Throughout the late twentieth century, places such as churches, bowling alleys, college ballrooms, VFW halls, vacant storefronts, and even the basements of private homes were transformed into vibrant performance spaces in cities across the United States. These venues provided the space—cultural as well as physical—for punk rock musicians to create new genres of music from the ground up. Such developments showcased the power of the arts to reshape the urban built environment, while simultaneously highlighting the cultural evolution of the "post-industrial" city.

Michael H. Carriere is a professor of history at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), where he also serves as director of the MSOE Honors Program. His work has appeared in such publications as the Journal of Urban History, the Journal of Planning History, Cultural History, Reviews in American History, Pitchfork.com, and Salon.com. He is the co-author, with David Schalliol, of The City Creative: The Rise of Urban Placemaking in Contemporary America (The University of Chicago Press, 2021). He holds a Ph.D. in American history from The University of Chicago.