Arts & Entertainment
 

Learn a thing or two about hardcore

Trendy fans of misnamed music need to take a look at genre's past, rules

Stay Sick

Jason Gagnon

Lately, I've become fed up (imagine that) with the gratuitous use of the word "hardcore" in relation to some bands. Watching fake bands perform to sold-out venues while local artists struggle for recognition in their own backyard has contributed greatly. Houston's hardcore scene is continually growing but, as made evident by some recent shows, kids are either ignorant or unwilling to check it out. They would rather go see bands that have little or nothing to do with the music or lifestyle. 

Let's back up a bit. With the return of Headbanger's Ball and the popularity of groups like Hatebreed and Shadow's Fall, hardcore has become the new hipster bandwagon for the loyal zombies of the MTV jet set. And it makes sense. Labels and marketing executives love the image of hardcore: heartfelt music, do it yourself ethics, passionate fans and the ever-present element of danger. Now to deliver this latest subculture-turned-pop-culture trend, the industry needs soulless, fame-hungry bands to mold and exploit so they are more palatable (musically and physically) for the pages of Alternative Press and your television set. So, what happened was all the nu-metal bands who didn't make it on the last wave learned a few scales, got lots of tattoos, lost their beer guts, grew out their hair, updated their wardrobe and thus began labeling themselves "hardcore." In reality, these bands can be better understood as "nu-metalcore." 

Here's an explanation: Hardcore, like every other subculture, goes through phases and styles, and metalcore came and went in the span of a couple years. Therefore, this new genre's name is based on the resurgence from outsiders and their fusion of nu-metal song stylings, which severely dilutes their supposed hardcore influence.

This disturbs me because whenever a traditionally underground scene receives mass acceptance, the initial impact and attractive factors, such as intimacy and sincerity, are often lost. You also get people so enthusiastic about their new discovery that they jump in headfirst with no regard for the etiquette that comes with the shows and dancing. Problems arise due to this, in addition to those who negatively react against the customs because they do not understand them.

Punk rock has become almost everything that it was birthed against, leading to difficulty in finding actual punk bands whose music is honest. Hardcore will always persevere in this same manner while vacationing youths travel to their next scene like a cancer only to consume or destroy, not contribute.

So, this little diatribe is a call to all the kids who are just discovering this great music and scene. Go and check out the local bands like Will to Live, Pride Kills, Die Young, Your Mistake and Ten Crowns -- bands that have helped to build the scene that you now consider yourself a part of. You might find that you like those bands more than the latest trendy-Hot Topic-fashion victims and get a glimpse of what hardcore is really about, not the MTV version you think is accurate.

Gagnon writes a weekly column on all things sick. 
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