Having scaled the heights of hardcore in the '90s, Andrew Kline saw how a "career mindset" can ruin a good thing. Now, he sees only two modes: Do it yourself. And do it for yourself.
Always liked Andrew and the Strife fellas. They were always kind and supportive of my early and much lesser known bands (like Grip).
"Berthold City plays music because we love it. There’s no pressure to sell tickets; there is no pressure to sell records. The music that we play isn’t what’s popular in hardcore right now, and that doesn’t matter."
Well said and I hope more of us oldies can keep creating and releasing our craft(s) for the same awesome reasons. Another banger in the books, well done Norm and Andrew.
So, I was at the show in Maryland that’s mentioned in this interview, where some kids (who I’m pretty sure were involved in promoting the show, go figure) made up shitty shirts with a dollar sign in the logo. Would have been the 180 Club, Hagerstown MD, early 1997. I still vividly remember this, as it was the first time I’d been to a show for a full fledged touring hardcore band. I was 16, had probably only heard SOIA and Minor Threat at this point, really had no idea what hardcore was or what it was about, but I remember feeling like it was really petty and self-defeating to bring this band to our little shithole town and then make shirts that essentially accuse them of being bad people. Anyway, I still cite this show as the best show I’ve ever seen, Strife absolutely annihilated that place when they played. Been into hardcore ever since, 44 now.
Oh jeez, Victory Records. On the one hand, those budget-priced Victory Style compilations were responsible for exposing me to a lot of good bands that I might not have checked out on my own (like Strife...and Snapcase...and Earth Crisis), but boy was some of their marketing cringeworthy. When all of the stuff about Tony's shady business practices came out, I can't say I was surprised. It always felt like he was just on the cusp of trying to turn Victory into a lifestyle brand.
Yeah, always a great interview. Thanks Norm.
I remember hearing that when Strife toured they "DEMANDED" separate beds and hot/vegetarian meals, and thinking they were sellouts! God, we were dumb.
Always liked Andrew and the Strife fellas. They were always kind and supportive of my early and much lesser known bands (like Grip).
"Berthold City plays music because we love it. There’s no pressure to sell tickets; there is no pressure to sell records. The music that we play isn’t what’s popular in hardcore right now, and that doesn’t matter."
Well said and I hope more of us oldies can keep creating and releasing our craft(s) for the same awesome reasons. Another banger in the books, well done Norm and Andrew.
So, I was at the show in Maryland that’s mentioned in this interview, where some kids (who I’m pretty sure were involved in promoting the show, go figure) made up shitty shirts with a dollar sign in the logo. Would have been the 180 Club, Hagerstown MD, early 1997. I still vividly remember this, as it was the first time I’d been to a show for a full fledged touring hardcore band. I was 16, had probably only heard SOIA and Minor Threat at this point, really had no idea what hardcore was or what it was about, but I remember feeling like it was really petty and self-defeating to bring this band to our little shithole town and then make shirts that essentially accuse them of being bad people. Anyway, I still cite this show as the best show I’ve ever seen, Strife absolutely annihilated that place when they played. Been into hardcore ever since, 44 now.
Great piece! I really felt that last paragraph.
Same.
Oh jeez, Victory Records. On the one hand, those budget-priced Victory Style compilations were responsible for exposing me to a lot of good bands that I might not have checked out on my own (like Strife...and Snapcase...and Earth Crisis), but boy was some of their marketing cringeworthy. When all of the stuff about Tony's shady business practices came out, I can't say I was surprised. It always felt like he was just on the cusp of trying to turn Victory into a lifestyle brand.