Prodigal son Evan MacIsaac returned from Calgary with "Ottawa Hardcore" emblazoned on his back. Yes, he was wearing his own band's shirt, but no, he likely didn't care what anyone thought of this, seeing as it was Badlands' last show. MacIsaac successfully straddled the line between grunts and yaps and, loyal as dogs, the hometown crowd — Gatineau and Ottawa are so close the music community overlaps significantly — responded appropriately, causing the speakers to teeter under the weight of bodies.
The music was fairly standard hardcore, but the reaction was anything but. Once the mic was handed to Lance Crowder (vocals in At Odds and Contempt) in the last song, it felt like the passing of a torch; though this piece of Ottawa hardcore has now passed, the scene will live on through other musicians and enthusiastic audiences.
The music was fairly standard hardcore, but the reaction was anything but. Once the mic was handed to Lance Crowder (vocals in At Odds and Contempt) in the last song, it felt like the passing of a torch; though this piece of Ottawa hardcore has now passed, the scene will live on through other musicians and enthusiastic audiences.
Heart Fest Day 1, Gatineau QC, 2015 09 04