Here are two powerviolence videos of equal quality from bands of unequal quality.
The first clip's from Siege, performing on public access TV in 1984. I'll go ahead and call them the first and best powerviolence band (anybody know of a band that played faster earlier?). The song is starvation, from their demo tape. Their energy is pretty incredible, but it just doesn't feel right to see them flipping out in a big, empty room in front of reasonably high quality equipment. Wrong outlet I guess.
On the other hand, damned if I don't prefer this disgustingly low-fi footage of Man Is The Bastard, performing at So-Cal's legendary Gilman Street at 1993's legendary Fiesta Grande festival (selections from which you can find on record on the legendary Fiesta Comes Alive! compilation, released by Chris Dodge's legendary Slap-A-Ham records). Man Is The Bastard doesn't add anything musically to Siege and their stage performance isn't as impressive...strange they should find more success than Siege. A few more of these trashcan quality clips can be found on Gloom666's youtube channel, which also features tons of classic and current hardcore.
A little more evidence for my case that hardcore second wavers can't rely on music alone, Man Is The Bastard is most notable for their radical leftist politics. When George Bush wasn't sodomizing Saddam Hussein on their album covers, they were were releasing a split with Mumia Abu-Jamal. Supposedly a documentary is in the works, but I think they got too high to remember to finish it.
In conclusion, I'd like to remark that society is fucking disgusting and that I hate marketing.
Gilman Street was in Berkeley, which isn't exactly So-Cal.
Nitpickingly Yours,
~J
Posted by: Jon B | November 30, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Seige were phenomenal live. that little drummer kid would lean up and BITE the cymbals during the guitar breaks!
Also SEIGE always bring to mind that great and equally overlooked Western Mass thrash band, The Outpatients.
the pre-crossover version of DRI were clocking in at this speed around this time frame.
Posted by: sid bators | November 30, 2007 at 12:27 PM
> that society is fucking disgusting and that I hate marketing.
Punk Marketing: Get Off Your Ass and Join the Revolution
Posted by: Marcus | November 30, 2007 at 12:50 PM
You should start a band.
Dunno know how we'll hear about it tho.
Posted by: jim | December 01, 2007 at 08:56 PM