Reason To Fight – Blue Collar Pride
A few months back, TNB was at the Lido in Revere to catch a very cool line up of heavy rockin’ bands featuring legendary punkers, ‘Agnostic Front’. Also on the bill was a veteran hardcore band from Providence, RI, aptly named, ‘Reason To Fight’. It was our first time catching ‘Reason to Fight’, but by the time their set was over, we were huge fans. They blew us away with their awesome straight ahead, “in your face” hardcore style and energy. Old school, new school….it doesn’t really matter….these guys play hardcore the way it was meant to be played, … with lots of emotion, lots of attitude and lots of speed. We immediately jumped on the ‘Reason To Fight’ band wagon and added them to our site (…you can find their band profile here).
Fast forwarding to a few weeks ago, we were able to catch ‘Reason to Fight’ again, this time, at the Midway Cafe, headlining for an awesome array of local hardcore and punk bands. During the gig, Slimedog cornered the boys into the bowels of the Midway for a very cool interview (…which you can find here). For some strange reason, I managed to forget what the band looked like (…or was it too many PBR’s …) and failed to recognize Fuzzy (RTF’s awesome vocalist), even as he stood 3 feet away from me at the bar (…sorry about that dude,…next time the PBR’s on me).
Reason to Fight has been a band since 2001 and consists of founding members, vocalist Brian “Fuzzy” Harrington and bassist Greg Chihoski, along with drummer Bryan Monroe and guitarist Gus Marlardo. A very talented group of musicians to be sure. Back at the end of 2011, they released their latest, 10+ song CD, titled “Blue Collar Pride”. At their Midway show, I managed to get my hands on a copy of “Blue Collar Pride” and am very excited to talk about it here today.
The first track, the title track “Blue Collar Pride”, sets a nice tone for the rest of the CD. It blares out of the darkness and into your ears like a runaway eighteen wheeler about to ram headfirst into a busy intersection. With high energy, buzz saw guitar riffs and a raging vocals touting the valor of the blue collar working class man, it’s definitely a song we can all hang our hats on. Have a listen.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Blue Collar Pride.mp3|titles=Blue Collar Pride]
With their next tune, ‘Dying Breed’, RTF sticks to their guns and shows their ‘never give up or in’ attitude, both in music and especially lyrically. A straight ahead hardcore effort with an awesome energy and relevant message. What more could you ask for…
After listening to the next tune, ‘Young Rebels’, I guarantee you’ll be raising your fist high and singing the chorus, ‘…rebels, young, rebels…’, uncontrollably. In fact, just the other day, I was in church (…hmm), and when the dude stuck the money catcher in my face, I got up, raised my fist to the sky and started chanting, ‘…rebels, young, rebels…’, over and over again. Of course, they beat me senseless and threw me out, but that’s not the point. The point is,……..it’s an awesome tune.
The next tune, ‘One Step Fall’, is definitely one of my favorites on the CD. It packs a message we could all do well to heed, … keep it real!! Cool guitars, rhythms and vocals. Have a listen.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/One Step Fall.mp3|titles=One Step Fall]
‘Poor Man’s Gold’, beginning with, …“What kind of Beer do you Like? … Heineken? …FUCK THAT SHIT!!! … Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!… is definitely my favorite tune on the CD. A mad little ditty glorifying the beer of the working class folk, it comes fully equipped with a ‘whiskey in the bottle’ feel and catchy chorus. Very cool bass runs in this tune. Fuck that shit!!, give me a PBR!!
5 songs down and 5 to go (…there is a bonus track, but I won’t talk about it…you’ll just have to get the CD for yourself), and the momentum is unrelenting and getting stronger with each tune. In fact, if you still have any senses left after the 1st half, the 2nd half will surely slap out what’s left, leaving you in a heap on the floor. That’s what I love about RTF and this CD, pure hardcore from start to finish, just the way it you like it.
‘Revenge’ is a scathing warning to all who dare to tread where better judgment tells you otherwise. It’s hard, fast, raucous, and in your face. So get ‘windmilling’ and start loosing some teeth….
With the next 2 tunes, ‘Hard Times’ and ‘Unquiet’, Fuzzy shows why he was born to sing hardcore. He has a knack for taking a relatively simple driving beat and melody and turning it into a masterpiece of hardcore emotion and attitude. It’s hard to find a body that does it better. I know by now your exhausted, what with all the moshing and such, but buck up, there’s still a couple of songs left.
And, just check out the awesome bass line on ‘These Times’. Hitting you straight between the eyes at a blistering pace, the boys lament about their favorite memories performing on stage for their friends. Hopefully we’ll get to enjoy RTF performing on stage for a long, long time to come.
The last song basically sums it all up. ‘Hard Working, Hard Drinking, Hardcore’ is what ‘Reason To Fight’ is all about. That, and, of course, a bunch of very talented guys playing awesome hardcore that generates a lot of enjoyment for all!!! Be sure to pick up a copy of ‘Blue Collar Pride’, you won’t be disappointed. And make sure you check out ‘Reason To Fight’ when they play in your neighborhood.
Later,
(Andy Bang)
