The Punk Kid Who Called Setzer’S Gretsch “A Machine Gun”

April 2, 2025

The room was dimly lit, with colorful lights casting a glow over the small crowd gathered at the local music venue. The air was thick with anticipation, a mixture of sweat and excitement. At the center of it all stood Setzer, his iconic Gretsch guitar slung low across his hip like a trusted companion. He had earned his place in the rockabilly scene, carving out a reputation not just for his music but for his wild stage presence. He was ready to ignite the night, but little did he know, a punk kid named Joey was about to challenge everything he thought he knew.

Joey was the kind of kid who wore his rebellion like a badge. With spiky hair dyed a shocking green and a leather jacket covered in patches, he was not there to blend in. He loved the raw edge of punk rock; it was loud, it was unapologetic, and it was his voice. As Setzer launched into his first song, the crowd roared, but Joey stood back, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. When he finally yelled out, “What’s with that machine gun?” referring to the rapid-fire riffs that shot from Setzer’s guitar, a hush fell over the venue. Joey was mocking him, but he didn’t realize he was igniting a spark.

Setzer paused mid-chord, taken aback. The comment hung in the air, the audience caught between laughter and disbelief. Some were ready to defend their guitar hero, while others found the boldness of the punk kid refreshing. Setzer felt a rush of emotions — anger, confusion, but also something unexpected: motivation. Instead of letting the taunt throw him off, he smirked and turned it into a challenge. “A machine gun? Well, let’s see how many rounds I can fire!” With that, he dove deeper into his performance, pouring every ounce of energy into his guitar work. The audience exploded with cheers as the music soared, and Setzer was transformed; he wasn’t just performing; he was battling.

As the night wore on, a surprising bond began to form between the punk kid and the seasoned musician. Joey’s comment, initially intended as a jab, became a turning point for Setzer. He leaned into the punk energy in the room, blending his rockabilly roots with a touch of that raw, rebellious spirit. It was a moment of brilliance, where two worlds collided. By the end of the show, Setzer had not only won over his audience, but he had also found a newfound respect for the punk genre and its unfiltered expression.

After the show, Setzer sought out Joey, who was still buzzing with adrenaline. “You know,” he said, “I think you might be onto something. Maybe we should mix our styles more often.” Joey’s eyes widened in disbelief. Here was Setzer, a legendary guitarist, acknowledging him. They chatted for a while, sharing their love for music and the stories behind their different styles. The punk kid had unknowingly inspired a new direction in Setzer’s music, leading him to experiment with sounds he had never considered before.

That night marked the beginning of a beautiful rivalry and friendship. Setzer’s career flourished as he began to incorporate elements of punk into his rockabilly style, making his music more dynamic and relatable to younger audiences. Joey, on the other hand, found inspiration from Setzer’s resilience and dedication to his craft. In the end, both left the venue with a newfound appreciation of each other’s worlds, realizing that music, in all its forms, had the power to bring people together and challenge them to grow. It was a night neither of them would forget, a perfect mix of a machine gun and a heart that beat for rock and roll.