Being a Young Person in Hardcore

Growing up, I have always been into alternative music. I mainly got into it from playing video games with great soundtracks, like Tony Hawk's Underground 2, having songs like Jimmy Eat World's 'Pain' and Rancid's 'Fall Back Down' drilled into my brain. I was also massively into wrestling and admired the pro-wrestler CM Punk; he's a guy covered in badass tattoos and came out to Killswitch Engage's 'This Fire Burns'- what more was there to love? However, what I really thought was interesting was the fact he was Straight-Edge and it was his persona that he built around this which had captivated me as a child.

As the years went on, and I started secondary school, I looked back on my fascination with this wrestler and what the straight-edge lifestyle was all about. I never really fitted in with the drinking culture that surrounded teenagers and didn't see the point in getting intoxicated to have fun; I wanted to pursue my life with a positive mental attitude without the need to give in to the 'so-called' social norms. I developed a D.I.Y. mentality because I was doing this for myself and not preaching it to others because they have their lives and can make their own choices. I couldn't care less what they did. People also ask me why I claim a lifestyle like this when I'm not even the legal drinking age. But as I said before, the drinking and drug culture among young people in Britain is massive, whether they are of age or not, and I didn't want to be a part of it.

Going through my teen years, I discovered hardcore early on when I ventured into the world of straight-edge music and came across bands such as 'Ten Yard Fight', 'Minor Threat', 'H2O' and, a band that really inspired me from the get-go were 'Have Heart'. I came across the Boston straight-edge band's final studio album, 'Songs to Scream at the Sun', in Year 7 when I was only about 12 years old. Even though I found out about the band a good 4 years after their final show, I really connected to their music. Pat Flynn's story about his father and grandfather, surrounding alcoholism, really struck a chord with me. The raw energy this band brought into my life, through their music, has really shaped me as a person today. The lyrics "This so-called shit is what I live for, it's why I'm alive" from the song 'Lionheart' speak to me on a personal level and have helped me continue to pursue my PMA throughout my life, because I have been put down for the way I want to live in the past so, I can relate to what Flynn is screaming into my ears. That is what helps to fuel my fire and keep me functioning positively.

I live in the 'concrete jungle', from the lyrics of Ska band The Specials, Coventry city. There has never been a heavy music scene here, to be honest. (Well, my best friends dad is Baz from the mighty Bolt Thrower, so we do- in our eyes- have a reminiscence of metal here.) My first exposure to the Second City Hardcore scene was going to see Astroid Boys last May, at The Empire, in my hometown. Splintered were supporting and seeing a local hardcore band really inspired me to go out and see more of this. I had been going to pop-punk shows for a couple years at this point anyway, but to see people throwing down was a new experience for me- I thought it was pretty sick. Over the next year, I went to more SCHC shows and saw bands such as Stranded, Chamber, No More Pain and Beretta. I also got to see bigger bands too like Knocked Loose, Higher Power, Code Orange, Comeback Kid and Brutality will Prevail.

With being between the ages of 16 and 17 at the time though, I have experienced my fair share of "excuse me mate, if you don't have ID you're going to have to leave". Which sucks! Especially when you've travelled all the way from another city to be told to leave before the band has even come on. It has become one of the challenges I have had to face over the past year being a young person in the hardcore scene. From walking in and out of the dingy toilets between sets, so security doesn't hassle me. Another similar situation that has occurred was when myself and over 10 of my friends were going to attend Second City Hardcore Fest. Despite it being labelled as an over 16s event, a couple days before the event, it was pushed up to an 18+ ID only event. It was disappointing for my friends and I- who were between the ages of 16 and 17- because had to refund our tickets last minute. We were so eager to get involved and share our love for hardcore with the rest of the scene, but it's small hurdles like this which stop us. I'm turning 18 soon, so as soon as I get a form of ID, I will be sure to make it to as many shows as I possibly can!

As my love for hardcore grows and continues, I will be sure to attend more shows and discover more bands along the way. I have already been giving this amazing opportunity to work with T.C.S, to write about an amazing music scene and subculture, so hopefully, this will enable me to venture more into the world of hardcore as a young person. I can't wait!