So I’m changing things up here on Evil Collector, because that’s what this culture is all about anyway, right? While the ties between hip hop and streetwear are both plentiful and obvious, there are just as many references to the hardcore punk scene which go largely unnoticed. While many kids fall in love with sneakers through De La Soul and Michael Jordan, my introduction was through bands like Youth of Today and Steve Caballero. I could rant and rave about the relationship between each of these subcultures and their similarities, but suffice to say that punk and hardcore have made a lasting impression on my identity and the way I evaluate the world I live in. So with all of that said, last Tuesday I hiked a few blocks over to The Ottobar here in Baltimore to say goodbye to one of the most important hardcore bands of the past five years (an eternity for the genre) - Modern Life Is War.

Arriving late, I missed a set from locals Bad Habit, but will undoubtedly catch them at an upcoming local show sometime soon. I was however, just in time for punk revivalists Deep Sleep. These guys have a long history, with members having played in numerous bands within the Baltimore area like - Greasegun, Never Enough, The Spark, and Active Sac. Their sound is something akin to the frustration found in Black Flag (the old stand by reference for an uptempo hardcore band) with the pop sensibilities of The Descendents. Pretty lofty comparisons, but the band lives up to them better than most. Bassist Mike Stearns is a thrill to watch as he foregoes the use of a pick that many have come to favor, and deftly plucks away at his bass with enough speed to keep up with just about anyone.

Next up for the night was the tour de force that is Baltmore’s own Ruiner. Watching the band plow through some of their more powerful numbers like Kiss That Motherfucker Goodnight I almost wondered if the hometown crowd would have anything left in the tank after multiple pile ons and stage dives. Singer Rob Sullivan delivered every syllable (ha) of each song with such conviction that you couldn’t help but want to be part of the action. The band tenaciously ran through their more popular numbers in short order, covering material from their new album Prepare To Be Let Down, as well as their debut EP What Could Possibly Go Right? If this band is indicative of the future of hardcore, I’ll welcome it with open arms.

After Ruiner finished their set, a friend on tour with Modern Life Is War took the stage to do some stand up comedy in between bands. I honestly can’t recall the dude’s name, and his jokes were equally forgettable. However, he had some pretty powerful things to say about cerebral palsy, which he was afflicted with, and the importance of bands with a genuine interest in community like Modern Life Is War. It’s certainly a better way to kill time between sets than barely distinguishable tunes over the speakers.

Finally Modern Life Is War took the stage. Upon the announcement that this would indeed be the band’s final tour, I’d wondered just how they would manage to cover all of the songs that have meant so much to their fans. Sure they only have three full lengths, but watching and hearing singer Jeff Eaton throw every bit of himself into each song, it’s amazing they can make it through a 20 minute set. While I didn’t actually clock this performance, it’s safe to say that everyone walked away having heard almost every jam they expected. It’s become a cliche for musical performances to be described in words, and I can definitely admit to that now. Evaluating a performance such as this is so hard because it’s not something meant to be evaluated in the first place. It’s meant to be experienced without thinking twice about what you might have to do the next day or what people around you are wearing or doing. This is the exact aspect that any streetwear tribute will never be able to approach, as the aesthetics are obvious but largely irrelevant. All that mattered to everyone on this night was shouting along to the driving rhythms of songs like By The Sea and The Outsiders. Modern Life Is War are masters of the rise and fall dynamic and the crowd ate up every second of it. During their final song, the band’s unofficial anthem D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S. the stage was swarming with fans literally throwing themselves at the microphone, desperate for one last chance to be a part of something that comes along once in a very short while. This tour is winding it’s way through the midwest before the bands final show on April 26. If you have the opportunity to check out a show, I’m begging you to do it, even if you may not be familiar with the band or the genre, as I’m absolutely convinced you can’t help but be moved by the passion this band has for performing their music for their fans a final time.

All of the pictures above were provided by the one and only Jason Bergman from the band’s final performance in New York. Check out more of his work at Jbergs.com so you can brag to your friends that you knew about this dude before he blew the hell up.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 13th, 2008 at 12:39 am and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.