KOTM Records 31st Anniversary Fest reminded Us of Why We Love This Scene
Things got a little weird at KOTM Records 31st anniversary Fest. photo by kim moenich
I’ve often looked back over the decades and wished I had been an age where I could have gone to shows in the 80’s, or traveled to England for the birth of punk in the late 70’s, etc. But this past weekend I was smacked gently in the face with the reminder that I actually was fortunate enough to have lived through one of the greatest musical eras to have ever existed: the rise of screamo hardcore in the mid to late 1990’s. Some great friends had decided recently to reunite their band, Prevail, and they had scored a short run of shows with the amazing Reversal of Man, so my husband and I hauled out to Berkeley, CA, for the first stop at the infamous 924 Gilman. It was the first time I had seen a show in that hallowed hall and it was everything I had hoped it would be. I actually stood on the same stage as all the punk rock legends, and I got to photograph folks I’ve been friends with for over 30 years. It was truly an epic moment.
I got our logo up in Gilman! And look how cute my hubs looks being a dork with Jason Hamacher! photos by kim moenich
The boys went on to play in LA the next night, but we caught up with them later in the week at the King of the Monsters Records 31st anniversary show. KOTM’s Mike Genz told me he had hoped to put the fest on last year, but some of the main bands he wanted to play it just couldn’t make it work. So fast forward to the 31st anniversary, and Mike managed to put together a lineup that looked like every cassette tape I burned in ‘96.
MY 90's Soundtrack
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Prevail
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Portraits of Past
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Policy of 3
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Drop Dead
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Frail
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Reversal of Man
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MY 90's Soundtrack 〰️ Prevail 〰️ Portraits of Past 〰️ Policy of 3 〰️ Drop Dead 〰️ Frail 〰️ Reversal of Man 〰️
Over three decades of friendship with these dudes. Prevail. photos by kim moenich
One of the best bands out there and the sweetest, funniest guys around. Reversal of Man: photos by kim moenich
The pre-show saw two of my favorite 90’s bands reuniting, and I was absolutely over the moon excited for this show! Last year, Policy of 3 and Frail went on a mini-tour together, but Policy of 3 had to skip Dark Days Bright Nights Fest, which was the only date of their four shows I could make. So while it was beyond exciting to see Frail again after all those years, I was really looking forward to finally getting to see Policy of 3 again after three decades. And neither band disappointed! My hubs turned to me halfway through Policy of 3 and said, “How were these guys not on my radar before now?! They are amazing!” Amazing they were, too. I think I might have teared up during their set, it was truly that good.
I could seriously listen to these guys every day (and I often do). Policy of 3. photos by kim moenich
Frail invited the incredible Vique Martin, of Pirates Press Records (and formerly of Revelation Records) up to give a blisteringly beautiful speech about the lack of representation for women in hardcore, and that’s a topic I’ll address in another article. But Frail has made it a point to have speakers come on before their sets to discuss issues pertinent to both our scene and our world today. At Dark Days they brought out Gwen, who I actually got to know this weekend, as she performed in 3 bands that were playing the fest. After Vique’s powerful essay, Frail took the stage and absolutely brought the house down. It was an epic way to start the weekend.
stuffed rabbit
And let’s not forget the opening bands that day: Tsujigiri, My Stuffed Rabbit, and Upnow! These bands were all comprised of younger folks who showed us the future of this scene. Tsujigiri were just pure, raw energy, attacking unsuspecting souls like their Japanese namesakes, shoving their growling hardcore straight into your heart. My Stuffed Rabbit might look cute and cuddly on the outside, but these kids are tapping into their darkest emotions and throwing them out all over you with their blistering screams. Up now! told me that they are normally a 3-piece, but they played the pre-show as just a bassist/keyboardist and a guitarist, but it really worked. They had insanely gorgeous voices and were strangely powerful, even with their socks off.
1-4) My Stuffed Rabbit. 5) Upnow! 6) Tsujirigiri. photos by kim moenich
To be honest, I flew out to Mesa only really knowing a handful of bands on this stacked lineup. But I have learned over the years that sometimes the best parts of shows are getting exposed to opening acts that later on become your faves. This has never been more true than at KOTM Fest. Bands like Febuary (still begging to be your tour photographer), Pig City (also begging to be yours!), Common Wounds, Violencia (had a patient a few weeks later who had gotten kicked in the face during their pit in D.C.!), My Friend, My Urn, Heavenbound, Spiritiste, and so many others, brought the energy and gave me hope for the future of the screamo scene.
If you need any proof that the kids are alright, look no further than Febuary. I’m obsessed. photos by kim moenich
Pig City are nothing short of explosive. Seriously, can I be your tour photographer?! photos by kim moenich
1-2) Common Wounds 3) Violencia 4-5) My Friend, My Urn 6)Heavenbound 7)Spiritiste8) Agonista9) Gut Gash10) Dry Socket11) Bleach12) Imagine We Had Antlers 13) Life Ender14) Reversal of Man — all photos by kim moenich
While seeing the bands I did know was definitely the highlight of the fest for me, a few other things stood out. First and foremost was the representation on the stage. Never, and I do mean NEVER, have I gone to a fest where the vast majority of the bands were either female- or queer-fronted before. Most of the bands had female members, and nearly all had at least one queer person. Having grown up in a strongly cis male-centered punk and hardcore scene, I have long felt a bit left out in a lot of ways. But the amazing Mike Genz made sure that everyone could see themselves represented at his shindig. And I think that added to the air of friendship and camaraderie, which was the other main bright point of the weekend. Every person/band who posted about the shows after the fact noted how incredible it was to get to spend time with people who were kind, thoughtful, and passionate about the same things. All the band members hung out with all the fans for the whole weekend—so much so that when Portraits of Past went on, the audience closest to the stage was comprised almost entirely of members of other bands. Kent McClard, of Ebullition Records, a longtime scene hero, was at the stage for nearly every set (he even somehow remembered the exact show we met at 30 years ago- which I had completely forgotten!) I saw everyone up front belting out the lyrics to Drop Dead (who might just be the nicest guys in hardcore). My husband got to meet Jason Hamacher, now of Reversal of Man, but previously of Frodus, and they spent tons of time nerding out about drum stuff. We talked travel and life with Matt Coplon (from Reversal of Man), the beauty of living in the North Carolina mountains with Dan Radde (from Reversal of Man), memories of The Grit with Jeff Fisher (from Policy of 3), and so much more. It truly felt more like a family reunion than a music festival. And Mike Genz (with help from Brendan DeSmet of Protagonist Records) brought all those amazing people together to give us a weekend we will never forget. As Matt Coplon said, "[KOTM Fest was] a light in the dark. We all needed this.” That we did, Matt, that we did. Needless to say, my personal favorite sets of the weekend were Prevail, Frail, Reversal of Man, Policy of 3, Drop Dead, and Portraits of Past. These were the bands whose albums got me through my college years, the bands who have been the soundtrack to my life. I got my tongue pierced by one of Prevail’s best buds in a basement in South Carolina in the mid-90s. I took a Greyhound to Princeton to see Policy of 3 and Frail with Deadguy, Endeavor, and Autumn in some city hall type building in 1995. These were the bands that I screamed to in my college bedrooms, whose lyrics I clung to in my most angst-ridden times. To see them all again, in one room, on one stage, in one weekend, felt like I was right back there in those moments. KOTM Fest gifted me with remembering a time in my life where hope knew no bounds, where my future was yet to be written but held all the promise in the world. My belief that we could change the world with these songs, with these people, and with this movement was renewed. I left Mesa feeling like this was a message from the universe that, despite how dark this country and this world is becoming, there is still something worth fighting for, and people willing to fight for it.
Typically marginalized folks instead ruled the day at KOTM Fest. 1. Bleach 2. Body Farm 3. Dry Socket 4. Ambretta 5. Gut Gash 6. Gwen was in Antlers, Heavenbound, and Body Farm 7. Leah was too 8. Spiritiste — all photos by kim moenich
Portraits of Past were absolutely everything I had hoped they would be. photos by kim moenich
To all my friends at KOTM Fest, both new and old, and especially to Mike G., thank you. Thank you for reawakening my hope for a world where we are all really and truly equal, where we all love and support one another, and where the music really is at the heart of it all.
Thank you again, Mike (and Brendan), for bringing us together and being a beacon of light in these dark times. photo by kim moenich
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