Washington DC has a history that goes back to the founding of the nation, but it’s also home to one of the most influential hardcore scenes in America. When the Ramones toured DC in 1976, they introduced the city to punk rock, which would eventually evolve into its own scene known as harDCore. Because DC was the centerplace for politics in the nation, it indirectly fused the fast pace tempo of punk with political frustration. This led to a very unique attitude characterized by bands such as Minor Threat and Bad Brains.
During the 1980s, The punk movement in DC grew at an unprecedented rate, and the president Ronald Reagan became the main target of criticism. His presidency and controversial ideals provided endless inspiration for the local punk bands. The whole straightedge movement, coined by local band Minor Threat, emerged as a rejection of drugs, alcohol, and casual sex. Followers believed that staying sober allowed them to remain focused and resist Reagan-era politics and social pressure.
Although the DC hardcore scene declined in the 1990s, it still remains strong, just not as loud as it once was. An interview with a local Northern Virginia band called Kill the King, helped share the perspective with the older DC hardcore scene as compared to the modern scene. When asked whether the scene has faded away, they said “I think there has always been a scene, and always will be, it’s just sort of changed depending on where people tend to access it, online or in person”. They suggested that being in a band isn’t held to the same regard as during the 2000s. Around the time when guitar hero came out, everyone wanted to be in a band, but now that’s just not the case. Less kids are picking up instruments and there are consequently less bands out there. Another major playing point is the loss of music venues.
During the 2000s, DC experienced gentrification and forced many smaller venues that once were center hubs for hardcore shows to shut down. Today, there are only a handful of clubs or venues that regularly host hardcore performances in DC, increasing the reliance on Do-It-Yourself venues. I asked local DC based band D.M.V. about the role of DIY venues in the hardcore community, and they responded “I’d say extremely important, there are very few “traditional” venues that are open and willing to do shows that have local bands headlining. Venues that built their business on local punk music like 9:30/IMP almost never do anything with local bands anymore.” DIY spaces are deep rooted in the hardcore scene due to the unpredictability that can come from the nature of these concerts. Legendary DC band Bad Brains had to relocate to New York because most venues refused to book them because of their destructive nature. The D.M.V band also explained why they prefer DIY spaces, saying, “For our band we are pretty intentional about playing at DIY places, churches, dojos, underground art galleries, it’s a lot more rewarding and fun doing something in these unconventional spaces and basically transforming them into something completely different for a night”. Local hardcore bands rely on DIY venues to build recognition, without those spaces, the hardcore scene struggles to stay afloat.
As the DC harcore scene was declining, Richmond became a hotspot for its growing hardcore scene. During the mid 1980s, DC was facing a decline in the local hardcore scene due to changing musical interests and culture. While the growth of the Richmond scene and the decline of the DC scene may not be directly coordinated, Tim Barry, the Lead singer for Avail which is a Richmond based punk rock band, once explained in an interview, “I’d been coming to Richmond to visit my brother since 1986 and we [Avail] were tired of living in Northern Virginia. Beau and I came down for a visit in 1990, and we were blown away by all the shows taking place on Grace Street”. A major difference between Richmond and DC is the emphasis of DIY venues. Which may be influenced by its close proximity to Virginia Commonwealth University. I interviewed a friend who frequently attends hardcore shows in Richmond, and when asked about the role of VCU in the local scene, he said “VCU actually kinda assists in fostering hardcore, because the city of richmond is so full of different visual and performing arts all over there are murals on half the buildings fliers for shows everywhere its kinda difficult to avoid”. Because VCU attracts such a diverse group of students and artists, the local hardcore scene has been exposed to a wide variety of genres and leads to a unique creative sound.
