Preview: Sitting down with Jesse Hubbard of Punk Rock Prom

As I started writing this all I could think about was the song “Fat Lip” by Sum 41. There is a line that goes, “As a kid, was a skid, and no one knew me by name.” Those were my High School years. I was one of 5 punk kids in a South Georgia town. So, I really did not do much. I played soccer, basketball, and did yearbook. Besides those things I was lost in the shuffle. Because of this I never went to Prom. Fast Forward 100 years to now and I have a second chance at this prom thing. It is not just any old prom, it is a Punk Rock Prom. High School Cobra would be stoked about this! Shit, present day Cobra is.

This amazing idea is from the minds of Saint Russell Productions and Punkerton Records. Over the course of two days, some of the best punk bands in the Midwest will grace the stage at Natalie’s Grandview in Columbus, OH. Acts such as The Phantom Grins, Half Dizzy, Life in Idle, Undergrads, A Tiger Made of Lighting, and Shitty Neighbors (I am personally looking forward to their set, I have been dying to catch them live) I had the chance to chat with Jesse Hubbard about the prom and a few other things. So, if you need something to do on February 25th and 26th, this is it. Let us make some memories that will last a lifetime. You can find tickets to the event here: Punkerton Records Presents: Punk Rock Prom Day #1 – Natalie’s Grandview (nataliesgrandview.com)

Ray Cobra: Where did the idea for a punk rock prom come from?

Jesse Hubbard: From the imaginative mind of Brandon Lewis. What started out as a plan for a normal two-day show turned into something far more unique and fun that you will not see every day. People can dress up or they do not have to at all, but it is an opportunity to give us all the prom we wish we would have had back in high school.

Ray Cobra: What was the theme of your prom?                                                                        

Jesse Hubbard: I went to four proms when I was a teenager, and I could not tell you about a single theme from any of them. They were generic and uninspired. But I can guarantee you that Punk Rock Prom will be an experience that everyone will remember fondly.

Ray Cobra: What was the first punk rock album you owned?                                             

Jesse Hubbard: Smash by the Offspring. Man, 13 yr. old me felt so Punk Rock listening to that cd in my room. Getting ready for my little school dances shouting the lyrics to Nitro (Youth Energy). I thought I was so cool. Ha-ha.

Ray Cobra: When you think of punk rock and fashion, what comes to mind?                         

Jesse Hubbard: It is all about authenticity. Punk Rock and fashion are both at their best when they are about personal expression. Whether you are covered in tattoos and piercings and have a green spiked mohawk or have no tattoos and are a t-shirt and jeans type of person, the only thing that matters is being true to yourself.

Ray Cobra: Do you think punk rock and fashion go hand in hand?

Jesse Hubbard: I do not actually. Punk rock has never been about fashion to me personally. Does it inspire fashion? Or course. Do I enjoy fashion? Absolutely. But I do not subscribe to the belief that you have to look a certain way to be a punk rocker. Come as you are.

Ray Cobra: Who do you feel are some of the most fashionable punk rock artists?

Jesse Hubbard: The first two that come to mind are Iggy Pop and Mike Ness. They both have great style and seems so effortless. Both are the definition of cool in my book.        

Ray Cobra: Is this going to be an annual event?                                                                       

Jesse Hubbard: It is possible. I want to see how the first year goes and take it from there. But we are definitely open to it if it goes well.

Ray Cobra:  What are five albums to which you are currently listening?

Jesse Hubbard: Ooooh this is a tough one. I am always listening to so much music, but some I am really into right now are:

  1. Frank Turner – FTHC
  2. Wet Leg – Wet Leg
  3. Jean Dawson – Chaos Now
  4. The Interrupters – Into the Wild
  5. Technically they do not have proper album releases yet and maybe I am cheating with this answer, but I have been listening to the singles released recently from Coxey’s Army, Micah Schnabel, and Kim Beyer.

Ray Cobra: Chucks or Vans?

Jesse Hubbard: Both! Growing up I wore Chucks more often, but man, nothing beats a nice pair of Vans slip-ons!

Ray Cobra: Older punk or Newer Punk?

Jesse Hubbard: There are so many amazing artists that I grew up with and forged relationships with their albums that it will be hard for any “newer” artist to ever have that same impact on me, but (and this is a big but) I am always into discovering new bands or artists to get into. I never, ever want to be someone who says that there is no good recent music coming out because that’s a ridiculous thing to think. There are great new bands coming out all the time. Sometimes it just takes work to find them, but that is half the fun, making the discovery.

Ray Cobra: Dischord or Epitaph?                                                                                          

Jesse Hubbard: Epitaph all day, every day. Even though I am originally from the east coast, I absolutely love the west coast/Southern California punk sound from the 90’s. So many of my favorite records from that era came out on Epitaph. Such a legendary label.

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