American Hardcore is one of the first documentaries to chronicle a very underappreciated form of music, hardcore punk music. As director Paul Rachman and I discuss, hardcore is a form that is unable to be co-opted by the corporations because once such big money is involved, by definition it is no longer hardcore. Paul Rachman is one of those guys that instead of picking up an instrument while observing seminal music being created, he picked up a film camera. Now it is all paying off with a great documentary...
American Hardcore could not have been a better genre to choose for the documentary. The hardcore/ punk scene is a scene not very much reconized giving it the feel that it has. It to me and the other fans find it as an escape. Its a great time all the time, and its not unreal. Everything from love, luck, life, loss all the way to the bruises, friendships and empty pockets is real. It all comes from the heart and more than half of us relate. Hopefully this documentary will move some people and get them take a look at the scene for themselves. It's powerful!
i was so excited to see this interview. i remember my first hardcore show like it was yesterday (although in reality i was 14 and got the shit kicked out of me, but I loved it!). Huge fan of DC Hardcore and NY hardcore, bands like Fugazi and Most Precious BLood. I have been depressed lately with societies mainstreaming and sale of everything i love: 'punk' music (PUNK rejects capitalism too), surfing (stop using my sport to sell rollaids!). Recently in my hometown there has been a strong wave to take "The Scene" back to its hardcore roots. fuck dashboard, fuck emo, fuck 'indie rock' , fuck bands like "Greenday" who were once punk but now glorified Rock stars. DYI for life.
oh and where would i be able to see this documentary. i'm so siked.
I find it hilarious that Epstein claims in the intro that Hardcore is "unable to be co-opted by the corporations because once such big money is involved, by definition it is no longer hardcore." Well in that case I guess commercialized punk doesn't exist, because punk "by definition" is not something produced by big corporations. I'm tired of the pretentiousness of "If I do it, it's this genre, but if a big company does the exact same thing, it's different genre because someone I didn't approve did the same kind of music." No it isn't. Genre is defined by musical conventions and styles, not popularity. "My favorite music must always be secret and undrground...or else it doesn't count!" Grow up. If music is good, why care if a big corporation profits? Maybe they'll get the message out to more people, and they can enjoy it too. There are real problems in the world to worry about.
courtneyriot
STAFF
Los Angeles, CA
OCT 05, 2006 06:00 AM