Two Steps Forward: Documenting the Baltimore Hardcore Scene

• Marissa Fleming, Fine Arts, University of Delaware

• Aaron Terry, Art, University of Delaware

Hardcore punk rock, more commonly referred to as hardcore, is a subgenre of extreme music combining metal and punk with a DIY ethos, strong political messages, and manic stage antics. Although its popularity has waxed and waned since its inception in the early 1980s, the scene has always remained underground at heart and thrived that way. Hardcore shows have many unique qualities, making them jarring even to fans of other intense music genres. These shows are the only places you will see people throwing fists at one another while dancing, grabbing the mic from the singer, jumping on and off stage, and piling on each other, then hugging it out afterward and talking in front of the venue for hours. This uniqueness and underground nature has created close-knit self-maintained communities in many cities around the world centered entirely around making, playing, and enjoying music. This research focuses on capturing the Baltimore Hardcore Scene’s ethos, and the energy of the shows there. Previously, I researched the roots of hardcore, but now I wanted to focus on what is happening presently and where the scene is headed in the future. The aim is to introduce others to the power of the music, shows, and community, and influence some to see it for themselves. I attended multiple shows a week throughout the research period, taking photos, videos, and interviewing members of the scene. I have taken what I gathered and assembled it into the first issue of a fan magazine or “zine” with insights from interviews, and collages that capture the raw feelings of being present at a hardcore show.