WCWZ: First
off, do you "708" clowns actually think you can
take on the mighty "630" DuPage Crew?
Ricky:
630 DuPage Crew is strong, there is no doubt of this for
we do not have (no pun intended) strength in numbers....but
we have heart and that's all that really matters isn't it
Ryan? I believe that we should not fight each other but
stick together....for if we join as one then we will be
invincible. Almost like Wu-Tang Sword style if used correctly.
Another thing I'd like to add, even though I had no part
in it, is that Tim was able to get the beloved DuPage County
sign away from its keepers with very little help. Of course
it was eventually reclaimed at the Chicago Hardcore Fest
but it took all the Strength In Numbers crew to get it away
from 4 "708 clowns".
Mike: In
the words of Raybeez, "united we stand divided we fall
you gotta keep the faith." I definitely think we could
use some strength in numbers. Hahaha.
WCWZ: Mike,
I've talked to you before about the "sociological"
side of the hardcore scene. Explain to the readers some
of your insights and thoughts on this topic.
Mike: Actually,
right now I'm in the process of finishing my first social
research project for my Soc. major and guess what--it's
a study of the hardcore scene in Chicago and possibly the
greater Chicagoland area. Basically, here's one of my hypotheses.
If people are "hardcore" then they will be taking
an active role in what happens around them socially and
politically; more specifically, they will be fighting unjustified
authority and the unfair power structures that capitalism
sets up in general (levels of resistance to the status quo
is especially interesting--what will facilitate a real social
movement or possibly social revolution? Could it have something
to do with the music?). I'm also interested in looking at
the healthiness of the hardcore community; more specifically,
is there even a real hardcore community? For example, someone
I interviewed at Chi-fest said, "hardcore is less like
a network of friends and more like a mini capitalist economy."
Just think of all the merchandise tables and money crossing
hands at these types of shows (note especially the coldness
of certain interactions at shows especially those that deal
with money). At the very least this seems antithetical to
what a "real" hardcore scene/community should
be about. Anyway, I just finished collecting a shit load
of data at the fest and here's a rundown of some of the
insights I've gathered so far. Unfortunately, women and
minorities are very poorly represented. Women didn't even
make up a third of the audience and I could count the minorities
on my fingers - this scene is a white boy's club. Along
this line, Martin's new band Limp Wrist got the approval
of many but you could see that there was also just as many
who were uncomfortable with the idea of homo-core. Unfortunately,
similar to the earlier line about mini-capitalism, a subculture
becomes a miniature of mass culture--sexism, racism, and
homophobia seem to permeate many social circles even ones
that claim to be against these problems. Ending on a more
positive note, I was lucky enough to find a married couple
at the show who came to see the husband's brother play in
one of the bands. The wife, a 44 year old, and the husband,
a 45 year old, said that this was their first hardcore show
and had these two insights, "The people here are extremely
nice and accepting even though I look obviously out of place,"
and, "I now realize that these [hardcore shows] are
not threats but opportunities." There must be something
special about hardcore that prompts this kind of reaction
and on this note it's important that those of us who feel
committed or a part of the hardcore community to keep this
"specialness" alive. Maybe a zine would like to
print some of my finished write-up on hardcore? If anyone
has questions, comments, or vicious attacks for me and/or
my research please email me at counterfriction@aol.com.
WCWZ: What
would be your words of advice to someone just getting into
hardcore?
Ricky:
Watch out for those DuPage kids, theyre weird.
Mike: The
scene/community is only as good as you make it. If you don't
like the games that are being played make up new ones and
play them passionately.
WCWZ: What
do you think makes the hardcore scene seem so attractive
to newcomers and vice versa?
Ricky:
I think cause it's more fun than other scenes. That's what
I think, that's what attracted me. I used to go to tons
of punk shows...and it was cool....but it wasn't as friendly
as when I started hanging out in the hardcore scene. I know
people are going to disagree with that but I don't think
you can really escape any jags in a scene. I truthfully
think that DuPage County has the best scene. I think the
DuPage is the epitome of a hardcore scene, like all the
songs you here about making a scene better. Well, I think
that what they sing about striving for is already going
on in the DuPage scene. A scene that isn't critical and
is truly about unity and having fun is very attractive.
It just makes sense that someone would want to be a part
of that.
Mike: The
attraction to the scene is felt because its a very
fluid social structure; in other words, unlike every other
institution humans deal with, the hardcore scene allows
for people to be themselves. Furthermore, creativity and
cooperation are encouraged. This is in contrast to the undemocratic,
practically totalitarian structures that most humans have
to live in on a day to day basis--hardcore is a place where
peoples talents can be brought to fruition in the anarchist
sense. Profit and control are not goals; instead, hardcore
is about doing what is fun and expressing all that a person
has to offer--in most senses this is harder work than taking
a crappy job in the capitalist economy. Possibly, it's the
amount of work that one has to put into this scene that's
also a turn off. Most of hardcores ideals run in direct
opposite to what mainstream culture's ideals are--some people
are just not up to living a life where you will always have
to be swimming against an ever strengthening tide.
WCWZ: In
your opinion, why do people leave the hardcore scene that
they were so "dedicated" too at one time?
Ricky:
I think it's because they grow out of it. Sometimes things
don't seem as important as they used to. And instead of
trying to stay in something that they aren't into anymore
they just move on.
Mike: This
relates to my answer of the previous question. The hardcore
ideals are lofty and in opposition to those presented by
most other mass forms of media. Eventually, a person must
choose a set of life paths and try some of them; if this
means leaving the hardcore scene that's fine--it's just
a process of maturation. Hardcore is for some people but
maybe not for others. Maybe people leave because of the
doublespeak that goes on in hardcore. For example, "We
hate capitalism but buy our stuff. We hate sexism but look
at the hot chick. We hate racism but were too uncomfortable
to talk to someone of a different color at a show. We hate
homophobia you fag. We're pacifist but beat the crap out
of that guy in the pit." I think you get my drift.
At the very least, people get tired of this kind of hypocrisy
and if they wanted it they could go listen to any politician,
CEO, news person, or boss/coworker and hardcore no longer
feels special for those who can perceive it's hypocrisy--it's
hard work to be a part of this kind of subculture. Nevertheless,
the fun outweighs the effort that I put into it and that's
why I won't be leaving for a long time.
WCWZ: For
you, is hardcore more of a music genre, a way of thinking
and viewing life, or a compromise of both?
Ricky: I'd
have to say that it's a compromise of both. Although a way
of thinking and viewing life can be expressed through any
style of music. I think that the way of thinking brought
about the style of music because who ever it was wasn't
with the way the music was portraying the idea. Therefore
that made it match the intensity and energy of the emotion
that went with the way they thought of things and how they
felt on life.
Mike: If
I haven't made it obvious already--hardcore is a lifestyle
as well as a music. The music describes the lifestyle to
an extant as does the lifestyle dictate what the music is
about. Constantly in the act of creation--this is the main
purpose of hardcore in my mind--art creates life; life creates
art. This transaction between music and life is what makes
hardcore vital to me. Of course, I am many other things
though and have many other interests; still, hardcore can
provide a framework or background (possibly a coherence)
that brings most aspects of my life together.
WCWZ: What's
in the future for Frontside?
Ricky:
We plan on doing a tour in the summer out east, probably
for about a week. It hasn't been confirmed yet where exactly.
We know we have a definite show in Rochester, NY so we're
trying to build it around that. We have a lot of songs that
are going out on compilations; two songs on Midwest Hardcore
comp and one on the Sinister Label Chicago Comp. I think
3 on a DePaul benefit comp for rape prevention. That one
is going to be a limited pressing of I think like 500 CDs,
I'm not sure though. We're going to keep on rock and rollin.
Play as many shows as we can and take over the world. When
Frontside is king, Ryan you will be duke of zines. You can
hold me to that too.
WCWZ: Were
you ever in the Pen 15 club?
Ricky:
You mean the very prestigious Pen 15 country club? I often
play golf there with Mike and Bob Hope....ahh Pen 15....lots
of old people....you know I almost was but I think I figured
it out before the kid, who ever it was, put it on my hand.
Mike: Where
do I sign up?? I love elite clubs(note sarcasm).
WCWZ: When
will Frontside play an acoustic set for a first grade class
in an elementary school?
Ricky:
After we release our double live album and go on tour wearing
are old make-up and platform boots.
Mike: When
we travel to the underworld and steal all of Satan's mystical
powers.
for more info on Frontside please visit:
frontside
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