Punk Rock Fight Club
The link above will send you to a video slide show recap of the article so you'll have to read the article in the actual magazine.
The topic centers around hardcore gang FSU, which originated in Boston. Some of the bands mentioned in the article include Blood for Blood and Death Before Dishonor. The article really hit home for me not because i'm part of some violent gang, but because my friends and i growing up saw some of this in the scene.
Killing the Dream
These gangs basically come down to racist stance, whereas you're either a racist Nazi or not. FSU basically seeks out Nazi's and fight them. When i say Nazi people think they're not around, or they're in Germany or something, but in the scene the term Nazi refers to anyone who is racist on any platform. So one stories involved a kid who was beaten to death because he was wearing a shirt with a Confederate Flag on it and wouldn't take it off.
For people not into the hardcore scene this article might seem a little over the top but it surely isn't. Not every show is violent, but i've seen small glimpses of the violence referred to here. i've lived in Sacramento and Denver, and both scenes aren't nearly as violent or traditional as say Boston, New Jersey or Los Angeles.
On the other hand, not all hardcore is violent. A new genre of hardcore has been taking over since 2000 with an ultra-positive theme. Bands like Blood for Blood, Madball, Agnostic Front... are getting old and the new hardcore bands are taking over with their lyrics of positivity, anti-violence, straight-edge and unity. These bands include Sinking Ships, Comeback Kid, Crime in Stereo, Rise Against, and many others.
I'm getting older by the day, and i'm certainly no expert on hardcore, but this article definitely sheds light on the dark side of hardcore, the side that made me nervous at some shows growing up (Bo Jangles anyone).
I would really recommend reading this article to anyone, especially those who think gang violence only involves Tupac and Biggie Smalls.
