In his work with Be Well, Brian McTernan has expanded the boundaries of what it means to be open about your mental health in hardcore. He's got to admit: It's getting better.
"And it’s like, the thing for me about music in general, and specifically hardcore—what I love about it and what made me fall in love with it—is not only the immediacy of the music, but reading the lyrics and feeling like I’m not the only person that feels this way."
Absolutely 100% this. I don't know that a single band saved my life, and the community where I was didn't either, but the music in general helped me feel less alone and...not less like a freak, but like being a freak wasn't a bad thing and that it was their problem, not mine. Which probably was lifesaving.
This was a really wonderful, inspiring, heartfelt interview - about incredibly human topics that don’t normally get covered or asked about. Thank you so much.
I'm bummed that since I moved away from Baltimore I don't get to see Brian around anymore. I remember when he told me at a show at the Ottobar that he was thinking of retiring from producing and going into general contracting. I understood his reasoning, but could sense it felt more like something he had to do than something he wanted to do. I've been fortunate enough to sit in while friends' bands were recording with him at the Beltsville and Fells Point studio locations, but never had a chance to record with him. (I did get to record in the Longfellow House basement, but with the person that took the space over after Brian moved out.)
Battery was a favorite band of mine early on into getting into hardcore. I wish Until the End was on the streaming services. Great energy in the songs, but I really gravitated to the passion in Brian's vocals and this sensitivity in his lyrics. My first band covered "The Factory" which is still one of my all-time favorite hardcore songs.
Be Well is just the perfect blend of melody and honesty in a hardcore band. Excited to finally get to see them live this summer.
Great interview. Thanks Norman. And thanks to Brian for being open to sharing all of this.
"...what can I control? I can control how much I care and how hard I work."
Well said.
Brian has always been a sweet, talented, passionate and extremely supportive person in our East Coast scene over the years... a legend. Great read!
"And it’s like, the thing for me about music in general, and specifically hardcore—what I love about it and what made me fall in love with it—is not only the immediacy of the music, but reading the lyrics and feeling like I’m not the only person that feels this way."
Absolutely 100% this. I don't know that a single band saved my life, and the community where I was didn't either, but the music in general helped me feel less alone and...not less like a freak, but like being a freak wasn't a bad thing and that it was their problem, not mine. Which probably was lifesaving.
One of the best interviews I’ve ever read
This was a really wonderful, inspiring, heartfelt interview - about incredibly human topics that don’t normally get covered or asked about. Thank you so much.
I'm bummed that since I moved away from Baltimore I don't get to see Brian around anymore. I remember when he told me at a show at the Ottobar that he was thinking of retiring from producing and going into general contracting. I understood his reasoning, but could sense it felt more like something he had to do than something he wanted to do. I've been fortunate enough to sit in while friends' bands were recording with him at the Beltsville and Fells Point studio locations, but never had a chance to record with him. (I did get to record in the Longfellow House basement, but with the person that took the space over after Brian moved out.)
Battery was a favorite band of mine early on into getting into hardcore. I wish Until the End was on the streaming services. Great energy in the songs, but I really gravitated to the passion in Brian's vocals and this sensitivity in his lyrics. My first band covered "The Factory" which is still one of my all-time favorite hardcore songs.
Be Well is just the perfect blend of melody and honesty in a hardcore band. Excited to finally get to see them live this summer.
Great interview. Thanks Norman. And thanks to Brian for being open to sharing all of this.