more artists to congregate and stimulates the creation of underground venues. Cities like DC struggle with maintaining consistent venues because the availability of space is low and expensive, and since its so densely populated its hard to get away with playing loud obnoxious music late into the night. Baltimore is fucking perfect for this kind of stuff. I have been so stoked on the local scene that I edit and organize a zine called FREE STATE that is a Maryland and Baltimore scene report. It helps shine a light on all the cool stuff going on and I’m really proud of it. Its a collective effort, I just manage it as well as contribute. I highly recommend tracking down a copy of one of the issues if you can! Wayne: In recent news, Baltimore’s SONAR was shut down. How much of an impact do you feel the venues closing had on the local scene? Ev: On the punk/hardcore scene, not much. I guess SONAR was becoming more and more a part of the hardcore scene, hosting the A389 Showcases and Anton’s Mass Movement show, but Baltimore has a ton of great punk venues. Big fests are cool, and we certainly leap at the chance to play them, but at the end of the day hardcore thrives in smaller, more intimate settings. I guess Maryland Death Fest is homeless, but Mindset isn’t. Wayne: How important are DIY venues such as Charm City Art Space? And what suggestions do you have for people going out of their way to open up new venues for bands to play?
Ev: DIY venues like CCAS are the life blood of punk/ hardcore. This is the most important thing besides actual bands. I’d say even more important than record labels or records themselves. Punk is about actively participating and shaping your world, and the DIY venue is the nucleus of this interaction. I would say to anyone thinking of starting a venue is to have realistic expectations and have a business mentality. I don’t mean you need to turn a profit, but you need to have a serious and focused approach to maintain the operation for a long period of time. You don’t need money to TCOB. Find a team of motivated and creative people to help you, be courteous to your neighbors, try to fly under the radar of authorities, and when you eventually get their attention don’t be a dick. Develop a solid code of ethics, don’t take any shit, and remember that you exist to facilitate the bands, not the other way around.
Wayne: What current acts have been keeping your attention as of late? Ev: I’m really into this band called Caught In A Crowd from Massachusetts. They are a sincere, young straight edge band. You get the impression they are in a band because it helps them make sense of their lives and not because its the cool thing to do. I like that. I’ve got my eye on them. Other bands I like you’ve already heard of. I am stoked for new records from Give and The Rival Mob and Hostage Calm. If that’s not a cross section of hardcore I don’t know what is. Wayne: Any last words or shout outs? Ev: Like what you like, don’t get caught up in what is trendy. Support your local scene. Start a band. Take chances on new bands. $5 wasted on a bad 7” will quickly be forgotten, but a great 7” can change your life.