| Egg punk | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Devo-core (early) |
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 2010s,Indiana |
| Typical instruments | |
| Other topics | |
| Internet rock | |
Egg punk (originally known asDevo-core) is anInternetmicrogenre ofpunk rock that emerged in the 2010s. The genre came to be known as "egg punk" due to a series ofinternet memes. The style is characterized by alo-fi recording style and satirical tone, influenced bynew wave bandDevo.
The nomenclature of egg punk originated from a series ofinternet memes circulated in 2017 that proposed a spectrum ofpunk rock music between "egg punk" and "chain punk".[1][2] The meme was intended to distinguish between the traditionalism and aggression of those deemed "chain punk" with the more experimental and satirical approach of those considered "egg punk".[1][3] The satirical tone and style of egg punk has been characterized as a response to the traditional "chain punk" bands in the local scene that were viewed by some as taking their music and message too seriously.[4][5][1]
The music of egg punk is influenced by thedo-it-yourself ethos ofpunk subculture, characterized by the use of minimal orlo-fi recording and mixing methods and hand-drawn orcollage album covers.[5] Also known as Devo-core, the genre is heavily influenced by the music ofnew wave bandDevo as both an aesthetic and stylistic influence.[3][5][6]
Pitchfork described the genre as "subversive", "experimental", and typified by "wry lyrics and cheapo keyboards".[3]John Robb wrote that the subgenre consisted of "lo-fi perfectly ‘badly’ recorded fast punk rock songs", featuring "garage melody with jitterbug jittery guitars and even sometimes cheapo synths" and oriented towards "cocking a snoop at punk’s sometimes seriousity instead embracing introvert nerds, alien noise fiends and manic goofy behaviour".[7]
The origins of egg punk are attributed to a community ofDIY[5] midwestern American punk rock artists from the early 2010s, including such notable bands as the Coneheads and Lumpy and the Dumpers.[7][6] Themicrogenre encompasses a range ofpunk rock bands active in the early 2010s in theMidwestern United States, with central figures such as theIndiana band The Coneheads, founded in 2013 and led by Mark Winter,[7] andSt. Louis band Lumpy and the Dumpers, whose frontman, Martin Meyer, would distribute similar cassette recordings under the label Lumpy Records.[6] Other Midwest bands adopting this approach includedUranium Club inMinneapolis and Warm Bodies inKansas City.[2] The genre came to be known as "egg punk" due to a series ofinternet memes.[1]
The increased visibility of the egg punk scene was attributed to the distribution of rips of cassette tapes toYouTube by mononymous user Jimmy.[1][6][8] The onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further facilitated the spread of egg punk, as musicians had more time and fewer resources to create music, leading to greater openness to aDIY approach.[2] Egg punk has extended outside the Midwest to several regions, including the Australian punk scene, which involves bands such as Ausmuteants,[6] R.M.F.C., Gee Tee,[7] Billiam and The Split Bills, Checkpoint, and Tee Vee Repairmann.[2] Other notable artists labelled as egg punk includeSnõõper, Prison Affair, Powerplant,[7] C.C.T.V. and Landline.[5]