“This is fucking family. This is community. Be proud of what you've done in the past year for North Carolina!” Shane Harris (Down In It, New Ethics Booking) proclaimed those words about the North Carolina hardcore scene while on stage and they couldn't have been any more true. Working with Ian Geiger (Society Sucker) and Mitchell Warneke (Progressive Music Group), they made the second annual Southern Ties Fest bigger and better than the year before.

 

Southern Ties Fest was an all day hardcore festival held in Wilmington, NC that paired North Carolina hardcore bands with national touring bands and it was a huge success. It was a day of celebration for everyone who had worked hard to build and strengthen the scene. Fifteen bands played, and there wasn't a dull moment all day, but I'm going to focus on a handful of bands that, to me, really stood out from the rest. Rapid Change is a straight edge band out of Charlotte, NC. They personify everything that was awesome about the youth crew movement. Their energetic stage presence and in your face conviction will no doubt give you hope that today's youth will carry on what hardcore is all about.

 

Future Primitive are Greensboro's young guns that will make you think it's 2006 again. They brilliantly combine elements of emo, skate punk, melodic hardcore, and whatever else they have been jamming to create a unique sound that could easily back a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game. They played quite a few new songs that made me very excited for a new EP. Don't sleep on this band. 

 

Point Blank, out of Tallahassee, Florida, were one of my favorite bands of the day. They're one of those bands that's just fun to see live. Their brand of energetic, pissed off hardcore makes you want to punch everyone in sight... and I love that. 

 

Down In It, hailing from Wilmington, NC, is a mashup of all the things that have shaped my life. They blend elements of nu metal with hardcore. They used to encourage people to do wrestling moves in the pit during their ode to the late, great Macho Man Randy Savage. If that's not enough to turn your head, they have some of the most intelligent and thought provoking lyrics you'll ever hear; they tackle everything from LGBTQ rights, to dealing with depression, to living your life by a strict code of honor (the vegan straight edge). I can't say enough good things about this band. Go listen to them.

 

Turnstile is arguably one of the hottest bands in hardcore right now and it's easy to see why. Their live show is so full of energy and life that it's hard to stand still when they play. Their vocalist is all over the place and remains one with with the crowd. If you like stage diving to songs about love and heartbreak, this is your band.

 

Seeing Madball play Set It Off front to back with Matt Henderson on guitar was truly something special. I can't even begin to describe how influential these guys have been in the hardcore genre. The best part was that even after 20 years, they hadn't missed a beat. They flawlessly blazed through the legendary 1994 release. Hardcore means the world to me and will always hold a special place in my heart. Madball reminded me why that is.

 

I strongly encourage you to look at the flyer and look up every single band that played Southern Ties Fest. You will not be disappointed. You can find out more about Progressive Music Group on their website.