Tag: braindead
F*ck Reddit, Hardcore Lives IRL: Sound And Fury 2026
Danny Ryan
August 31, 2026
Sound And Fury Fest first returned to Los Angeles exactly one decade ago. It’s unfathomable to think about how not only the hardcore scene, but the whole world has changed so much since then. In 2016 Sound And Fury was held in the much smaller Regent Theater, the crowd was significantly more elderly, and there was much less diversity of genres. Since then; the hardcore genre has exploded amongst younger audiences in the post-pandemic era with bands like Turnstile and Drain reaching absolutely massive levels of popularity. Sound And Fury naturally, has blown up to a larger scale to reflect this growth and have upgraded in nearly every way – their collaborative vision with Braindead being a major part of this evolution. Even after moving to the much larger space of Exposition Park, Sound And Fury still feels as intimate and grassroots as it did 10 years ago. The soul of hardcore music will always make sure the festival feels this way, no matter how massive it becomes. related: Sound And Fury Hardcore Festival Comes of Age All Across Los Angeles With this rise in hardcore’s popularity however, there naturally comes more debate on “what it really means to be
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Swing Heil: Anti-Fascist Hardcore Punks Swing Kids Return to Los Angeles
Rob Shepyer
May 4, 2025
Swing Kids have reunited. They already brought their abrasive, unhinged brand of hardcore punk to San Diego, and now, they’re heading up a few hours north to make a statement at Highland Park’s Lodge Room. Justin Pierson has always been political, even in his most oddball musical projects but when leading Swing Kids, performances become political strikes. Swing Kids was a band that came together with a purpose. Using the model of swing and jazz bands that performed under a specific ethical code, they fueled their hardcore punk with the collective fists of the Anti-fascist movement. SWING HEIL! They began in the 90’s when politics was perhaps less salacious, but just as disgusting and repressive. To counter the bombast and gall of the current administration’s messaging, Swing Kids have plugged back in. SWING HEIL! Swings Kids isn’t just a band, it’s a movie, and it’s a real life phenomenon during a time when the backdrop to music was institutionalized holocaust, racism, and propaganda everywhere to bury freedom of thought and spirit. Today, Swing Kids reunited at a strategic moment, where to combat a new fascism they contribute to the new anti-fascism. SWING HEIL! Take a look at the documentary they
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