Hardcore party for certain few
as Sacramento’s Hoods play Venue

A fake cancellation didn’t stop over 50 hardcore fans from attending one of Northern California’s top underground acts Monday night.

What was more a straight edge party atmosphere than a concert, the locals welcomed hardcore thrashers and Victory Record favorites Hoods back to The Venue. Always a supporter of any local scene, Hoods graciously accepted the invite and played to a group of close-knit and open-minded Boiseans. A canceled show in Salt Lake City over the weekend was related to an attacked bystander. Through the grapevine, word was misinterpreted and many in the area heard the Boise date was nixed. The show went on and proved worthy of a good review.

Opening strong, the band thrashed through its set. Powerful and aggressive, Hoods landed a sentimental show. The personal crowd instantly united and displayed a mock Kung Fu release of built up aggression. Like any mosh pit, the more personal, the higher the quality of moshing. Dancers and viewers all stood together like a sub-culture family.

Led by guitarist Mike Hood of Northern California hardcore scene fame, Hoods growled their way to the height of impenetrability. With the intensity of each song came screeching halts or lowered tempos to give the circlers time to rest. Hoods gave Boise a royal rage performance, fierce and righteous, to accommodate the growing hardcore scene.

Unlike their last performance in Boise, the show went down without a fight. Said lead guitarist Mike Hood, “With every show there is always a chance some one is gonna get beat up.”

Hailing from the Sacramento area, Hood has been an avid supporter of the area’s scene. A true believer in DIY ethics, Hood organized a venue in his hometown for hardcore and street punk and steadily promotes local scenes throughout the nation. Joining a mid-major label like Victory Records, Hood admits, “I don’t care to get any bigger than we are. [Victory] helped us pay for recording time and that’s it.” Wishing the label did more for the band in the way of touring, Hood said, “The tour van and equipment, WE paid for. Some of us don’t have day jobs when we get back from tour.”

If the attitude of the band’s originator reflects true hardcore fashion, then the band’s music emulates the same. Like concrete falling off a high rise, Hoods pounded a hard set.

Intense to the end, the band gratuitously thanked The Venue and was grateful for every show they’d played on tour.

Not billed as the headliner, the band was the show’s highlight. Hoods thrashed quickly but sweetly and left only the entropy of bad vibes in their wake. Where some hardcore groups may promote violence, Hoods uses the perpetual feeling of their music as an excuse to release negative vibes and feel better for doing so. The audience being on the same track, a good time was had by all.

Dan McNeese
Culture Writer

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