Here is some goodness.

Islamic and Hindu punk coming to a club near you. So this is how this plays out. Disenfranchised (boo-hoo) US muslim and hindu youth coping with assimilation issues in the US strike out against their conservative cultures. File this under same shit different day category. We say for every one weak willed "disenfranchised" muslim-hindu punk there are are two hundred other muslim-hindu immigrants keeping their shit together and not succumbing to their own overgrown egos (shhhh, the ones no one talks about).

Call it Taqwacore, punk music dealing with Islam and its culture. Here is what we know.

The Kominas  - "The artists say they are just trying to reconcile issues such as life in America, womens rights and homosexuality with Islam and old East vs. West cultural clashes." ... thats unheard of!

"This is one way to deal with my identity as an Arab-American," said Marwan Kamel, the 24-year-old lead guitarist in Chicago-based Al-Thawra. "With this music, I can express this confusion." ...   After all, thats whats really important.

From the Taqwacore site: By stoking the revolution – against traditionalists in their own communities and against the clichés forced upon them from the outside – “we’re giving the finger to both sides,” says one Taqwacore. “Fuck you and fuck you.” ... take that! and then, we will package it for your consumption.

If only they werent so confused. But this is more of a party for these guys than it is some serious social statement. Lets not forget after all these are "confused" immigrant kids (and in some cases from middle class families) living in what some still say is the richest country in the world. This is a far cry from their counterparts in Asia in the Middle East.  This is no different then the sham job played out with "serious deep thought" bands in the US for years. While the kick ass band on the stage rallies the kids to some wonderful revolution, these jokers all go back to their posh hotel rooms and enjoy the fruits of their exploitation (sound familiar?). While the kids have to go back to their shit existence with the only message of the night.. "fuck you and fuck everything". Right, weak willed. I will put my "caring feelings" behind the Muslim and Hindu kids with fortitude trying to live in the real world and staying true to some concept of tradition (you know, the unenlightened ones).

But this is pretty serious stuff. Lets not forget, whatever intentions or lack thereof the original punks from the 70s had, I am certain what they call punk today isnt it. The point is, it doesnt matter what your intentions are, your big idea takes on a life of its own long after you become irrelevant. Of course the geniuses in our new punk movement dont care much about that.

So whats so serious? These kids will go a long way to water down what to date have been strong religions. Or should I say liberalise them. So, its fair to call them punk as its consistent with the idea that if your not pissing someone off and people dont what to kick the shit out of you then your NOT punk. Unfortunately, the idea is unoriginal (like most post punk) and they amount to dumb ass punks. This fact will not minimize their impact. They should find kindred spirits with the other liberals in this country. However, I am afraid they may not get the same reception from the Muslim culture and certainly not the radicals. The mods in the 60s use to were t-shirts with a bullseye, it may be novel for these kids to sport t-shirts with "detonate here". That is hardcore!

So kids, if you are still  out shopping for some movement to make your life whole or give meaning to it all, Taqwacore to the rescue, and, its new and different. Same shit different day.

Check it out...  A story on the new punk from Islam and Hinduism