taste | the scene
ORANGE CO U N TY
coverage of these extremist fans amassed the coverage of those with opposing views, and although hardcore gangs successfully formed in the 1990s to violently push the neo-Nazis off their platform, the stigma remains today. “Hardcore punk has always been about honoring integrity when households, governments, and social relationships fail,” says Eric Giordani, Orange County resident and longtime heavy metal-punk enthusiast. While sitting down with Giordani, he speaks about an interesting and oftentimes overlooked branch of hardcore fans. “Despite the conflicting perceptions, common lyrics discuss struggles with mental health, being unapologetically true to one’s identity, resisting corruption against institutions and government, social justice, and staying drug- and alcohol-free,” he says. “In fact, one of the subcultures of hardcore punk is the ‘straight-edge’ scene, also represented as ‘XXX.’ This scene is so prevalent that the straight-edge hardcore scene is often referred to as ‘HxC,’ where the ‘X’ represents the straight-edge foundation. People who identify with HxC are also commonly vegan and actively promote activism against animal cruelty.” Twenty-year-old straightedge artist Jenn Guinevere the punk scene “has always been a platform for the oppressed,” she says. The music can stand on its own while others “find communities and seek self-improvement.” “It’s a place where kids with broken homes can let their frustrations out and meet with those alike,” she says. “It can also be a platform for activists to speak out about injustices, or a place where people can just let loose after an uptight shift at work. Most people in the scene are friendly, and it’s good to have friends in the mosh pit when the crowd gets wild.” Guinevere laughs as she recalls memories of shows, pre-quarantine, that got out of hand. Most of the time, crowds and stage presence are high energy, so mosh pits are always expected, especially for the headlining bands. “Limbs flailing everywhere and bodies diving off stage is the best part of the show,” Giordani says. “Light injuries are common. Down-tuned guitars and palm mutes make people rabid.” Although mosh pits seem like a cracked skull waiting to happen, there is a rule of thumb the majority of pit goers seem to follow. Holding lost items over one’s head for others to find, no moshing outside the pit into the standing crowd, and no throwing things are just a few examples of basic rules known throughout the community. Knowing they can absolutely lose their shit without fear for their lives is the
The Golden Coast is in the midst of a major shift in punk culture for a new generation ready for more
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hile being tossed around in a pit of sweat with strangers stage diving onto your head unannounced isn’t everyone’s ideal concert going experience, it is a welcomed trill for the hardcore music scene. For Orange County, the somewhat underground culture is very much a thriving community made up of queer folk, activists, and straight-edge vegans. While misconceptions circulate, fans and even some bands themselves, have been adamant in changing the perception of the scene. People unfamiliar with the culture are quick to assume hardcore shows are composed of drug-addicted degenerates who may also be anarchists or neo-Nazis. This train of thought stems back to the neo-Nazi skinhead movement born in 1980s United States as they expressed their hatred via hardcore punk. The media 52
Orange Appeal | 2020
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAT NIJMEDDIN
HARDCORE