First, we’re gonna ask how old you are cause that’s a hot topic.

It is (laughs)? I’m 39 as of like a couple weeks ago. How do you think your age changes your perspective on hardcore--or does it? I think it makes me appreciate it more only cause I didn’t have it when I was a kid, and Ididn’t have it even after I left home and I went into the Navy and went to school and all that kind of shit There was nothing like this so now it’s like basically being a kid again,and I get a second chance so I totally appreciate it better, I think.

That’s cool. When and where did you learn about hardcore?

Just like most people--friends mostly into punk rock kind of stuff at first, and it sort ofmoved from there. Syracuse was more like a punk rock scene than a hardcore scene, and it sort of gradually developed into what it is now. At first it was just friends who were in a band and did shows like punk rock shows, and that’s how I got into it. Also, the more alternative kind of stuff--even like the Smiths--get you into that crowd, and that’show I got into it, too.

Just for people who aren’t real familiar with what you’re doing, can you give a brief description of some of the things you’ve done, like shows?

Oh, well, I started doing shows in the summer of 1990 and I’ve been doing shows ever since. I don’t even know, I’ve lost count, it’s like over 100 shows. Some big, some small. So it’s a really big range. In Syracuse sometimes under 100 people is not a lot, but in smaller places it’s a really good turnout. I think it’s gotten to the point where if it’s two or three hundred people it doesn’t look like a lot. Besides doing shows I teach at Syracuse University and try to do my own artwork and take photos, and that’s about it.

Okay, what motivates you to be involved in hardcore--what draws you to it?

All I can say is that I get a charge out of it. It’s like an energy thing, and I relate to it more than any other kind of music--I wouldn’t say ANY other kind of music but a LOT of other kinds. I mean, I’m getting more into like jazz and classical and into specific artists that I relate to and who I can appreciate more musically, but hardcore is just so vital--more vital than any other kind of popular music that I hear. That’s what gets me into it.

Okay, what do you think that being a leader means, and how do you handle that responsibility?

Whoa, I’m kind of embarrassed by that. To some degree I don’t really picture myself being a leader. I suppose, I know I have a certain responsibility in terms of, like, my age, and I do set up shows and I do get up in front of people and I talk, but it’s just natural. I think it’s more being a teacher. I’ve realized what I was put on the earth for--it’s kind of corny--I want to be a teacher and I am a teacher at school and I try to teach here and bring in bands that teach or that just are constructive to talk about important, valid things. So I think that’s my responsibility, and that the highest form of being a leader is leading by example.

I noticed you did some “spoken word” at the (January 1 Path of Resistance) show last year and some this year. Do you do that often?

Yeah, I try to do that often. It’s like an extension of being a teacher. Things are on my mind or I see things that need talking about so I just talk about them. I think there is a point where when you’re young and think that your viewpoint is invalid, and I think hardcore pushes the opposite of that--everyone’s viewpoint is valid, and all feelings are valid. You need to talk about those things, and that encouraged me years ago to start talking about what’s bothering me or what I see happening or what I think needs to be talked about. It’s a natural urge, I don’t have anything planned a lot of times. I just get up and say, “Look, this is something that needs to be thought about.”

One of the things I noticed you talked about is women’s involvement in hardcore.

Yeah.

I was kind of interested. If you’d elaborate on your perspective cause a lot of people weren’t there, and I think you said a lot of really interesting things that were sort of overlooked.

You mean tonight?

And last year, too. You talked about some stuff here.

Oh, yeah, I remember. Oh boy, this is like involved. The direction of society separates women and men in terms of people’s involvement. Women do certain things, and men do certain things, and I think that what happens is that it marginalizes or limits people. You were brought up one way if you’re a woman to do these things and if you’re a man to do those things. This totally keeps things stagnant in the world. Things don’t change so I was trying to encourage people to not be afraid and to assert themselves. It starts with even being on the dance floor. Everyone has the same right to have fun and dance and to sing along and express themselves. We all lose if people are pushed to the outside.

That’s awesome. Do you think of yourself as a socially conscious person?

Yes, I guess.

You seem to talk a lot about things that a lot of bands and people don’t talk about—like land mines which was not exactly a topic I expected to come up.

Right. I think it’s because we get into our little hardcore world and we don’t think about the four billion people out there who don’t have it nearly as good as we do. So I just want to make people more aware that being straightedge is not the most important thing in the world. It’s a good thing, but there’s so much more that needs to be addressed. Again, things just come to me--I don’t plan it out--things just affect me. Sometimes main stream media gives it to me. If I worked harder I’d probably find out so much more. Like what’s going on now in Algeria. Groups of men are going into villages slaughtering everybody simply because they voted last year in a democratic election, and the Islamic leader they wanted wasn’t chosen. So they got all pissed off and hacked everybody to death. It’s just so horrible I can’t help be affected by it. If it happened here there would be this onslaught of outrage--it happens in Algeria, and we find out about it two years later. It freaks me out sometimes. I don’t know if that relates...?

No, that’s actually what I’m looking for. It’s what I’m trying to get to.

So being socially conscious just means being compassionate, I think.

Do you think that’s the purpose of hardcore?

No. I don’t know what the purpose is. I just know what certain manifestations of it should be.

Right.

One of them is to be socially conscious, to think about things that need to be changed.

Okay, what makes you angry? It can be a big thing or a little thing.

Oh, I think people who aren’t compassionate and people who are arrogant—those are the two big ones. Arrogance gets me the worst. Even in myself I fight it all the time. Thinking you’re so good or so intelligent or that you have it made. It really bothers me so its the biggest thing that makes me angry.

When was the last time you cried?

Wow, it was actually recently. It wasn’t totally negative. I was thinking about my parents, they passed away when I was a little kid. I was thinking about things related to them.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I think it changes from day-to-day. You work on what you can do today. If you find something that needs changing you don’t dwell on it--you just do it. Don’t fuck around and analyze it too much. Sometimes people just think, “What if, what if...” or, “I should, I might....” Just fucking do something, and chances are it’s a step forward.

What means the most to you in your life right now?

My friends, my family, my brother and sisters and my girlfriend. Those are the most important things to me.

Would you ever promote a 21 and over show?

Nope. Never.
I’ve always thought that 21 and over shows were sort of against what straightedge is about.
It’s totally against everything that I think about. Most people I know who are doing things are usually under 21 so that excludes a lot of my friends so
I would never do that.

That’s pretty much it. If there’s anything else on your mind?

Shows like today’s, everyone had fun, the bands were awesome, people like you come from far away, it’s like the perfect show. I don’t know how it can get any better than that. Hmm, that sounds like a beer commercial. It totally gives me a charge, a reason to live sometimes. In zines, people have thanks lists, but I just list people who make life worth living, and this kind of event does that, too. Hope so.

That’s all I got for you.

Cool. Thanks a lot!