Are Food Trucks 'Punk Rock'?

It's the project of the “dirty sex rock” band Flexx Bronco, it's got a quasi-sinister name (“Voodoo Van”), and it's slogan is “No forks, No knives, No mercy.”  They even serve a vegan seitan sandwich along with their fried potato-cream cheese balls, “p. b. n' j. balls,” and shrimp po' boys.  But in an age where food trucks are trendier than $50-per-person meals on Valencia, could a food truck ever be considered “punk rock”?  According to an interview with founder Phil Stefani on Eater, that's a yes:

What prompted you to start a food truck? I love this question cause people are always saying to me “Dude I had no idea you were into cooking?” And I'm always like “I'm not, I don't cook buuut my friends do.” And thats the truth. I'm a wizard with a microwave. Being in a touring rock band, as well as a bartender, I love love love street food or late night food on the go. I love touring. I love traveling. I can't stand that static feeling of standing still. I always wanted to open a bar or venue, but the thought of “location, location, location” frightens the shit out of me.

I come from a very punk rock, DIY background and I have always veiwed these food trucks as kind of a wild wild West. It's us against them (brick n' mortars, The City, permitting process, rent). I like that I can design the Cosmic American Voodoo Van like a band would design an album or shirt, and that I can use my knowledge of marketing a band and apply it to something else—in this case, kind-of-gourmet street food. I get to work, move around and experience something new everyday. Fuck it, we'll come to you!

Read on for some more pics, additional insight into the whole project, and background on the band.

Comments (3)

Unless there is a food truck out there that serves nothing but Top Ramen, generic cereal and off-brand canned tuna then I would argue that there is no such thing as a Punk Rock Food Truck.

Did choad-rock stalwarts Chow Nasty break up or something?

Thanks for the free press :)