Guerrilla gig

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Guerrilla gigging is a technique that was first introduced by the Portuguese hip hop band [1-uik project].^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} It also became popular with punk rock, indie rock and noise rock bands in Britain and later the United States during the early to mid 2000s. It is similar in concept to a flash mob. Typically, guerrilla gigs will be arranged very quickly and often in places not designed to accommodate live music, such as basements, lobbies, fields, parking lots, etc., and will be announced through various website message boards as well as text messages and last minute flyers. To a certain extent, it is an example of punk rock's Do It Yourself philosophy being applied to the technology of the new millennium, essentially succeeding where the initial punk movement failed. Many American bands who have embraced this new extreme DIY culture are now being referred to by some as "guerrilla rockers". See Guerrilla Rock

Two British bands famous for guerrilla gigging are The Libertines and The Others. Among the first North American bands to pick up the technique were Canada's The Unicorns, who played a free show at a car wash, and Rhode Island noise rock bands such as Lightning Bolt. Folk musician Will Brierly is also known for guerrilla gigging, playing to crowds of hundreds in vacant parking lots across the country. The Denver based, Hardcore punk band Flowers For Algernon have been known to quickly set up inside local Chipotle Mexican Grill locations and perfoming until ejected by management.

The earliest precedent for a guerrilla gig were gigs by the heavy metal band Hawkwind and their sister band, The Pink Fairies. As Twink explains:

"In 1969 my world collided with the likes of Paul Rudolph, Duncan Sanderson and Russell Hunter, and for the next two years we felt like we could inherit the earth. Pretty large aspirations for four hippies from Ladbroke Grove. Remember, this was the dawn of stadium rock, with bands like Led Zeppelin rearing it's ugly head. The era of rock gods, inflated ticket prices, and total inaccessibility for fans. We wanted to tear it all down. Pick by pick. The thought of our fans PAYING to see us was incomprehensible. We played only for free, after all money was the root of all evil, right? We waved two fingers at corporate rock by setting up and playing OUTSIDE of huge rock events. Why pay? We'll give it to you for free. We bewitched people from the entry gates at the Isle of Wight and Bath. We got naked at Phun City, played benefits for the underground press, rocked a gay pride rally, and helped organize the very first Glastonbury Festival. We shamelessly promoted ourselves by spray painting our name on the sides of express coaches that crossed country. We influenced everyone, from Hawkwind to the Sex Pistols. We were the peoples' band. Long live rocknroll." -Twink

Guerrilla gig

see also