Why Underground Support Matters

In this exclusive Music Mondays article we explain the true meaning behind underground music and why it's important to be supporting independent art.

9/22/24

It’s a Thursday night. I have a job interview the next morning because, holy fuck, I need another job, being a college student and simultaneously a broke musician is beyond exhausting. Despite this, I find myself at a multi-purpose space in Tucker (fuck Gwinnett btw) and sneaking spurts of resting my eyes when I run off to the bathroom for a sobriety reset. I wasn’t planning to go out, but I’ve appointed myself as the president of the Ferg Berserk fan club, so when the homie demonstrates admirable vulnerability by asking his friends to come watch him do a set they've seen a couple times before, I make room in my schedule for the homie.


Besides, I love Atlanta’s underground circuit. Few things bring me as much joy as being cramped into some dark venue, holding a $7 drink that wasn’t worth the money, and whooping for my friends as they practice being rockstars. Across every major city, there is a grassroots effort to curate DIY spaces where local musicians can perform, collaborate, and experiment. In Atlanta, these venues operate outside the mainstream hiphop scene and emphasize inclusivity, affordability (often adopting a “no one turned away for lack of funds” policy), and community building. Supporting local music scenes is not just about supporting your friends or seeking self-expression; it is a form of grassroots political activism that fosters community, empowers marginalized voices, and challenges mainstream narratives, curating a vital third space for collective action and cultural resistance.


Local music scenes have long been a breeding ground for political activism. From the Riot Grrrl movement in the early 1990s to today’s underground scenes, grassroots music has been a platform for the systemically oppressed to express their political discontent. At a time when mainstream culture was dominated by men, Riot Grrrl's DIY ethos was a direct call to action, organizing women and introducing young girls to feminist politics. While women and girls have long held influence over mass culture consumption, the Riot Grrrl movement was a deliberate shift inwards. Instead of seeking external validation, these women used their creative power to cultivate underground communities that supported each other. The movement’s zines, concerts, and communal efforts were a direct rejection of the mainstream, showing that grassroots music isn’t just about rebellion but about redefining community and power dynamics in culture. 


One of the most powerful aspects of local music scenes is the space they offer to an intersectionality of oppressed voices. Particularly in Atlanta, I want to amplify the roles of black femmes who carry the Riot Grrrl thesis into the present day, but with a distinct focus on Black liberation, queerness, and femme empowerment. In a world that legislates Black bodies, everything from the food we eat to the clothes we wear is a response to systemic oppression. When Black femmes take the stage and express themselves without apology, it is a radical act of defiance and empowerment. Punk Black, for instance, is an Atlanta-based collective that elevates Black and Brown voices in punk and rock music, genres that have historically been dominated by white men. The collective creates spaces where Black punk bands, many of them fronted by somebody who looks like me(!) can thrive and where fans can experience their reclamation of their culture via a genre that is often disconnected from our mainstream representation.

As I briefly stated previously, local music scenes are not just about individual expression; they are about fostering community. Community building is, in itself, a form of activism, especially in the context of grassroots movements. The Panthers, for instance, built community programs like free breakfast for children, which were revolutionary not just because they met immediate needs but because they also provided the resources to maintain networks of solidarity and resistance. In Atlanta's underground scene, shows are often organized through collective efforts, with artists, venue owners, and fans working together to create inclusive and accessible spaces. This kind of organizing mirrors the strategies of earlier movements, where music and politics were inseparable. For example, over the summer my friend Mickey collaborated with Joe's Coffee Shop in EAV for Pop-Up for Palestine, a recent benefit show organized in support of Palestinian human rights. The event embodied the DIY ethos by featuring local DJs and raising funds for organizations aiding Palestinian refugees. Curating spaces of artistic expression in solidarity with global movements is a direct demonstration of how to perpetuate political activism in your local scene.


Despite the power of grassroots music activism, there are challenges facing local music scenes. The volatility of political activism, particularly in spaces where people might feel apolitical or disengaged, can make it difficult to sustain momentum. Alternatively, some music scenes comprised of individuals with an unacknowledged privilege often create backlash when politics becomes too overt, as these unenlightened folk see music as an escape rather than a site of political struggle.


In our great city of Atlanta, the opportunities for activism through local music are immense. For instance, the battle over Cop City, a proposed $90 million police training facility, has galvanized local activists across mediums to take a stand. Various transformative justice and advocacy groups have organized concerts and events to raise awareness and support for the movement to stop Cop City, which is a direct threat to Atlanta’s Weelaunee forest, and more importantly, to Black and working-class communities. The city's local music scene in conjunction with the generosity of individuals who provide safe spaces to convene, (yeah, churches included)  where activists can mobilize around causes such as ending GILEE, Georgia State University's unethical police exchange program with Israel. These spaces empower marginalized voices, foster community, and challenge mainstream narratives. Whether it’s through supporting Black femmes in punk music or organizing benefit shows for global causes, it is the hodgepodge of creatives of (y)our local underground scene who play a vital role in building a society that is as close to a utopia we can get.


So the next time you find yourself cramped into a dimly lit venue on a weeknight, cheering for your friends, downing a beer despite your gluten sensitivity, remember: you're not just supporting music. You’re supporting a movement. Local music scenes need our energy, our activism, and our dollars. Join the crowd. Let’s keep the movement alive. Also, register to vote.


Written By Paisley: x.com/bypaisleyy