MADBALL, MURPHY'S LAW, BLOODCLOT, WISDOM IN CHAINS, THE CAPTURERS

@ TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK, NYC APRIL 24, 2021 

WORDS BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

PHOTOS BY: RICH ZOELLER, TIM DALEY, PETE GREGORY & STEVEN j. MESSINA 

SHOW COLLAGE BY: JOHN FRANKO

 

The hardcore show that went down in Tompkins Square Park in NYC a few weeks ago garnered attention from all over the world with the main stream media as well as some music websites that “check in” with the hardcore scene from time to time offering us up low grade coverage with some making me think they wrote the majority of their story based off of social media posts and the reactions to those posts. With these thoughts in mind I huddled up with members of the In Effect photo squad to try and cover JUST the show minus all the outside stuff that muddied the waters for the weeks that followed. This article easily could have been put out earlier into the timeframe of all the controversy and it probably would have gotten a whole lot more traction for it. We decided to take our time, do it right and just do an old fashioned In Effect show review… just like we always have and always will. If 100 people read this article or 10,000 people read this article it makes no difference in how we operate. So here it is from the boots that were on the ground that day… Steven J. Messina with some words and photos as well as photographs from long time contributors Rich Zoeller, Tim Daley, Pete Gregory and video from PA's Feet First Productions.  -CW

 

PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

 

After 13 months of wandering through a barren wasteland of life without live music, I found myself at New York City’s beloved Tompkins Square Park on the Lower East Side. It was 6:45am, and I was one of the eager volunteers showing up to do whatever I could to help set up what I knew in my heart was going to be a historic day for New York Hardcore. Black N’ Blue Productions had put together a fantastic collection of bands. And the weather was proving to be just as great. The sun was out, the stage was set, and already the electricity was in the air. Having blown the dust off my starving camera the night before, I was ready and waiting to document this momentous occasion. 

THE CAPTURERS. PHOTO BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

 

After a warm introduction from Black 'N Blue's Cousin Joe, The Capturers took the stage, kicking off the festivities perfectly with their infectious reggae sound. Two beautiful female voices complimented by the one and only Raven (of Murphy’s Law) on saxophone. As if the mood wasn’t already amazing, they lifted the fast growing crowd even higher...

 

THE CAPTURERS. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

 

WISDOM IN CHAINS. PHOTO BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

 

Having eased everyone in gently with the opening band, it was time for Pennsylvania’s finest to kick things into high gear. Wisdom In Chains had been the last band added to the bill, and they had every intention of taking the day to a new level. It barely took a moment for the crowd to erupt into a joyous mosh. And powered by Luke Rota’s relentless drum assault, Mad Joe and company worked the hungry hardcore kids into an afternoon frenzy. And things were just getting started...

 

WISDOM IN CHAINS. PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

CLICK HERE TO WATCH WISDOM IN CHAINS' FULL SET COURTESY OF FEET FIRST PRODUCTIONS

 

BLOODCLOT. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER 

 

It goes without saying that John Joseph is a force of nature. This author/triathlete/legendary Cro-Mags frontman is as much a NYC landmark as the surrounding skyscrapers. Devoting his life to bettering himself through fitness and nutrition, feeding the homeless and promoting overall PMA 24/7, JJ continues to command the stage with intensity. This was Bloodclot’s first live appearance since the tragic loss of Todd Youth and they did not disappoint. The addition of powerhouse guitarist Tom Capone, only fueled their fire.

 

BLOODCLOT. PHOTO BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

CLICK HERE TO WATCH BLOODCLOT'S FULL SET COURTESY OF FEET FIRST PRODUCTIONS

 

MURPHY'S LAW. PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

 

By this point in the day, the park was crowded with a virtual who’s who of the NYHC scene. A family of friends rejoicing in the beauty of a moment long overdue. The party atmosphere encapsulated everything we’d missed so dearly in the past year. And if there’s a party to be had, you know Murphy’s Law would have to be there. Just a few years back, a benefit for Jimmy G. was held in this very park. To see him take the stage, Jaegermeister in one hand, joint in the other, sparked the crowd immediately. The pit was raging, bodies were flying, and no one could wipe the smiles off their faces. Crown Of Thornz/Skarhead’s Lord Ezec grabbed the mic for the classic “Sit Home And Rot” while one of the Godfathers of Hardcore; Vinnie Stigma addressed the masses like a victorious gladiator. And everything that had gone wrong in the world seemed to vanish. And there was still one more band waiting to play... 

 

MURPHY'S LAW. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL SET BY MURPHY'S LAW COURTESY OF FEET FIRST PRODUCTIONS

 

MADBALL. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

 

If you know your hardcore history, then you know that when it comes to living, breathing, and embodying the purest form of New York Hardcore, Freddy Cricien stands as one of the all-time greats. Commanding the stage like a lion, he moves with purpose and conviction. I proudly watched from behind my camera as he held the 3,000-plus crowd in the palm of his hand. The freshly streamlined Hoya Roc, a man who apparently spent lockdown dropping weight and training hard, looked to break people in half with his bass riffs, it was, in a word, glorious. As Mad Joe of Wisdom In Chains joined in on “Pride (Times Are Changing)", and the stage became a blur of bodies, I knew that I had witnessed something truly special. Something I would take with me to my grave...  Steven J. Messina, April, 2021 

 

MADBALL. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MADBALL'S FULL SET COURTESY OF FEET FIRST PRODUCTIONS

PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

WISDOM IN CHAINS. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

WISDOM IN CHAINS. PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

WISDOM IN CHAINS. PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

BLOODCLOT. PHOTO BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

BLOODCLOT. PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

MURPHY'S LAW. PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

MURPHY'S LAW. PHOTO BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

MURPHY'S LAW. PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

EZEC GUEST VOCALS WITH MURPHY'S LAW. PHOTO BY: STEVEN J. MESSINA

MADBALL. PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

MADBALL. PHOTO BY: PETE GREGORY

MADBALL. PHOTO BY: TIM DALEY

CIV (GORILLA BISCUITS) & ARMAND (SICK OF IT ALL)  PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

CRAIG (SICK OF IT ALL) & LORD EZEC. PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

HOYA ROC, JOSH WASTE, WALTER SCHREIFELS, CHAKA MAIK, SERGIO VEGA, DREW STONE

PHOTO BY: RICH ZOELLER

LIMITED EDITION DOUBLE SIDED SHIRTS FROM THIS SHOW ARE AVAILABLE AT

DEAD CITY MERCH. CLICK THE IMAGE TO GET MORE INFO.  

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