Music Highlight: ANTiSEEN

The genre of Punk Rock emerged in the mid-1970s. It rooted itself against mainstream rock music as more people began listening to it. Garage bands of the 1960s first used the term “punk rock” to describe themselves. The punk subculture has only grown larger since then. Anyone can join this subculture. ANTiSEEN, a band from North Carolina, proves this to be true.

ANTiSEEN was formed in 1983 by a group of bored teenagers who loved Rock N Roll. They were looking for an outlet for their creativity and music became that outlet. Their band idea sparked when they discovered The Ramones in the 1970s. Seeing that small punk group grow in the music industry gave the members of ANTiSEEN enough hope to flourish into what they are today.

Many people tend to stay away from the Punk Rock community because they feel that they won’t fit in with everyone else. The member of ANTiSEEN saw this as a problem and that’s how they got their band name. They hated the categories that people and bands put themselves into.

“We wanted everyone to enjoy (or despise) us! We thought that a white kid or a black kid should be able to enjoy what we did.  A girl with a Mohawk or a guy getting off of work at the cotton mill should be equally welcomed,” explained lead singer, Jeff Clayton.

ANTiSEEN isn’t a super famous multibillion-dollar band, but they have a large following that can be found all over the world. They’re considered a “cult” band, which means that their fanbase isn’t huge, but is very dedicated to the band. ANTiSEEN recently traveled to Japan to perform and it seems like they had an amazing time.

Clayton confessed, “Going there was a life long dream. I enjoy meeting the fans from these far off places and hearing their stories.”

ANTiSEEN has their Annual Christmas Show in Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 7. It’s free, so if you’re interested in Punk Rock, you should go!