While American Hardcore showed up on my radar in 1984. It wasn’t until 86′ when I old enough to trade in getting turned away at the gates of CBGB’s to actually getting in and participating. While my earliest shows there included the likes of 7 Seconds, Jodie Fosters Army and Blast. It was the local bands I felt most closely aligned will. As I had gone from trips to Manhattan’s Tower Records and Bleeker Bob’s to seek out records from acts such as the Circle Jerks, Black Flag and The Dead Kennedy’s as early as 84′. It wasn’t until my first visits to nearby Some Records that I really found out what was happening in my ever expanding back yard. Those early trips to Duane’s basement refuge allowed me to get to know the bands and people involved in what was a very communal scene. One of the bands I caught on to early on was the N.Y. Hoods. The Hoods, along with a handful of bands like Krakdown, Side By Side, Sick of it All and Token Entry filled my ears while guiding me on a course I’d follow for years to come.
Years later I would sell all my original demo cassettes and first pressings on Ebay. While the monetary returns seem great at the time. The regret I would later feel, far outweighed my choice to sell. Years later, the demo was reissued as a 7′ inch EP, but in all honesty. The reissue could never replace the feeling that little cassette tape gave me. That was until my neighbor and friend knocked on the door. Once again bringing me a blast from our shared past. And while the reels may never again scream out “Mirrors of Reality”. The image itself will allow me to have tangible evidence of a part of my past I am still very fond of. Here’s to the next knock on my door. J.D.
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