skip to main |
skip to sidebar
This weekend, it's all 
about honoring the old and exploring the new. Here's what's on tap for the music scene:
New- Battle of the bands at Montage- Approximately 10 bands, duking it out for the top spot. Added bonus? Two members of Lights of Autumn are judging. Doors are at five, come support your local musicians.
Old- KMFDM at Waterstreet- Europe's industrial trailblazers are on tour and gracing our fair city with their mix of metal, electronic and rock. Get ready to rock the pit and declare no pity for the majority. Doors at 7.
Found this old ass, scratched CD I made in high school. It is a wicked mix of pop punk and alternative. Enjoy!
A while back, fellow blogger and local music enthusiast, Rich, wrote a piece about the hardcore scene in Rochester in the 90s. After reading it, he and I traded notes about the scene and how, over time, it has devolved into a place where electric drum kits and neon tees rule.
So where have all the good hardcore bands gone?The answer emerged Sunday evening in the dingy 
Dub Land Underground basement with Mayflower, Title Fight, Like Wolves and especially with headliner, Polar Bear Club.
Mayflower blew us away with their Millencolin-like speed guitar parts and a surprisingly mature sound for a young band. Even though their songs are a bit on the melodramatic side, we were impressed with their sound. By the end, we too were chanting along with In it to win it.
If the boys of Mayflower looked high school age, Title Fight is pushing middle school. Their musicality was solid, but the lead vocals left us underwhelmed. We think they have the pieces to work, but just need more polish.
Like Wolves came screaming on stage, easily the hardest of the openers. Lead singer Ben turned up the intensity level, crawling over the crowd and nicking the overhead pipes, while never ceasing the battle-cries. Amazing passion.
Splitting time between Syracuse and Rochester, Polar Bear Club strikes a perfect chord of boyish good looks, solid musical background and the emotional, crowd-engaging vocals that harks back to Rochester hardcore of yesteryear. The concert at Dub Land was to commemorate the release of their album Chasing Hamburg and recent signing with Bridge Nine records. Track Living Saints has gained much notoriety in the industry as the jam to focus on.
But, to us, though this was a concert to showcase the new, nothing says Rochester hardcore like the crowd interaction and participation that older songs brought. And, PBC sure did bring the love from the hardcore community that still thrives on.
Following 9/11, Clear Channel issued a notice banning some excellent songs from the radio, in fear of their "questionable lyrics." On this day of solace and remembrance, we're rocking some of the banned tunes:
Because the last long weekend of summer demands a playlist that can keep up with us.
about honoring the old and exploring the new. Here's what's on tap for the music scene:
