Hardcore music

Is hardcore dead? Many thought it was not built to last past the ’80s.

If anything it’s received a reboot. It’s just that musicians don’t have to hurl themselves across filthy stages into moving mosh pits anymore.

Just ask Mattie Cuvilier and Nick Laird, two music producers who have teamed up to present an all-ages hardcore concert with a positive mental attitude. It’s happening Saturday, March 14 at St. Albert Community Hall.

Cuvilier, a hometown boy from St. Albert Catholic High with an appetite for the hardcore punk scene since his fresh-faced neophyte days in Brother Voodoo, is a veteran of the buzzword. The younger Laird, on the other hand, is more of a metal-centric unafraid to screech, howl and spit out the nihilism.

Both have partnered to give St. Albert what it lacks – a hardcore experience that is fundamental for many teenagers and young adults.

“If you don’t want to play hockey or get drunk on Seven Hills, what can you do,” asks Cuvilier. “This is a family community and there are tons of things for little kids, but what do teenagers do if they don’t play sports?”

Laird, who grew up in Sturgeon County and attended Paul Kane, expresses his music through the metal band The Great White Shark Fight.

“I’m passionate about music and it’s cool how communities come together at concerts. This concert offers young people a place to hang out and meet new friends.”

Using Cuvilier’s contacts and Laird’s organizational skills, the duo concocted a concert that is free of filler. The lineup includes Etown Beatdown, Slumlord, EXITS, Snakepit, Time’s Tide and Vibes.

Cuvilier is launching his new band Vibes, a fivesome he describes as “an open, positive hardcore band. All the lyrics are motivational. It’s really easy to be down and negative. It’s more difficult to take responsibility. We don’t have everything figured out, but we’re trying to be better.”

The headline band is E-town Beatdown, a group of vets celebrating their 10th anniversary. St. Albert guitar player John Kennedy is part of the core.

“The longevity speaks for itself. The songs are catchy. They are great musicians. They are super charismatic and they put on really great shows.”

Another powerful entity is Slumlord, newly returned from a European tour.

“They’re extremely tight and take their music seriously. They’re heavy, but I could see them over and over again. They put Edmonton on the map and I respect that.”

EXITS, with St. Albert bassist Luke Sellers, also has a reputation for staging a dynamic show.

“It goes hand in hand with hardcore. I’ve seen them do a cover of Refused (Swedish hard core punk band) and the crowds definitely enjoyed stuff like that,” Laird said.

The Calgary band Snakepit are known around the hardcore scene as nice guys. But on stage they’re full-throttle.

“They put on lots of movement and jump around. They have three guitarists and in hardcore that’s unusual. It’s seen more in metal with two guitars and a bassist but not hardcore.”

Time’s Tide plans to play off all the songs from their new EP, Past Lives, released in January 2015.

“Some hardcore bands write stuff that is generic and repetitive. But their stuff is catchy and very dynamic and it has good screaming yells.”

Cuvilier sees new bands coming into the scene annually and applauds the migration.

“Edmonton has such a strong hardcore scene and I hope we can branch out and put more shows on in communities like St. Albert. And I’m super proud to be on the bill.”