While the hardcore punk counter-culture movement has been around for decades with bands like Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies leading the scene in California, the genre has taken on a new swagger.
Whether it is for the trend or real passion, the rapid growth of hardcore bands like Sunami, Drain and Scowl—which have their roots in San Jose and Santa Cruz—is undeniable.
ANGEL, a “straight-edge” hardcore band, born out of Westside Santa Cruz by 19-year-old Marco Chavez, is proof of that. Chavez and bandmates Mateo Garcia (21), Joaquin Cruz (20) and Justin Vela (17) are some of the local hardcore scene’s most active members.
The band has played shows at the Catalyst, the Vets Hall and Subrosa, as well as in the Bay Area. They also regularly practice in Santa Cruz at the Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studio, thanks to Paul Gallacher.
Virtually a year after releasing their first EP, “Savior,” the band is set to record and then release their second EP, “Time to Expire,” with Marc Estabillo on Aug. 11. The EP focuses on themes of self-reflection, self-criticism and helplessness.
After opening for Crime in Stereo last week at the Santa Cruz Vets Hall, the musicians plans to go on their first mini tour, starting in Berkeley and heading down to San Diego.
Chavez, who sings and writes songs, says there are many misconceptions about the hardcore scene and the people in it.
“Hardcore in general is not about hating on everybody and beating everybody up. It’s about caring for one another. … It’s all just a way of expressing yourself in another form,” he explained, “Dancing is self-expression. The music is self-expression. It’s all just about getting your emotions out and being there for each other and having a good time.”
He understands how it can seem gnarly to many folks but though “it looks scary on the outside,” he says, “everybody is really nice.”
ANGEL considers themselves to be a “straight edge” band, part of a subculture that promotes abstinence from all drugs and substances.
Being straight-edge is “about trying to live a positive life and feeling everything, meaning not having a clouded mind in any way, shape or form so that you are fully present throughout your life, even when times are hard,” Chavez said, “Whether it be drinking, smoking, taking pills … [the message] is that you don’t need these things in your life to be happy.”
Chavez went on to explain how comradery plays a big role in the scene, “When somebody gets hit and falls down, they get picked up.” The same principles apply within straight-edge culture, “If somebody is using, you know that you are sober and able to help them if something goes wrong.”
Being an authentic part of the community is important to keep it alive. “Hardcore and punk in general aren’t about being cooler, better than everybody; it’s about showing up and showing out for your scene, showing out for the people there, and in total, being a real person, not trying to be a someone just to get somewhere.”
The authenticity that is valued in the hardcore scene becomes prevalent when musicians in bands that have “made it big” still show up to local shows and are an active part of keeping the scene going.
One of Chavez’s biggest supporters is the lead vocalist of Drain, Sammy Ciaramitaro, who regularly attends local shows. Another one of Chavez’s mentors, Condition One vocalist Danny Coggins, is a member of Crossthread, a San Jose collective that hopes to obtain an all-ages venue for art and music.
Chavez explains why all-ages music should be promoted: “It supports the idea that you don’t have to go to a bar or somewhere where people are getting drunk and sloppy to enjoy music. For a while, that’s where a lot of shows were happening; you couldn’t go to a show without being exposed to that.”
Along with that, all-ages music helps build community and ultimately keeps the scene going. “When more kids come out and start bands, then younger kids come out and want to start bands … It’s a beautiful cycle of everyone building each other up,” Chavez says.
Angel’s new EP, “Time to Expire,” will be out Aug. 11. Find them on Bandcamp.
