1- How did you know about hardcore and sxe? Remeber your first show? I was lucky that the punk kids in my high school found me and took me in. My first show was a small punk show in Rapid City, South Dakota. It was like all of the misfits from my town gathered to celebrate their differentness. I fell in love and going to shows became 2- How was the hardcore scene in that time? In my opinion, hardcore was flourishing in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The youth crew scene had been going strong and then flowed into a more melodic, even more politically engaged scene in the ‘90s. Bands like Outspoken, Shelter, Endpoint, and By the Grace of God changed up the sound a bit and brought inspiring messages to kids. People were really thinking about politics, vegetarianism and veganism were increasingly common, and the music was interesting. 3- Any especial shows you remember? Why? So many special shows! Seeing Insted play “We’ll Make the Difference” inspired me to change the world. Watching queercore bands like Tribe 8 and Spitboy challenged me to think about sexism and homophobia. Listening to Greg from Trial talk about political prisoners and oppression between songs reminded me of hardcore’s potential to speak about social justice. Seeing Earth Crisis for the first time in 1996 showed how animal rights had become even more important in the scene. My early shows included Born Against and Downcast, both of which criticized capitalism. Neurosis blew my mind on their early tours, presenting a stunning wall of sound with creepy films playing behind the band. But most of all I remember the friendships. 4- There's moment in the scene that you want to return back and live it again? I try not to get overly nostalgic about the past, and I never want to be one of those jaded scenesters who thinks everything was better “back in the day.” I think the scene is thriving. Still, I really, really liked hardcore – both the music, and the message - in the ‘90s, for the reasons I stated above. 5- Have you play in any band, or any projects to make one? I am musically useless! Being in a band is one of my unfulfilled ambitions and it will probably remain unfulfilled. I try to make my contributions to the scene through my writing. 6- Which bands influenced you? I always most liked bands with a message behind their music. So when I was younger, Outspoken, Chain of Strength, Chorus of Disapproval, Youth of Today, Judge, Fugazi, and of course Minor Threat. Later, Trial, Stretch Arm Strong, Harvest, Bane. And more recently, Have Heart and Verse, and WolfxDown. Oh, and I was a HUGE Metallica fan, at least through their first four records, haha! 7- Can you talk us about your book ¨Straight Edge: Hardcore Punk, Clean Living Youth, and Social Change¨ Straight Edge is based upon many years of going to shows and talking with straight edge kids around the U.S. I analyzed different aspects of straight edge, including whether we can think of it as a social movement, how gender (masculinity and femininity) happen in the scene, and what happens when straight edge kids get older. I wanted to represent a wide variety of regular straight edge kids rather than interviewing only “famous” musicians. So you get to hear their voices and read my analysis. 8- Any other books you wrote? I have several other books: Subcultures: The Basics, about all different sorts of subcultures and theories about why people participate, how society reacts, and how subcultures have become global. Goths, Gamers, and Grrrls: Deviance and Youth Subcultures, examining deviant behavior in relation to youth scenes. The Better World Handbook: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference, an action-oriented guide for everyday people who want to help create a more just and sustainable world. 9- Why you think people lose interest on hardcore and broke the sxe? Wow, that’s a tough question that depends upon each individual. However, I have researched and written about this a bit. For some people, the “scene” changes from being inspiring and empowering to being limiting and frustrating. As straight edge “kids” become adults, have families, get jobs, they might feel like the scene relates less to their lives. And being drug free seems less important. However – and I want to emphasize this – there are a lot of people out there who remain straight edge into their “adult” lives, even if they don’t have much (or any) connection to hardcore music. One of my current projects is about how experience in DIY hardcore scenes – setting up shows, doing ‘zines, booking tours, making music, and so on – actually gives people useful skills in their future careers. 10- Do you know anything about latin america hardcore bands? Sure! I’m always looking into new bands, usually one’s that show up in my Facebook feed through the Straight Edge Worldwide page. I have travelled in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, and Peru – I love Latin America and hope to visit many more times. 11- Finally can you give us any words for the people who follow this blog, thanks Straight edge and hardcore have made a huge impact on my life! Keep it positive!
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