LIVE REVIEW: Rainfest 2012

I never went through a punk or a hardcore phase. I went from the classic rock that my dad listened to, to entry level metal and from there to the extremes of metal. The people that I learned about metal from weren’t too fond of hardcore and I dismissed it. Sure, I would see the occasional hardcore kid at a metal show, furiously fighting his invisible opponent in the pit, but other then that the entire genre couldn’t have been further from my mind.

A few good friends of mine with excellent taste in music wouldn’t stop talking about how awesome Rainfest is, so I had to go. Over the course of the next three days, I would see 41 hardcore bands, spanning 2 generations of hardcore.

Right from the start I felt like I was in a completely different world, yet right at home. There was no separation between the bands and the fans, the latter spending just as much time on the stage as the bands they were there to see. Over the course of the three days, I saw people jumping off the stage in just about ever way possible. The frog jump, the people’s elbow, the back flip; all were exhibited with style and grace from fans of all ages.

Mid set, different members of the band would grab the mic to discuss whatever topic was on their mind, or whatever political or social issue that they cared about. One of the most skilled speakers was Greg Bennick of Trial and Between Earth and Sky. A prominent motivational speaker, he captured the audience with his kind words of change and advice from the heart.

The experience over all was refreshing, exhilarating, and eye opening. I highly recommend Rainfest for any lover of music, whether your genre of choice is hardcore, metal or punk, there’s bound to be something you’ll like.

FRIDAY

Clarity
http://clarityxnw.bandcamp.com/

Breaking Ground

http://breakingxground.bandcamp.com/album/let-the-young-minds-think

Between Earth and Sky

http://www.betweenearthandsky.com/

CodeXRed

http://codexred.bandcamp.com/

Minority Unit

Wreck

http://wrecktacoma.bandcamp.com/

Suburban Scum