lördag 23 Jun 2012, 4:36

Sat 9 Jun – Revelation Records Twenty Five Year Anniversary

Founded by Jordan Cooper and Ray Cappo (Youth of Today), Revelation Records has released material by some of the most influential hardcore and post-hardcore bands. To celebrate their 25th anniversary they booked four shows in Southern California (where they are now based out of) with many of their most important bands. Some of the bands included were Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Sick of it All, and even a surprise Quicksand reunion on the last night. Unfortunately by the time I found out about these shows they were already sold out. I was pretty disappointed that I would be missing out, however, the morning of the Saturday show I found a guy online selling an extra ticket for the price he bought it at! I immediately got in contact with him and set up to meet him at the show.

I got to The Glass House a little bit before the show started, but had to wait for the guy I was meeting, who ended up being slightly late. After getting my ticket I went inside to see the rest of Bold's set. Right away I noticed that it seemed like everybody was closer to the stage than usual, and within a couple songs I figured it out. The barricade had been removed! I was actually worried about the barricade taking away from the experience of the show, so it was great that they took it out. Out of all the shows I've been to at The Glass House they've never done that.

Aside from the occasional stage diver and a some people dancing, the majority of the crowd seemed pretty complacent for Bold, which was lame. Unfortunately since I got inside late I missed them playing all of the Crippled Youth EP with the original lineup, but I'm glad I at least got to see them. They didn't have very much energy on stage but they still sounded great. I wish they had played "Nailed to the X" though.

As Crippled Youth:

• Walk Tall, Walk Straight
• Positive Scene
• Can't You See
• Not Just Talk
• Respect
• Choice
• Stand Together
• K-Town Mosh Crew
• United We Stand

As Bold:

• Talk is Cheap
• Clear
• Search
• Running Like Thieves
• Wise Up

Next up was the NYHC band Underdog. I'm not into their reggae (not sure if that's the right description) sounding influences, but I enjoyed the hardcore aspects of their music. I'm not really familiar with their material so I only have a partial set. They didn't have much energy on stage either, but still sounded good. The crowd seemed less interested in them than they were for Bold though.

• A Lot to Learn
• ?
• ?
• Over the Edge
• Mass Movement
• ?
• Underdog
• Not Like You
• Back to Back
• ?
• The Vanishing Point

After them was the furious local band, No For An Answer. These days they rarely play shows, so it was a treat to see them. Their set was short but they played most of their material. During their set there was more stage diving going on, but it still seemed like not everybody was into them.

• Man Against Man
• Just Say No
• You Laugh
• ?
• Domino Principle
• Liar
• In The Beginning
• Without A Reason
• Guiding Line
• It Makes Me Sick
• Imperfection
• I Spy

Next was the NYHC legends, Sick of It All. Since a lot of people went outside I was able to get a spot closer to the front. After they finished sound checking Ray Cappo came out and gave a speech about Raybeez, the frontman of Warzone, whose untimely death came in 1997 at age 35. Warzone's Lower East Side Crew was actually the first release on Revelation Records. After Ray finished there was a video tribute around ten minutes long featuring a number of members of prominent NYHC bands recalling their friendship with Raybeez and his impact on the scene. I had a feeling that after the video Sick of It All would launch into a Warzone cover, and that was exactly what they did. They kicked off the set with "As One" and immediately there were people jumping off the stage, crowd surfing, and moshing. The band sounded incredible and had a ton of energy. Their setlist was awesome, with lots of songs from their first album. During "Braveheart" they split the floor for a wall of death that commenced once they started "Scratch the Surface". They really put on an amazing performance and I hope I get to see them again soon!

• As One (Warzone cover)
• Good Lookin' Out
• Built to Last
• It's Clobberin' Time
• Injustice System!
• Machete
• Rat Pack
• Take the Night Off
• Pushed Too Far
• Friends Like You
• Us vs. Them
• My Life
• Straight Ahead (Straight Ahead cover)
• World Full of Hate
• Braveheart
• Scratch the Surface
• Step Down

I wasn't sure if Youth of Today would be able to top what I had just witnessed, but I was ready for whatever they had coming. As soon as they started it was chaos. There was nearly constant stage diving for the entire set. Ray still had the same intensity in his voice that he did in the '80s and the rest of the band sounded great. The song choices were great, even though we didn't get all of Break Down the Walls and Can't Close My Eyes like they did the night before. I was really happy to hear such iconic hardcore songs live, including some of my personal favorites by them, "Make a Change" and "Expectations". After a couple of the songs Ray told stories about Raybeez, which was cool. For "Disengage" they had Walter Schreifels come out to do guest vocals. Then they did something remarkable. They brought out the 1986 lineup to play "Break Down the Walls"! I stage dove twice during their set and had an awesome time. It was easily one of the most intense sets I've seen.

• Flame Still Burns
• Take a Stand
• Expectations
• Make a Change
• Put It Aside
• Can't Close My Eyes
• No More
• Choose to Be
• Prejudice
• Positive Outlook
• Modern Love Story
• A Time We'll Remember
• Disengage
• Break Down the Walls
• Young Till I Die (7 Seconds cover)

After Youth of Today I was pretty tired, so I decided to watch Gorilla Biscuits from the back. Everybody was going just as crazy for them. They sounded great and played an awesome set. They did almost all of Start Today, only leaving off "First Failure". When they announced "New York Crew" I really wished I had stayed up front. Judge is one of my favorite hardcore bands and it was awesome to be able to hear one of their songs live. Overall this was an incredible show, and you really couldn't ask for a better lineup. I wish I could have gone to the Friday show as well, but I feel extremely grateful to have even been able to see this one. And for any of you on the East Coast that are disappointed it didn't happen there, just be patient… ;)

• New Direction
• Stand Still
• Degradation
• Better Than You
• Good Intentions
• Forgotten
• Things We Say
• Big Mouth
• Sitting 'round at Home
• Competition
• High Hopes
• Hold Your Ground
• Two Sides
• No Reason Why
• Do Something (CVI cover)
• Cats and Dogs
• Biscuit Power
• Time Flies
• Slut
• New York Crew (Judge cover)
• Start Today