The anti-Xmas
Not into "Jingle Bell Rock?" Here comes the punk.

Ah, the holidays. For some, it can be days filled with warmth, love and glittered packages bursting out from under a tree. For others, it’s a pious time that should be concerned with observance of the divine. And, for just as many people, it’s a time of loneliness.

For me, the holidays boil down to spending time with loved ones, taking stock of the good in my personal life – as well as the world around me – and a time for reflection and hopeful anticipation of the future. A gift that keeps giving to me and the community is The Hive, a local nonprofit supporting youth through mentorships in the fields of art, music and skateboarding.

On Fri., Dec. 23, at 8 p.m., The Hive will put on a holiday event unique to itself: a “Festivus for the Rest of Us” – a tradition pulled from the annals of “Seinfeld.” For those of us on the fringe between being blinded by Christmas neon and sinking into a bout of seasonal depression, this event is for us.

“Festivus for the Rest of Us” kicked off last year, created by a group of Durango locals (and now Front Range residents) in the band Cancelled. Frontman Josh Darien approached me with the idea, and it was a hit. What better place for holiday misfits and outcasts than a punk show? This year, we keep the tradition alive with music from Cancelled, as well as the Mommy Milkers and Bad Fix (from Chinle, Ariz.)

Mommy Milkers hail straight out of Farmington, or, as they affectionately refer to it, “Mad Max Town.” After forming in 2021, Mommy Milkers began crushing shows and quickly gained notoriety within the regional punk scene. They even opened for Gwar in Flagstaff.

“The music, the people – that’s what attracted me to punk,” Trevon Lee, one of the guitarists, said. “It’s just a great community. It’s the community I wish I found sooner.”

Vocalist and bass player Cara Gutierrez said she was attracted to the punk scene, because “it’s the idea of doing whatever you want and not caring what people think on how you live your life or how you look. The community itself is basically a family. Even if you don’t know anyone, you make friends, and they become your family.”

For those without a family – or sense of family – this event might be your chance to find community and start a new tradition this season, as Gutierrez pointed out.

“The holidays, for me personally, are rough, because I don’t have much family,” she said. “I just have my mom and my sister by my side, and I love them a lot. I’m also grateful I have Trevon (guitarist), because now his family is like my family. I feel welcomed and celebrated with them. And, all the friends I’ve made from our shows make the holidays special.”

The Mommy Milkers hope to release a full-length album next year. In addition to the amazing talent, the band plays with a high level of professionalism, even though some of them are still teenagers.

Not only do they put on a great and energetic act, they also sprinkle in skits between songs. Gutierrez said being in a band has helped with her own self-expression. 

“I can’t talk very well face-to-face,” she said. “Even at shows, when people come up to me, I stutter like crazy and don’t know what to say. But my writing allows me to tell my experiences in a way where people can enjoy the music and still relate. It allows me to not be scared to say what I wanna say.”

So come celebrate the holidays in punk rock fashion, with wailing guitars, pounding bass and heavy-hitting D-beat drums.

The show is just five bucks, and all proceeds benefit bands first and the venue second. Give the gift of supporting local and regional punk rock!