Photo from the Flickr stream of Le Max

In the late 1970s, the explosive sound of bands like The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks and The Clash exploded from the grimy backrooms of the music world’s basement and was propelled, in some cases, all the way up to the coliseum stages of the world.  That’s all well and good—Paul Simonon needs to eat, too. 

But is there any doubt that the best way to hear the seminal songs of the original punk movement—those anthemic, raging odes to anarchy and apathy —is in a tiny club, with the musicians teeter over the top of you, the sweet stink of sweaty leather and spilled beer swirling in the air, blast after blast of two-minute magic assaulting your senses?

Bring back that London feeling on Saturday when Artvoice hosts the Rocket to Allentown concert at Nietzsche’s (248 Allen St., Buffalo).  Nearly 20 bands have already signed on to perform three songs each from the golden age of punk rock, including ditties by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Patti Smith, The Damned, The New York Dolls, Richard Hell and the Voidoids and many, many more.  The show will include a veritable who’s-who of longtime rockers from the Buffalo scene, as well, with sets by The Pillagers, Cowboys of Scotland, Wolf Tickets and Dick Whisky, among many others. 

If your band wants to play, send an e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your band name, song selections, and contact information.  They aren’t allowing repeats, so dig deep in your bag of songs!  If you just want to check it out, there is no cover or start time listed, but I think it would be safe to show up with $5 at 9 p.m.  Just saying.