In the city of Angels lies a dark, frightening culture of fashion, lifestyle ,and music, one that hundreds flock to; one that thousands fear.
The Goth scene in Los Angeles is a small but lively one, with many flocking to it for an experience different from others where people with alternative lifestyles can go have fun and enjoy music and engage in recreational activities.
The Gothic style spawns from a post punk movement utilizing dark 19th century european architecture and style to create a scary ambience around the aesthetic, usually with pale white make-up and angry clothing all draped in black. It uses unnerving lighting and ghastly ambience to add to the lifestyle. No, not every person who identifies as Goth sits in a dark room in all black with candles, but they would enjoy the scenery.
This alternative euro-centric, horror inspired sub-culture is what causes people to steer away from it in fear of scrutiny for its difference and its wild hairstyles. Seen as something to fear, and not to enjoy. Goth was always seen as unwelcoming for the alternative style along with the brash and off putting music that follows the sub-culture. Due to contrary belief people in this community are very kind and welcoming to newcomers.
Influential artists like Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Cure, and The Doors paved the way for smaller artists to flourish in the future. As niche as the music was there was still a market for it. Especially in the City of Angels.
Popular clubs like Wenzdays Party, The Blinky Donkey In Long Beach, Club Nevermore LA have pop up clubs every week where small genres like dream pop, Goth, industrial, and EBM get their spotlight. These clubs have different artists of size like Magic Wands who have garnered a hundred thousand monthly listeners. Or even small solo artists like Apology Kink who are on the start up.
Apology Kink, an artist from Minnesota who now resides in California, said this when interviewed stating that…
“Being a small artist is fun. Lots of other small artists to connect with. I can follow my heart and my own interests and dont have much in the way of ‘commercial pressure’. For me it’s about community and connecting with people who share my values”
The community is small but has a few big players who run music labels and push out this music to alternative communities along with keeping the community alive. These musicians all keep eachother afloat and want the best for one another. Small punk groups like Tube Alloys who pop into the scene frequently throw big ragers for people to throw down in different venues, or even musicians running music labels like Omar Doom behind the band Straight Razor who changed from a similar style to that of the Tube Alloys; into dark brooding EBM.
Artists like Omar Doom, Magic Wands, and Apology Kink all dress in the fashion of New-Age Gothic or Victorian fashion to fit the mood. These pop up clubs are also seen in fancy high class established venue’s where the mood is really set with the older architecture and the royalty-like feeling. The scenery might be dark and scary to many, but it is home for many of these artists and concert goers. Black sleek interiors, with rough scary exteriors is what warms the hearts of these club goers.
Unfortunately Huntington Park does not have such a growing Goth scene but there is a small community that enjoys the style and the media that follows it. When exploring H.P you might stumble upon students in traditional or new age Goth attire, but the chance of this happening is very low. Nonetheless when you come across these people just know they are doing what they love and are confident enough to share it.
So the next time you see a Goth, don’t be shy; they do not bite… Unless they are brandishing fangs, there’s a chance you get bit.
By Martin Saenz, Staff Writer