Central Texas Hardcore

Saturday, November 23, a flock of local punks gathered around the Armstrong Center in Belton, TX to show all their love for Central Texas Hardcore. The main draw to the show was to bring funding for the medical bills of TJ Jones and Mandolin Renee, both members of the veteran community in Fort Hood, TX.

The Central Texas Hardcore scene is mainly dominated with white and latino males from the Temple and Belton area. Music takes on a different meaning for these punks as they gather around the old school house. The venue has stood for over ten years, breeding the likes of Marla Strange, Perseverance, Outcomes, Rad Dragon, and other local hardcore bands.

According to the New York Times, “hardcore was a musical movement that was oddly ambivalent about music itself; community and ideals often seemed more important.” The community around Armstrong is so tight knit that several local punks have the address tattooed on their forearms and chest to indicate their dedication for the scene.

Hardcore spawned the anti-drug, anti-alcohol, anti-casual-sex movement known as straightedge. Sam Lightsey, both the frontman of Perseverance and one of the head drives of the straightedge movement in Central Texas, cites that his love for the movement comes from his family’s history with alcoholism and addiction.

“I didn’t want to [drink] so I didn’t go down that road,” said Lightsey.

He cites dating a girl when he was a sophomore in high school and watching his girlfriend’s mother succumb to her addiction. Through hardcore, he discovered that he didn’t need to be a product of his environment and the world around him. Through God and hardcore, he thrived on being different. He set himself apart from the rest and dedicated himself to live a sober life. The large X marks on his hands is a outlier in a venue where Modelo and Lone Star are rampant.

Hardcore seems to more than music for the community. According to Raymond Hernandez, frontman of Outcomes, it’s hope.

“[Outcomes] is hope to me. It’s just giving fans a sense of: ‘Hey, now I’m doing better even though my environment wasn’t the best. Now, I’m teaching little kids. I’m just letting them know that you don’t have to be a product of your environment,” said Hernandez.

He described his band as an outlet. It was a way for him to move past his troubling childhood and settle into some meaning for the way he grew up. He mentioned witnessing people overdose and trade dope in a very poor neighborhood in Texas. He desired to represent his struggles through music. Though Outcomes is considered 1990s metalcore, they still hold a strong pillar in the Central Texas Hardcore scene. This music shows that there is a way out of a hard life. Hardcore is one of them.

Hardcore is also core to the Fort Hood area for veterans. Despite the fact that the show was hosted by veterans for veterans, Gabe Walker originally wanted his show to fund for veterans suicide awareness. Struggling with his own demons, he cites that hardcore was one of the few things that “kept the gun out of [his] mouth.” The community that surrounds Armstrong is a reason he is able to cope through his mental illness and find solace.

Another veteran and local punk, Landon Law, also cited that members from the hardcore scene in Los Angeles allowed him to grow past his environment. His love for the music placed him on park benches and buses near the early morning just for the chance to see a band play.

All in all, the Central Texas Hardcore scene is one of kind. It has lasted through ten years and hopefully it can continue this positive impact.

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