Metal, Hardcore, Punk, Death Metal, Thrash Metal... whatever

Metal, Hardcore, Punk, Death Metal, Thrash Metal... Qwerty and miserable, always wanting more.

Monday, July 24, 2017

"Edge Fest" 1995, a D.A.R.E sponsored event

Mouthpiece at the Moose Lodge in Lockport (photo courtesy of Jason Jammer)
22 years ago (July 23rd, 1995), my friend Gerald booked a show that featured two bands I was in, Plagued with Rage and Halfmast, along with local favorites Envy, Cornerstone from CT and the mighty Mouthpiece from NJ. But when we arrived at the club it was scheduled to be at, the very seedy Niagara Hotel, or as the flyer put it the "Niagara Roach Hotel," it was locked up tight. I had only ever been to one other show there, 108, so I wasn't too familiar with the place other than that it was a dump.  Maybe management took exception to being called the Roach Hotel, I don't know. After waiting around for a long while and kids showing up and all the bands being present, we had to come up with something. 
The Flyer.
The Roach Hotel, as it stands today, thanks to Google.
After some discussion, a plan was devised to go down the street to a Moose Lodge and try and make the show happen. When Gerald and I got down there, there were some old timers sitting around inside and we asked them if we could have some band play there, as the Roach Hotel had snubbed us. One of the men in charge was VERY not into having what he perceived as a bunch of punk hoodlums running round inside the sanctity of his fraternal order's meeting place. 
The distance to the Moose

The Moose Lodge, as it stands today, thanks to Google.

We explained that these were straight edge bands and that there would be no drugs or alcohol at the show. Gerald was wearing a thrift store "DARE To Keep Your Kids Off Drugs" shirt, as he often did, and next thing I know I'm telling this guy, in his Moose Lodge office, that the show is a D.A.R.E. sponsored event. HE BOUGHT IT WHOLESALE and the show was able to happen, as documented by the videos below. 






I asked Gerald about it today and he said; "I don't remember too much about why we couldn't do the show there. Especially since I did that 108/ Bloodlet show shortly before. My main memories were around us freaking out and you walking around downtown Lockport trying to find a solution. With one of the all time long shots actually panning out."

Friday, July 21, 2017

Apocalypse '97

In the spring of 1997, I realized that the scene I was involved in was in a really great position. Bands were touring and releasing records; and not only national, but ALSO local shows were generally well attended and exciting. Buffalo, NY had suffered a down swing in show turnouts a few years prior, with a lot of shows happening about 30 miles north of the city in Lockport, but by early 97 things were really good, everyone got along and most shows were at Discovery records, the Mercury or Showplace Theater(s).

Snapcase had been around for 7 years at that point and had brought a lot of newer, younger kids around, breathing fresh life and injecting new ideas into an otherwise rigid scene. Despair had kept around some of the older guys, Union brought the straight mosh, Lockjaw brought the weird mosh and Envy brought the fun. Also, the band I was in at the time, No Reason, was doing way better than expected with a well received 7” and two demos under our belt at the time. Even newer bands seemed to be holding it down- it was really a thing to behold.

Inspired by the insane "all local" line ups of the early 80’s DC hardcore scene, I thought it would be a good idea to do a show that was all the Buffalo Hardcore bands who were “making it happen.” It came together a lot easier than I thought it would, mainly because everyone in Buffalo at the time was feeling the same vibe; things were good. Most importantly, Snapcase were on board to be the “surprise” headliner.  Despair committed to play and realized that it fell during one of their tours and miraculously did a 20 hour drive straight from Denver, CO to make the show. It all worked, even after the show got moved from the planned Discovery Records to the Mercury Theater and the club owner, Dan, and I began butting heads over it and his security; which reared its head again the following year when I did another show there.
The show was also Envy's record release for their LP
I can’t believe that it’s been 20 years. I honestly believe that the Buffalo scene was never that strong again, with so many quality bands releasing records and touring and inspiring people to come out to shows and join in. It was a rare occasion were multiple bands were having success in a very small city, instead of one, maybe two bands being able to draw. There was a brief heyday with the Funeral Home a few years back, but that revolved around a PLACE I think more than bands per se. I hate that I'm posting an all "rainbows and balloons" nostalgia post, but really, it was an incredible time to be involved. I've had my ups and downs with the hardcore scene I grew up in, but I have always been proud to have been a part of it and especially proud of this show.

All photos by Mark Miller

Counterstrike (these kids were all like 14-15)

Counterstrike

Counterstrike

Lockjaw

Lockjaw

No Reason

No Reason

No Reason

The Author playing in No Reason

No Reason

Union
Envy

Despair

Despair

Despair

Despair

Snapcase

Snapcase

Snapcase

Snapcase

Snapcase

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Monday, July 3, 2017

18 Years ago today...

...I saw this show and it was a stunner.
From the "early" show:

From the "late" show:



Photo by Mark Miller

Photo by Mark Miller