Youth crew
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This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (May 2007) |
| Youth Crew | |
| Stylistic origins | |
|---|---|
| Cultural origins |
Mid-1980s North America
|
| Typical instruments | |
| Mainstream popularity | Low to Mid |
| Derivative forms | Metalcore |
| Other topics | |
| Hardcore dancing - Straight edge - DIY punk ethic | |
Youth crew is a sub-genre of hardcore punk that was pioneered by 7 Seconds in the mid-1980s. In its first iteration, youth crew was distinguished by its strong melodies and optimistic outlook, which emphasized a fraternal ideal. Youth crew was deeply infused by the straight edge ethos; later groups delved further into ascetic spiritual and political approaches. Its initial musical template was largely borrowed from the D.C. hardcore of Minor Threat and the Bad Brains. While similar to melodic hardcore, youth crew includes an emphasis on breakdowns intended for the characteristic style of dancing associated with live performances of this style.
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[edit] History
Youth crew was most popular from approximately 1986 to 1990, primarily in New York City and, to a lesser degree, Los Angeles. This new outcropping was distinguished by its more metallic emphasis, partly an effect of crossover thrash. The sound was largely defined by a series of highly-influential Revelation Records releases, including albums by Youth of Today, Chain of Strength, Sick of It All, Gorilla Biscuits, Bold, Judge, Inside Out, Side By Side, 108, and Shelter. All of these groups emphasized breakdowns and danceability while borrowing some of the intensity of thrash metal. Like 7 Seconds, these groups were all straight edge, and lyrical concerns included brotherhood and community values. However, many of these groups were more aggressive in their attitudes. Cappo eventually converted to the Hare Krishna faith; 108 and the Cro-Mags also participated in the "Krishnacore" offshoot. The California band Vegan Reich established the extreme hardline wing of straight edge youth crew hardcore. While hardline as such had few adherents, its attitudes and militancy had a notable effect on later groups, most famously Earth Crisis and Racetraitor. The youth crew scene also included the participation of skinheads, fans of Warzone, Cro-Mags[1], and Youth Defense League. Youth crew groups were contemporary with, though noticeably distinct from, crossover thrash, thrashcore, crust punk, and emo bands. There was a close relationship between youth crew and melodic hardcore.
In the 1990s, groups inspired by this scene became increasingly influenced by thrash and death metal. These groups, including Earth Crisis, Snapcase, One Life Crew, Integrity, Strife, Hatebreed, Blood for Blood, and others, recorded for Victory Records, and produced the contemporary metalcore scene. This style was sometimes referred to as "tough guy" hardcore, perhaps mockingly. Groups on Trustkill, such as Nora, Walls of Jericho, Eighteen Visions, Racetraitor, and Shai Hulud, were also part of this current.
1997 saw a revival of the classic youth crew style, revisited by bands such as In My Eyes, H2O, Ten Yard Fight, and Ray Cappo's Better Than a Thousand.
[edit] Youth crew fashion
Youth crew hardcore is known for a fashion sense distinct from the punk scene as a whole. The youth crew "look", as seen in the wardrobe of seminal straight edge bands such as Chain of Strength and Youth of Today, was much more conventional than the flamboyance typically associated with punk fashion. Crew cut hairdos and a clean-cut appearance comprised the youth crew uniform, avoiding the nihilistic image of punk, as perceived by youth crew enthusiasts such as Ray Cappo. In an interview in 2004's All Ages: Reflections on Straight Edge, Cappo makes reference to the youth crew "look" as being "Tony Hawk meets Beaver Cleaver".
Youth crew fashion typically included crew cut buzzcuts, athletic wear, letterman jackets,shorts and trousers above the knee , band t-shirts or t-shirts bearing straight edge slogans, white hooded sweatshirts and white Nike high-top basketball shoes. The Youth Crew look is very different from their Millitant counterparts. Tattoos with straight edge motifs were common. 7 Seconds and their fans would often draw black lines under their eyes in a similar manner to athletes.
The year 1988 is often considered to be the peak of youth crew, in general, and straight edge New York hardcore, specifically. The use of the number 88 in Youth Crew Hardcore circles is meant to reference that year in particular, and is unrelated to the use of that number by Nazi groups. Youth Defense League had a song called "Skinheads '88"; as a result, their connection to Nazism is debatable.
[edit] Effects on the mainstream
Youth crew groups first achieved visibility in popular culture through Zack de la Rocha's second band, Rage Against the Machine, and the solo work by former Gorilla Biscuits member Civ. Later youth crew-derived metalcore became increasingly associated with groove metal and nu metal, particularly in the cases of Earth Crisis and Strife. This increasing popularity eventually produced the contemporary wave of commercial metalcore groups.
[edit] Bibliography
Andersen, Mark and Mark Jenkins (2003). Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital. Akashic Books. ISBN-10: 1888451440
Blush, Steven (2001). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Feral House. ISBN-10: 0922915717
Lahickey, Beth (1998). All Ages: Reflections on Straight Edge. Revelation Books. ISBN-10: 1889703001
O'Hara, Craig (1999). The Philosophy of Punk: More Than Noise. AK Press. ISBN-10: 1873176163
[edit] Notes
- ^ Schreifels, Dylan. Youth crew memories. Double Cross Webzine. Retrieved on June 8, 2008.
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
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