilism of Youth Against, Bread and Circuits, Kontra Attaque, and others. There's a DIY attitude to Beyond the Screams and a galvanizing energy that echoes many of the performances, songs delivered like shrapnel. The bands featured from El Paso, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Berkeley, testify to the intent of their music as political resistance. This isn't just chunky chords and crackling vocals. Beyond the Screams is the sound of hope mixed with rage."

—Steve Seid, Pacific Film Archive

Documenting the Proto Latino/Chicano Migrapunx starting with the 70's and eighties and then onto the 90's. I attempted to make a new updated version called After the screams: More screams but the person who had the video became hard to track down, the video includes interviews with Fronterrorismo and Control del estado and more.

This Video is important because it connects the bands of the past and connects them to a scene that is still around in a way, we can trace all of the bands from this video to bands like Sin Orden, ACxDC, Impulse and many many more. 

This video and the bands highlighted in it are the MANIFESTO of the MIGRAPUNX

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Looks like 2001 was a busy time in Migrapunk 

Esperanza - was a hardcore punk band from the Los Angeles area between 2001 and 2002. Their sound bears the influenced of bands like the Faith, Articles of Faith and No for an Answer (one song even resembles Inside Out). Esperanza appeared on a number of great compilations during their short existence, including Barbaric Thrash Demolition vol. 2 and Histeria. Their only release besides compliation tracks was a well-reviewed demo that made its way into many hands. They played shows with Total Fury, Lifes Halt, The Oath, Real Shit, What Happens Next?, Tragedy, Youth Riot, Scholastic Deth and Ruination. Members later went on to play in Mugre, Please Inform the Captain This is a Hijack, and Descarados.

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Tragatelo - A band consisting of members from Los crudos, Subsistencia, Life's Halt and Esperanza. Fast and raging the female vocals tear out of the fast hardcore and shake you out of your stupor! Also Martin screams in a scathing song about rebels without a cause, this band was around for 3 years late 90's and early 2000. They put one LP as far as I know the one pictured above.

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LIFES HALT!

I hope to have an interview up within the next couple of months.

What can I say about them that hasn't already been said? A real Thrashcore band, meaningful lyrics and dance-able breakdowns. Group Vocals. They Started in the late 90's and broke up in 2001 I was going to go see them at Gilman but I couldn't go, I've regretted this for a looong time  Taste maker fanzine blog says : "They split up in 2001 I think. Noel went on to play in Annihilation Time, Jon and Charlie have been in a number of bands, and Felix played in a couple as well. Then he moved away, started a family.

But, as time went on he got the itch to play again, and has a new band called Big Crux. Sounds more San Pedro than Seattle. But I think this was where he was bound to end up, since he talked a lot about the Minutemen way back when.

You can check them out here at this site:http://bigcrux.bandcamp.com/"

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Method to my madness?

I'm not going to go in order because that would be masochism so I'm going to go in order of whoever pops into my head, also it doesn't matter to me if the bands are political. or even if they aligned themselves with a scene. For me a Migrapunk band is any band that has people of color and or immigrants to the U.S. from Mexico, Central and South America that may or may not have lyrics in spanish, yes it is an imperfect system but hey you are welcome to correct me I am only a fan with a few bands on the list. I might even have Migrapunx who were not in bands talking about their experiences.

ALSO! I will highlight IMMIGRANT and or bands with people of color which are not from the Americas who I consider to be allies to migrapunk bands and influenced by them and their predecessors.

Im not posting MP3s just videos if available and audio if I have to, there are plenty of blogs with ZIPS and RARS that do that, what I am planning on having are interviews! yes I will try to track down atleast on member of all the bands and ask some questions.

Feel Free to contact me at [email protected]

P.s. check out the Native Punx Unite tumblr it is awesome.