Totb Keeps hardcore positive
MUSIC ON THE MENU: TOTB keeps hardcore positive
Alan K. Stout by Alan K. Stout
No drinking.
No fighting.
No bullsh-t.
Those are the words on the flyer, which can be found on MySpace, aimed at promoting this Saturday’s hardcore show at the Underwood Skate Park in Taylor. The bill features To Outlive The Beginning and five other bands, and though the music can certainly be viewed as aggressive, those that play it clearly are not. TOTB vocalist Steve Weber simply describes the band’s music as heavy yet sincere, which he says many young fans find very appealing.
“It’s not overloaded with what’s hot today, or what’s going to sell,” says Weber. “It’s just honest and true music. The energy of it … there’s nothing like it. You can see bands in an intimate setting, without bouncers, and try to just let yourself go and be yourself.”
TOTB is based out of Wilkes-Barre and was formerly known as Monarch. In addition to Weber, members include Mike Tyahur on drums, Teddy Giovannini on bass, Ryan Farrell on guitar and Bill Check on guitar. Weber says his own love for hardcore dates back more than 10 years.
“I’m 25 now, and when I was probably 14, I went to see my first show at Sea-Sea’s in Moosic,” he says. “I saw Earth Crisis, and I knew this is what I was into. It was a collective gathering in that room. Everybody in that room was singing along, because they were a part of it. That’s really what I’m trying to recreate, and so far, it seems like it’s been successful.”
Weber says that influences on TOTB range from metal acts such as Darkest Hour to pop/rock bands like Bloc Party. Other favorites include Texas Is The Reason, War of Ages, It Prevails, For The Fallen Dreams, With Honor, The Get Up Kids and Bane. The name of the group, To Outlive The Beginning, comes from the name of one of the band’s songs, which was inspired by the death of Weber’s grandfather.
“He was dying after a 10-year battle with lung cancer, and I knew it was going to be the last time I saw him,” he says. “I pretty much documented everything in the room, and that was the lyrics to the song.”
The group is currently working on a new CD, tentatively tilted “The Retreat.” Tracks include “Of Monsters And Men,” “Constant And Never Ending,” “My Declaration” and “Our Free Ride.” Ninety percent of the band’s set is comprised of originals with an occasional cover, just for fun. Despite being an underground, very noncommercial band, and despite the fact very few venues cater to such music, Weber says To Outlive The Beginning has always been able to land gigs.
“It’s definitely a challenge to get shows, especially locally, with venues like Backstage (Kingston) closing,” he says. “We also had shows at The Italian Club (Pittston), and now that’s closed. But as soon as one closes, someone’s on the phone renting out a VFW hall. A venue pretty much can be anywhere, and there is, very much, an audience that likes this style of music.”
Weber says he hopes young fans that check out TOLB come away with the same emotions he felt more than a decade ago when he himself fist fell in love with hardcore.
“I want people to be blitzed with how much energy, sincerity and positivity is going on in this setting that is aggressive in nature,” he says. “It’s not moshing. When you think of moshing, you think of Ozzfest and kids running into each other, but in hardcore, there’s hardcore dancing, and it’s almost like a kung fu movie. Picture break dancing, but aggressively. (He laughs.) And as far as the kids that come see us, just know that it’s real. You see other kids sharing that feeling and that passion that I had, and I’m fine giving other kids the mic and holding it out. Seeing other kids singing along, and the positive themes, that’s what does it for me.”
Weekender/Mountaingrown
The Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series, now in its fourth year, continues Wednesday night at The Woodlands with a performance by Shawn Z. Shawn is a cool, alt-county, roots-rock artist that will be bringing some special guests to the stage. Never heard him? Think The Georgia Satellites meets Tom Petty. Up in June will be Cabinet, and in July, we’ll be presenting The SilenTreatment.
The shows start at 10 p.m. sharp and are also broadcast live on 102.3-FM, The Mountain and at www.102themountain.com. The radio broadcast goes from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., and the music usually continues until 2 a.m. There is no cover. Visit myspace.com/weekendermountaingrownoriginalmusicseries for more info.
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go:
Who: To Outlive The Beginning, with She Is A Lair, Never Again for You, Congo, Get Laced and Plague of Ruin
Where: Underwood Skatepark, 432 N. Main Ave, Taylor
When: Saturday, May 17. Doors at 6 p.m.
Cost: $10
Info: myspace.com/convictionbooking, myspace.com/tooutlivethebeginning
