American Hardcore
A History Of American Punk
By Jillian Abbene
(SugarBuzz Richmond /DC)
SugarBuzz Magazine
For me, the documentary, "American Hardcore" brought back flooded memories of the Richmond, Virginia/Washington, DC scene that not only changed music nationally, but right here in my backyard. The scene altered my perspective and shaped me permanently on how I wanted to be as a creative individual despite the odds, and not sell out or imitate what already existed.
In 1983, I was 19 years old. Like other kids, I was thoroughly disgusted with mediocracy that paralyzed the conservative bible-belt Richmond, Virginia scene. Ronald Reagan was in office and his swearing in on the second term seemed to personify this existence. I didn't like Reagan's non-emotional approach to the country's emotional issues. While attending Virginia Commonwealth University in the arts sector, I was encouraged to think outside the box. This was perfect for someone who didn't have the desire to be classified in a warped, yuppie fantasy lifestyle. Wearing shock value clothing and looking different was a new approach. It was liberating. For example, I remember attending shows in daylight wearing my brother's long-johns with the fly sewn shut. This freedom to express myself gave others as well as myself a way to carve out a place for ourselves where rules did not govern and quash the creative process, and peers could not slap guilt on top of it. After all, to them, (the peers) Hardcore and punk for that matter, was an unidentifiable state of mind. It had never been done and I think it frightened them. Of course I reveled in that. It forced a distance between us and them. I went out of my way not to be labeled or categorized.
It was just about that time Hardcore took off all over Richmond--including locals--where kids were melding together forming bands. Best described poignantly by Ian McKaye from Minor Threat (DC), "...to say exactly what was on our minds in 32 seconds..." Strength in numbers, we all felt we had some control and part of an underground tribe. An imaginary thread grew that connected Virginia Beach, Richmond and Washington DC (the old 9:30 club) where the hub of the action took place. Like myself, do-it-yourself- (DIY)-broke kids who just wanted to have fun, were often misunderstood, and wrongly preconceived as unintelligent thugs.
As the scene grew, styles of Richmond Hardcore branched off . With diversity, Richmond was to have full exposure to hardcore--American and abroad. In the documentary, the 1985 video footage of Black Flag reminded me how bands such as: Black Flag, Minor Threat, DOA, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedy's, Bad Brains, The Mob, GBH, UK Subs (Richmonders, remember the riot?) Subhumans and Agnostic Front all creating a force from other walks of life for one cause. One weekend right after the other, all the angst, aggression and adrenalin made me realize that this was not just exclusive to Richmond and Washington DC. The sounds fed off of each other and resonated all over the USA and abroad. To this day it still amazes me.
Shows were set up virtually by word of mouth and telephone--pollinating with make-shift flyers before there were cell phones and the internet! With forces like Black Flag for their suburban element, and Bad Brains for their catchy melodies, hardcore was now slapped front and center, and like a derailed train, no one knew where it was going. It was live and remained an "as is" approach without fluff and pomp. Cops showed up at venues (old 9:30 Club, Hard Times, Going Bananas and PB Kelly's), and most often than not, find fault with no cause, with the attempt to shut down shows. "Death Piggy", Dave Brockie's old band (front man for GWAR here in Richmond), did get sweet revenge one Friday night in Shafer Court when one of the band members hurled a cream pie at a 6'5" policeman in front of a large crowd. It was poetic as the crowd banded together to form their alliance against anyone who prejudged us.
Those were also the days where bands were free for just a few bucks to get in to a show with a 3-band lineup. I distinctly remember cutting the hair of 4 members of the VCU male swim team just to pay for laundry with enough money left over to see a show. Back then, large tattoos, piercings and stage dives were new--it had never been done. Women didn't slam then and they didn't stage dive either. Consequently, there was no such term as a 'mosh pit'. Record sleeves were being cranked out by hand, one single 7" at a time. One of the members of the Zero Boys, in the documentary, explains, "You had to dig a fucking well. There was no stream. There was nobody to help you. There was nobody to manage bands." In those days, it wasn't about making money anyway, or concerns of being played on the radio--no one could even fathom that idea. We all, unwittingly concluded early on, that we had nothing to lose because we had nothing to begin with. It was all about banning together with friends, having fun and just staying afloat.
In around 1986-87, Richmond Hardcore and punk itself dropped off the scene like a self-imploding missile. It was about that time that I also had to get on the job band wagon and get a job--since my dad and mom had split and suddenly I was faced with thousands of dollars in college-debt. By 1988, metal had taken stage with grunge clipping at its heels.
Throughout all these years, I never dismissed Hardcore. Hardcore dismissed itself. Not many bands evolved after the mid 90's (except for bands like Fugazi), who desperately tried to dig their way out of the grunge and mainstream shuffle. This music was also difficult to find. Personally, I just allowed other music to also be let in.
I've learn to discover that there are new and original bands today. History may be repeating but with a whole different state of mind and spin. I'm hoping that such bands like The Bronx (LA), Avail and Municipal Waste (Richmond), Cheap Sex (LA) and The Casualties (NYC), might successfully chisel out another nitched-pit for Hardcore to roll into. We are not mentioning UK or European bands here because hardcore and punk is as strong today as it was 20 years ago in those countries. But honestly, with underground becoming so mainstream today, I'm not convinced that the comeback of hardcore is as steadfast or as unique. In reality, I believe that essence will never come again and that I was in a place in a moment in history that was unique. Right now the market is flooded with bands that have tainted and swelled into the mainstream and are coined 'hardcore' or 'punk'. In my own humble opinion, a handful of bands, many, are without bite. It's really up to the musicians to take responsibility and set precedence here. Hopefully the mainstreamers will fizzle out and the real-deal hardcore bands will emerge from the dust.
There is only one venue that promotes/supports Hardcore and punk shows today in Richmond. Unfortunately, there is the stipulation that these small bands (mostly young kids) must fork out $300 a pop to the venue just to play! I think this defeats the purpose of what we are trying to do. It's all come down to the might dollar. Someday young and old Richmond punks may realize what I have all along. "Never take your punk rock for granted."