We’ve spent plenty of time speaking about the punk rock scenes that emerge from places like California and Washington, D.C., but there is an East Coast city that deserves its own time in the Golden Age spotlight. No, it’s not New York City, as that area has been anything but ignored in the punk history books. The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, consistently seems to fly under the radar when contributions to music scenes are discussed. Philly soul, the burgeoning Hip-hop scene, it seems like everyone ignores Philly and its timeless arts community, especially when it comes to punk rock.
This week, we explore one of Philly’s finest punk heroes, The Dead Milkmen. Formed in the late seventies under the watchful eye of guitarist/vocalist Joe Genaro as a home-recording project between him and his high school friend, recording straight to cassette. The Dead Milkmen were an imaginary band with fictitious members, a lofty concept for a young band that came to fruition with the 1985 release of their debut album, Big Lizard in My Backyard, which brings us to this Golden Age Thursday as we witness the band in their adolescence. Recorded somewhere between 1984 and 85, The Dead Milkmen tear through early material at the legendary Atlantic City punk club, Elk’s Lodge. The intimate setting proved perfect for the band’s tongue-in-cheek approach to punk, which pushed The Dead Milkmen into the punk pantheon.
