by Abel Horwitz
Daily Lobo
You can call punk rock a lot of things, just don't call it heartless.
On Friday night the Launchpad is hosting a benefit show as a thank-you to the under-21 crowd who stood up to Mayor Chavez's proposal to stop all-ages shows.
Instead of paying a cover charge to get in, the Launchpad is requesting that everyone who attends brings canned food to be donated to charity.
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At the show local punk rock groups the Eyeliners and Stabbed in Back will perform.
Tim O'Hara, drummer and founding member of Stabbed in Back looks at the Launchpad's food drive as only the beginning.
"Early on in Stabbed in Back's life we decided to be more than a band that just shows up to play music. We wanted to do something good, also," O'Hara said. "We're members of the Food Not Bombs organization, and we set up a food bin at all of our shows. We tell the kids all the time that if you bring canned food to our show we'll give you band merchandise."
O'Hara sees Stabbed in Back as a band that's trying to get back to the roots of punk rock.
"I see the kids that are in bands like Simple Plan as stuff that embraces certain aspects of punk rock that isn't the same stuff that we play or that we grew up with," he said. "Punk rock is a pretty safe thing now. It's all over MTV. With Stabbed in Back we wanted to get back to the roots of punk rock, keep it old-school. We're trying to stay independent and underground."
The show is headlined by Albuquerque punk rock sister trio the Eyeliners, who have been steadily gaining a strong following around America with its high-energy shows and catchy songs.
"It's been two years since we played Albuquerque," said Laura Eyeliner. "It's a good feeling to be playing at home. There's something about the vibe. You get a warm feeling when you're in your hometown and onstage. Plus, we're really excited to play the free show, and it's for a good cause."
In the two years since they've played in Albuquerque, the Eyeliners have recorded an album, No Apologies. They've been touring practically nonstop, first on the Van's Warped Tour, and then on the road with No Use For A Name and Yellowcard.
"The best thing about touring is playing a new city every night," Laura said. "The energy of the crowd is different each night and when you're in a band you get an adrenaline rush from it. You feed off of it."
Laura said punk rock is about doing what you like to do.
"We're not out there to please anybody, we do everything for ourselves. To me that's the ultimate definition of being a punk rocker. It really should be about just being yourself. And when the crowd embraces you for that it's the best thing you can ask for."
