National Geographic gets in the pit

Was anyone at the Have Heart show two weeks ago? It was pretty impressive. Have Heart's politically driven, positive lyrics have always put me in a good mood. But I would have never thought that i would see a National Geographic photographer at one of their shows.

National Geographic is doing an article on the hardcore scene or more specifically, the straight edge scene. So what better place to go than Boston? Pictures and a full article will be shown to praise kids that choose to stray away from drugs and alcohol on their own.

In my opinion, it's about time! Hardcore gets such a bad rep for the violence and is far too often grouped in to music that promotes self loathing and hate. Quite frankly, just because a band stays true to themselves and fans, doesn't mean that people should not get a chance to hear them. For, a typical hardcore band does not get rich, they don't have tons of groupies, nor do they have a big comfy tour bus but they do have die hard fans.

To recap, the best part of the show was when Pat told the crowd to go "absoloutly ape sh*t because National Geographic was here!" At that point, we showed the photographers, and soon the world what Boston hardcore is all about.

What HAPPENED to Throwdown?

For a band that came screaming out of Orange Counties hardcore scene several years back, Throwdown has fallen far away from it's tree. When you would go to a Throwdown show two years ago, you'd expect everything that you normally would from a hardcore show. Smaller venue, tight crowd, intense bread downs with lots of people dancing. (For those that don't know what hardcore dancing is, it consists of lots of kicks, punches, cart wheels, flips, and hand plants). Now, you go to a show and you see all these wannabe goth kids dressed up like they're ready for a Marilyn Manson show. Throwdown used to stand for the Hardcore straight edge scene. Consisting of kids ready to fight, meet up with their brothers, family, and crew and stay off drugs and alcohol (straight edge) in order to be ready to protect yourselves and your friends by being strong and not abusing your bodies.
Throwdown still consists of these morals, working out four hours a day seven days a week, and being clean for almost ten years. However, they now sound like a Pantera cover band just, not good. Don't get me wrong, I love the greats Pantera as much as the next guy but if I want to listen to Pantera, I'll do just that.
Hardcore is supposed to be about improving yourself and looking at life optimistically. It's forgiving people and staying close to your friends. It's also a lot about fighting but respecting those you are fighting at the same time. It's a very gentle balance that has a line that's easily crossed. When you stand for what's right, respect, discipline and determination, you're going to have fans that do the same.
Sadly, Throwdown's following is not quite the same. They may have more fans that now don't understand that balance and go to a show to hurt as many people as they can because of what they stand for now.
I know that I come off judgemental and conceited I just am very frusturated for they used to be one of my favorite bands. I will forever love their old stuff and rememeber how it has influenced hardcore and agressive music in general.
Goodbye Throwdown.


2003 Show