IRT Magazine

That is unless I feel like sitting through 5 opening acts that are desperately trying to recreate what Sheer Terror did 15 years ago. Walking into the back of the Western Beef Super Market, ahem..I mean Highline Ballroom, I felt as if I was transported back to 1996 as we were greeted by bald dudes with bellies still rockin their 25 ta Life gear, and 16 year olds trying to prove their “punk” with zipper pants and Mohawks that reeked of Vic’s vapor rub. What is with all of the crowd bashing you ask? Well it is because I am bothered that such a socially conscious powerhouse like Sick of it All attract such a motley crew of idiocy. I am not a judgmental person, and we all know that the basis of hardcore is to be non-judgmental. But it seems somewhere between 1996 and now, the ideals have changed. People seem to have forgotten what they are rebelling against. I almost forgot why I came to the High Line Ballroom until Sick of it All took the stage. Let me tell you, I hope that I have that much energy at 40+. Sick of it all stormed through a set spanning their 22 year career. Sing alongs, “oi”-ing, and spin kicks were all present in the most hardcore of forms. Lou and Pete had some of the best crowd interaction I had ever seen at a show. “You want to hear the old shit…You know what happens when you play the old shit right? All of the old guys run to the bar.” And “Clobbering time has been the second song in our set for our whole career…Get with the program”, were some of the entertaining remarks made by Lou. Shit, even Craig Ahead’s mom was present for the event! We even got a chance to witness the “parting of the seas”, as Lou took on the role of Moses breaking the crowd into before a head on collision before one of the staples of the night..known as “Scratch the Surface”. While hardcore has seen its better days as a scene, Sick of it All prove that they are here to stay and with a performance like this, you’ll have no reason to debate. -Mark Traverson