The NIU Punk Rock Club and the College of Visual and Performing Arts welcome musician and artist Tim Rogner for a night of conversation and acoustic performance, Wednesday, April 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center’s Huskie Den.
Rogner will examine how punk rock has functioned as a form of social commentary and cultural resistence.
Rogner is a founding member of the band Allister, which toured the world and released four albums–one of which went gold–on the Drive Thru Records label. Currently, he also plays guitar, sings and writes in the Chicago-based rock outfit, Hot Alice. Their most recent record, “Astonishing Tales of the Sea,” features their most lyrically personal songwriting to date and can be streamed on all major platforms.
To Rogner, the term “punk rock” means more than one thing. “For me, punk rock is a mindset more than anything else,” he said. “It’s an ethos that’s part DIY, part rebelling against mainstream culture, and part creating an inviting community.”
He believes that punk rock goes beyond music into art, culture and protest. I think it can be a catalyst for bravery. Creating art is hard. Tackling or facing cultural issues is hard. Protesting is hard. You have to be brave sometimes and summon that inner punk rock, “fuckall” mentality in order to participate in those things.
“Early on, it gave me a real sense of community. Meeting people who liked the same things I liked and listened to the same music I did really made me feel like I was part of something bigger, whatever it happened to be. As a teenager trying to discover yourself, that’s pretty important.
“I think a common misconception is that punk is reserved only for outcasts or misfits who sport mohawks or tattoos. It’s a pretty welcoming community and it doesn’t discriminate. Everyone welcome. It’s one of the things I love about it.”
Rogner will perform selections from Allister and Hot Alice and some solo songs, and participate in an interactive discussion with the audience. His program will include an exploration of music as a response to social, political and cultural issues, the live acoustic performances will illustrate artistic process and expression, and the Q and A will encourage dialogue and critical reflection.
This event is sponsored by the Division of Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and co‑sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and is open to the NIU community.
