Assault on the senses
Assault City Hardcore Fest II - Syracuse, NY, 10.7.07
10/10
by Roger Chao
Four ceiling fans were rotating slowly in the hot and balmy room, doing little to bring down the temperature in the small community center. Inside, some 200 guys and girls were crammed together, anxiously waiting for the next band to set up. The air was tense with energy. As soon as the first chord from the guitar was struck, the crowd exploded. Bodies began flying left and right, and the room became a living entity. Welcome to Assault City.
Last Sunday, Syracuse hosted the Assault City Hardcore Fest for the second year in a row. Based on the city’s nickname (“a salt city,” get it?), the fest brings together the best and brightest of Western New York’s punk rock and hardcore music scene. Originally started in 2006, it was an opportunity for new bands in the area to gain more exposure. For just three dollars, fans got an entire day’s worth of underground culture at the Westcott Community Center. All bands played on a voluntary basis, allowing the door price to be extremely cheap. The profits went back to the Westcott, which has recently gained an iconic status in the Syracuse music scene.
The fest kicked off at 2:15 in the afternoon, and the first band to play was called The Last Battle. The members were all extremely young, ranging from 14 to 18 years old. Though wet behind the ears, they handled the pressure of opening up the show well, playing music with a raw punk sound and enough energy to pump up the crowd. After their set, I asked singer Rob Button about his nerves. “Nah, I wasn’t nervous at all,” he said. “We pretty much know everyone here, so it was just like playing in front of friends.”
Music was not the only thing offered at ACHF. Tables were set up all around, offering everything from T-shirts to vinyl records to literature. The Syracuse Animal Rights Organization (SARO) had a table, offering cheap vegan-friendly snacks and free pamphlets. There were many free items up for grabs. Whether it was a band’s demo or a homemade “zine,” money did not play a big part at ACHF. In this day and age, where a price tag is attached to seemingly everything, the fest demonstrated that money is not always needed to have a good time.
The next two acts that I caught were Election Day and Attempted Control. Election Day’s vocalist kicked off their set with a passionate speech about the importance of equality in punk rock. “Regardless of the decisions we make and the paths we take, for the next few hours, the only decision that should matter to anyone is the decision to be here.” The band’s brand of melodic hardcore grabbed and captivated the crowd’s attention for the entire set, and a cover of “Values Here” by Dag Nasty kept everyone singing along all the way until the end.
When Attempted Control took the floor, the mob of sweaty guys and gals wasted no time circle-pitting and flying around.
Through all the movement and limbs, I noticed an old couple standing off to the side, taking everything in. Their faces did not give off the look of shock as some would expect, but rather an expression of interest. I talked to the couple, Bill and Cathy Connors, about their reaction to ACHF. As it turns out, their son Zach plays bass guitar in Attempted Control. “It’s a good feeling.” Cathy said. “This is our first time. We never knew what kind of stuff went on at these shows, so we thought it’d be kind of cool to come.” She added, “It’s a little loud and crazy, but overall, it’s very interesting.” Bill commented, “These kids are very respectful. I’ve been to the Westcott before, and there were never any problems or complaints. I see cops driving by and not even giving a second look.”
The last few bands to play ACHF were by far the most anticipated. Forfeit, a five-man wrecking crew, put on the heaviest and best-received set of the night. The crowd was moving and singing along through every song. The band wrapped up with a cover of Life of Agony’s “River Runs Red,” which pleasantly surprised everyone. Next up, Culture Shock played a fast thrash-punk set. Their guitarist, Trevor Clement, demonstrated that technique and skill was not lost in punk rock, as his guitar screamed with lightning-quick chords and screeching solos.
The two final bands of the fest, Another Breath and Black SS, are veterans of the Syracuse scene. Neither has played a show since the summer, and their eagerness to play was demonstrated by each member’s intensity. Black SS’s old school hardcore sound and Another Breath’s smooth and full, hard-hitting riffs were appreciated equally, as the mob climbed over one another, frantically grabbing at the microphone for their chance to sing along. During their set Ted, the singer of Another Breath stated, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you where you belong. Those people have too much time on their hands.”
Assault City Hardcore Fest was a clear example of just how supportive the Western NY hardcore scene is. I really got a sense that everyone involved was open and generous. It was a great place for bands, both local and national, to play, and unlike some of the other punk and hardcore scenes around the country, there is no bullshit or bad attitudes. Everyone comes together to show support for something that they love. Mark from Election Day said it best in his speech: “No matter where we all go home tonight—Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, or otherwise—within these walls today we are all a part of Assault City.”
