I took a "sabbatical" from the HC scene for a good 10-12 years until 2009, when I decided to put up online, an old compilation of mine that never got a proper release. This was the "Fuck Rock- @Abc No Rio '91" comp. An old penpal contacted me about doing a vinyl release of it & before you could say Deja Vu all over again; I was back in business.
I've jumped back feet first into the fray, a 7" was just released on Wardance, by a band called My Rifle. It's made up of guys that I met back in the '80's NYHC scene & it will be a curious experiment to see how they (& myself) react to the reality of being involved in a music genre that by definition is youth-oriented. Things were not supposed to turn out this way, at best, a pit-stop on the way to adulthood. I along with my peers, got into HC in our teens, as a conduit to channel adolescent aggression, differentiate oneself from the crowd & define your views along an alternative sub-culture that embraced non-conformism. How do you reconcile these beliefs in the face of (looming) middle-age? When a career/family/mortgage & well, all the trappings of becoming an adult are upon us, what is it about this loud/fast music that's still appealing?
The best answer I can come up with is that this music, when is made from the heart, is still a visceral punch to your gut. When it becomes embedded in you, it's far-reaching influence can take decades to decipher, but it becomes a part of you. My old friend, Gavin from Absolution, put it best: "Influencing someone (via the music) is our best shot at immortality". If some kid, or kid at heart, can hear these records & go to the sounds that influenced the making of them & repeat ad nausem; all the way to those original pioneers that defined & codified the HC/Punk ethos. Then, it will all be worth it. The added bonus for me is that I get to (once again) put out music by friends that are still making relevant sounds.
Whether those particular tunes these days are of the classic Punk or NYHC variety, Hip-Hop tracks, Country-ish Gothic acoustic ditties; the result & energy are the same. The angst is still there, not as one-dimensional as before. It's more subtle & nuanced, but peel back the layers & you'll still find it there.
Growing younger never seemed so appealing.
www.wardancerecords.com
