Back in June I went with some friends to a hardcore show featuring And Then There Were None, Before Their Eyes, He Is Legend, and Drop Dead, Gorgeous . Though we were mostly there for ATTWN, a hardcore-turned-techno outfit on Tooth and Nail Records, we were still able to have a great time with the more aggressive bands in the lineup. It was my friends' first hardcore show and our first time at the venue. The Note, a bar in West Chester, PA, seemed a bit incongruous to its surroundings. While West Chester has a bit of charm, the Note has a bit of grunge, with attitude to spare. Wrought iron railings and light fixtures gave it a Gothic atmosphere, and the balcony had leather couches that seemed well used…but still, it’s about the music.
And Then There Were None took the stage first, surrounded by pre-pubescent girls with dyed black hair, TWLOHA tees and Converses. The band only performed five songs, the best of which (“Hospital”) soon had me dancing in my usual nerdy way. With a surprisingly clear and earnest vocalist and melody driven lines, their switchover to the pop side of things was complete. They had a lot of energy, jumping along to bright synth beats and driving guitar riffs. However, the crowd was not impressed. Apparently, dancing is still a sin in West Chester, and my friends and I were the only ones to make an attempt to shake things up. We had a great time, and continued to cheer on the very loud, very computerized ATTWN. To give you an idea of their sound, here's a fan video of their cover of Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek":
After our favorite band left the stage, we were treated to Before Their Eyes, a seemingly inexperienced screamo band in the vein of Hawthorne Heights and the like. I found it humorous that they opened with the dialogue from Willy Wonka during the steamboat scene (“There’s no earthly way of knowing, what direction we are going” etc). They compensated for their youth and inexperience with energy and unexpectedly powerful vocals from their “compact” frontman, and shared the mic with a rabid young fan in the audience who gave the vocalist a run for his money. NOTE: during this time, a circle pit started to form, but it was promptly broken up by security members who take their job entirely too seriously.
He Is Legend took to the stage about 20 minutes later, with flippant and erratic frontman Schuylar Croom making his presence known. The unique “stoner-metal” quality that emanates from the band is simultaneously laughable and respectable. The flannel and long hair of all members contributed to such a label, but their music sets them apart from the other acts that evening. Playing songs from “Suck Out the Poison” and newest release “It Hates You” (ignoring their first, more hardcore album "I Am Hollywood"?), the crowd moshed (as much as security would allow) and screamed their approval in harmony to the powerfully driven metal guitar. It was clear that they were the crowd favorite.
Here's a video of them from the show:
The final band of the evening, Drop Dead, Gorgeous, had a sound that was almost entirely too loud for me to decode. Yes, I understand that hardcore shows are raucous, loud, and rightfully so; however, when volume prevents even basic comprehension of what the heck is being played, there may be a problem. This post-hardcore act was not as energetic or definitive as the other acts on the tour, but they were clearly engaged in their music, with focused performances from a skillful drummer, and pounding guitars. The front man took an arrogant stance on the stage, demanding the audience’s attention with deep guttural vocals, and the audience responded semi-positively. However , with not-so-remarkable breakdowns and an audience clearly more interested in the bands that preceded, Drop Dead, Gorgeous marked the end of the evening well.
With all hardcore shows, a key element is the audience experience. I was extremely put off by the needless insistence of security on ruining the night for so many members of the crowd. Though the crowd was small, and the number of people who actually started to mosh was smaller, they were denied their right to such expression. I enjoyed myself, and my friends did too, but I was not impressed with the management of the venue. As a bar, I thought The Note served its purpose, but as a music venue, especially for hardcore shows, it was not very hospitable. The music was still excellent, but the venue needs to loosen up a bit-it's rock'n'roll.
-Brittany Eltman
