SYWH seems never to tire of joke bands (AKA notsrscore). I was thinking about this the other day when suddenly GCF came to mind. I then wondered what SYWH would think of them, hence, this post :) Basically, they seem to align with the SYWH mentality uncannily well in some ways, yet are diametrically opposed in other ways. On one hand, they are all about not taking themselves seriously, making fun of the hardcore scene, and having fun. The word FUN is even in the band name! On the other hand, they take social/political causes very seriously and seem like the type of people who would give you a stern language lecture if you said the word “faggot” at a show, and also seem kinda serious about tr00 hardcore :( OR DO THEY? The songs are so lighthearted and zany that I really can’t figure out whether some of them are ironic or not. They generally range from somewhat annoying/lulzy to genuinely hilarious/insightful. Here are a few choice examples:
THE GOOD:
For those unfamiliar, this song is a parody of Earth Crisis’ ultraxmilitant straight edge anthem Firestorm. Excellent jab at militant sxe/veganism, and definitely a hardcore classic imo. This is probably their best material, and even most people I’ve met that hate this band can agree that this track is great.
THE BAD:
Open this video up and click on the link to the lyrics for a full dose of unabashed feminism. This song is about how “sexism didn’t end in the 80′s,” and how feminism is more important than ever in the modern world, especially that of the hardcore scene (srs). While this might trigger some of you to guzzle a gallon of rageohol, this is actually pretty mild by tumblr standards, and at least attempts to be humorous about it. Actually, this is where I become confused: this song and these lyrics are so corny/lulzy/stereotypical that I’m not sure if the joke is about how hardcore is sexist and needs 2 change, or a joke about that attitude itself. Normally I’d guess the former, but these lyrics are just so dumb in such a specific way that it almost seems too good to be true…
THE UGLY:
Unlike the previous sample, I really don’t see how this song could be rage inducing, but I could see it being somewhat cringeworthy. Either that, or way fucking ahead of its time. Regardless of which, this is such a strong case study of beta-ness that I’m honestly shocked that such low hanging fruit went unnoticed this long by SYWH. Some notes:
- @ very beginning: “Paula came from DC, she was a whole lot like me, grew up on star wars. This song wastes no time shifting gear into full beta mode.
- Female #1 is a somewhat chubby white girl with a cute-ish face whose attire clearly identifies her as “alternative.” Perfect beta bait.
- Dem CRT monitors. Obviously used because even 6 years ago they were worthless and disposable for later scenes, but still funny nonetheless
- @ 1:10: retrobro picks up his tr00 90′s boombox. U myron, Title Fight?
This song is obviously a joke, but I’m not sure which parts of the joke are intentional and which aren’t. I guess I could say the same of the whole band. In spite of this, I overall like GCF and consider them a good satire of tr00 hardcore. At the risk of sounding even more beta, I even think tracks like “Song for the Ladies” have their truths. After all, while male feminism is definitely beta, it’s arguably just as beta to have one’s life revolve around a music scene of an unlistenable, unprofitable genre made up almost entirely of male fuckups.
Did you LOL @ “In Defense of All Life” or any of the other songs? Is this band rageohol inducing? Am I a beta fggt for liking this band? Did “The Myspace Song” remind you of the glory days of scene? Would you bone any of the girls (or guys) from that video under any circumstances? Is this too many questions?
Singer harassed/ tried to take advantage of a drunk acquaintance after a gig (Dat english) a few years ago. Hard to laugh at a band that seem to be parodying such a huge target (straight edge, hardcore ‘ethics’). Kind of like how jokes about Scientology are too easy. Remember when entry-level hc dudes here in Blighty rocked those posi hoodies all the time. Not because they loved the band but because their merch showcased some crucial ‘core vocabulary. The Your Demise fruits loved this band.
/ rant. jesus I will only post whacky shit from now on.
entry-level hc dudes here in Blighty rocked those posi hoodies all the time. Not because they loved the band but because their merch showcased some crucial ‘core vocabulary
BOOM. Was kind of similar to how on broken wings sold a bazillion MOSH hoodies. haha.
I remember a video interviewing Aaron from Bane about GCF, and he was like “IDK too much about them except that GOD DAMN do they sell a ton of merch” or something along those lines.
tfw the singer of BANE says you sell a ton of merch
lololol this
The interview was not real, it was for a joke movie that never (?) came out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIdefM00pFQ
hahaha yeah thats right!!! Can’t believe I confused that, I feel kinda retarded now. Oh well, hard to tell whats srs and whats not with this band, like I said.
Thanks for the link!
best part about that whole incident was the retaliation. at a show in santa cruz, the guitarist of Gather (ultra XVX hardline), jumpkicked him in the face, it was amazing.
hahahaha I was at that show and remember this!!!
I remember Issa straight up asking the dude “why did you do that?”
Kicker dude: “I FELT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY”
wasnt that at the soundbox? beneath the dining hall at ucsc.
Singer also tried to mack on a friend of mine in the north of England. Confirmed Saville status. He was such a sweaty oaf. Bassist was a cool dude. Lotsa metal kids liked em. Their music has not aged well. Reviewed!
Maybe he thought that since they’d splashed out on flights out here (they were playing tiny venues and I can’t imagine they made much) he should take advantage of his relative anonymity to the wider British public and hit on drunk hc girls?
Reviewed?
liked this band back when, because i appreciated a good parody of what was otherwise a srs bsns culture. plus, the songs were catchy (except for that last album which stunk.) another benefit to them was that 90% of people who were into hardcore in atlanta fucking HATED them (again as a result of the scene being a non-joking matter to these dudes) because they weren’t “truly a hardcore band.”
if you enjoy the catchiness of them and ignore the fact that sometimes the parodies are poorly executed and still try to “have a message,” they’re an enjoyable band. i’ve met issa and he is a nice enough dude, too.
I have also met Issa, he is a super nice dude.
seems like a lot of funny atlanta misinformation gets spread around here pretty regularly. always a pleasure. ha.
Not sure when/where/who you were around in ATL but the scene elders hated GCF due to some shady stuff Mike Phyte pulled in the ATL.
That’s not to say the super srs bros you were around hated them for your stated reasons though.
Issa??? Mike Phyte???????? Oh GOD!!!! Horrible 90′s Atl scene memories are flowing right now….MAKE IT STOP!!!!!
Brb…putting on dirty jncos, xxxxxxxxl tshirt, and krishna style choker beads to go watch inkwell play.
I can’t believe these dudes are being talked about here. Kind of funny.
Both issa and mike seemed like good dudes.
I am curious though…what “shady stuff” did Mike Phyte do????? Pls respond!!!!!!
A few different things. There were some disparities over merch, door guarantees, label business etc. that left some people feeling like he owed them money. He also ganked a couple of merch designs the locals were doing and sold them as his own with Phyte records after he had left town, along with the requisite shit talking, etc.
I can remember being in another city with those dudes and him being there and it getting really tense and just not understanding why they were so torn up over such a harmless little guy.
The PC days of Atlanta were AMAZING from a historical perspective (as documented in many a rubber band bound JAWK zine) but from a karmic standpoint were probably worth the price since they sort of led to one of the chillest scenes in the country for the next 10 years or so.
stickfigure distro
ah, i grew up and lived predominantly in athens (actually just moved to atlanta this year) so any of the scene politics were completely unaware to me, as i just drove up to a good bit of shows and knew a handful of the atlanta dudes. i just mostly got the impression that people didn’t like GCF because they were campy.
I’m just glad that a straight edge/YOOF CRU band exists that doesn’t take itself super srsly.
looking forward to a future article on S-rank trolls CRUCIAL YOUTH
Crucial Youth is the best. Be kiiiiiind, REWIND!! And the fucking a capella reading of the Boy Scout Oath. I love them so good.
I actually was going to give t hem an “honorable mention” or something but forgot :(
Would be hilarious if one of the band members showed up here and scolded you for using the word faggot.
In my dreams….
Oh man, back when I was a lulzy 15 yr old vegan who took himself way too seriously, I didn’t understand that these guys were fellow vegans who *didn’t* take themselves too seriously and I raged hard at their satirical lyrics about veganism. Now that I’m a lulzy 21 yr old vegan who does not take himself too seriously this stuff evokes magnificent amounts of nostalgia.
Funny how that works, isn’t it? I wonder what happens when all the ‘political commentators’ on tumblr turn 21.
I think I read or watched an interview with the singer of Good Clean Fun back when the album with “The Myspace Song” on it it came out and he was talking about how not only was that song meant to be a joke (obvs) but they tried to make it as radio friendly as possible so people who didn’t listen to hardcore would buy it thinking it was a new Dashboard Confessional type band and would find out they bought a hardcore record.
So my vote goes for wizard level trolls
Yeah, I can believe this coming from these guys and also back that approach 100%. They have to be trolling at least on some level
Might it be that band is altogether joke but not always flawlessly executed one? I mean it is not that hard to mistake sub par attempts at irony for srsness. I should know, right.
In the In defense… song I can hear Kid Rock, RATM and maybe some Korn too?
Also Firestorm: stomp, fuck, kill, have a heart attack squatting heavy fucking monster of a song.
I took them seriously when I first heard of them. I think they’re definitely trollin’.
dude i would probably smash the girl in the myspace song video.
#1, #2, or both?
the velma one i guess. not sheriff truly beta or chubby chaser.
There’s a fucking hardcore song titled “For the Ladies.” There’s no fucking way these dudes weren’t trolling. Also, lmfao @ “I had a nightmare…I was hardline.”
Like someone else said, I think the less clever lyrics are mistaken as srsness and the parts that seem way, way too dumb to be true are probably concocted by the same process that has led to some unintentional gems here in SYWH. As Sarge commented once, “when u type leik dis” if you unintentionally make a mistake (or in this case, if your irony isn’t that strong) you get the benefit of people thinking you meant every single joke to be found.
I think the less clever lyrics are mistaken as srsness and the parts that seem way, way too dumb to be true are probably concocted by the same process that has led to some unintentional gems here in SYWH
Excellent insight. You are probably right – thanks guys for helping me get to the bottom of this!
I was way into GCF in the late 90s early 00s because the NFC had been so heinous for so long that this band was actually a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways.
Looking back I don’t think they were such a good band and their jokes were poorly executed for the most part, but they had some gems – IDOAL (above), and also some jams like Who Shares Wins, Beat the Meat and On the Streets Saving the Scene from the Forces of Evil are pretty good.
in the late 90s early 00s because the NFC had been so heinous for so long that this band was actually a breath of fresh air in a lot of ways.
This is what I was thinking – as Sarge has mentioned many times, the 90′s hardcore scene was super srs and these guys were fucking around and having fun. There is no way they are 100% NFC, and in some ways are actually PROTO SYWH.
I liked the first couple 7″ and the LP. They seemed like nice guys and they actually played my out of the way city when no other hardcore bands would. Believe me i tried! However they were so hated in the hardcore scene. I remember going to the last In My Eyes show in 2000 and there was a sign on the door that said No Good Clean Fun Tshirts. hahahah
I’m pretty sure they’re 100% a joke. One of my friends played me a part of their live album one time and it was some pre-song banter where the vocals bro was trying to “get real” with the crowd about how there was like an ice cream shortage in some third world country or something like that. It was actually pretty hilarious.
that the same live album with the QUEEN cover? That was pretty funny too.
yeah when I first heard I actually thought they were militant, perfect post for my subconscious.
ded@: “just as beta to have one’s life revolve around a music scene of an unlistenable, unprofitable genre made up almost entirely of male fuckups.”
TY <3
Real good post man.
In defense of all life had me in stitches at the line about kicking his sister because she drinks milk.
I have a zine around here with an interview they did that I can’t find, I also knew someone who booked them and it’s a weird consensus. They’re definitely like anti-homophobia and anti-sexism and all that shit and they are actually vegan and straight edge but the whole band in general is basically a way to like…talk about that (the shit that they’re into) but also make fun of it at the same time. They’re the SYWH of XVX hardcore essentially.
I’ve always loved them for basically being the parody version of Chain Of Strength <3
ex straight edge ex is is one of my favorite songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsTOpgABeGY
It’s like in some sci-fi film where a terrified scientist yells to his superiors “The straight-edge vegans…they’re becoming self-aware!” followed by stern faced military men share resigned glances with one another.
lol I’m glad these guys Finally got a mention on SYWH, I’ve always wondered if they would be welcomed here but was always to lazy/didn’t care to inbox sarge “U LIEK GCF?” lol he seems to get tht kinda shit alot,
also Punk Rock Love is such a catchy song, prolly my fave from them.
In Defense… is funny shit and this is coming from a dude with an ExC/Firestorm themed tattoo (srs).
GCF were definitely not NFC – the NFC fucking hated them. Pretty sure the ‘In Defense’ title was taken from the slogan on the t-shirt being sold back in the day by Catalyst Records – the pinnacle of NFC vegan straightedge & home to some of the most cringe worthy bands in history e.g. Birthright, Extinction.
hahahaha thanks for this tidbit!
And thanks for having a sense of humor!
I always assumed it was actually an earth Crisis lyric. I naturally associate any extreme and pretentious -sounding militant lyrics with them, despite their being lots of equally silly Euro bands.