Passion Exceeds Price
Words & photos by: Tyler Ross
Discovering a solid music event isn’t difficult to do, but when it comes to the cost of admission, it could be a challenging task finding a fair price. For the underground music scene, a ticket can range from $8 to $30 at most. The original cost always includes surcharges and extra fees.
A standard ticket price can be a drain on the average wallet. It’s extremely rare to find a show with a low price and where the talent cares more about the passion of the music and performing for their audience more than the financial gain. “The tour is very hardcore oriented ideally. The show and the people coming to see the bands are way more important, than the money people are making. Being in a hardcore band is hard enough to make ends meet because the money is not really there in the first place. There are no rock star mentalities. So, for the bands that are worth a lot more, they are doing it for the ideal and love for music.” (Rick Jimenez of This Is Hell)
The 10 for $10 Tour jets across the states for the months of July through August and showcases some of the finest bands in the hardcore metal scene in one event. “I love the whole idea behind this tour. I keep hearing it everyday; 10 bands for $10. The whole concept really gets drilled into you. It sounds like a wild idea and you think, how is this all going to work out? I was definitely skeptical in the beginning, but from day one, this tour has brought in tons of kids, who show they really appreciate the bands taking a cut to come out and putting on a great show. It’s a diverse bill and there’s something for everybody.” (Justice Tripp of Trapped Under Ice)
For the House of Blues in Los Angeles, this tour in general was exactly what the music community needed. There was an eager, impatient feeling circulating, as I weaved through the masses. The expressions on all the faces represented a geared up attitude and a readiness in kicking off the show. “I think about it everyday. You can go to a show nowadays and see five bands, sometimes it’s $15 to $20; ten at the least. It’s not like you are watching Slayer, where you expect to pay that much. It’s not dissing anybody; it’s just the way it has to work. As shitty as it may seem, money has to be there, if you want to go across the country. If I wasn’t playing on this tour, and this was coming through, I’d be blown away and so thankful. I get to see ten of these bands and I’m sure 95% of the people like all ten of these bands together. So, it’s a great deal for everyone. I love this tour so much.” (Martin Stewart of Terror)
On the inside, music vibrated throughout the sweaty, stale air. Dozens of fans rushed toward the stage in attempts to sing into the microphone, while numerous others, crowd-surfed over the tops of heads. “When we play a show and right away the kids are catching on to the energy and they are just as excited as we are, all that energy exchange that goes back and forth, is the epitome of a good show. To me, that’s the epitome of hardcore, the energy exchange, the give and take, not the look at me on stage, I’m important.” (Rick Jimenez of This Is Hell)
Lines continued to form, one after the other, starting in the late afternoon and continuing on into the night. Never was there a static moment or a bitter fuss about any of the bands on the bill. Each individual appeared to be in bright spirits, entering and exiting the venue with a sense of greater hunger for more. “As much as a lot of these bands are similar, there are a lot of differences too. Age, influence, etc. Being backstage with nine other bands, kind of on top of each other, I think there’s a really good vibe going on. There are no attitudes from any headliners or opening bands. No one is acting like they should be the headliners. That’s not always such an easy thing to accomplish. The upside of it, it’s for a cause. Underground music in any form should be about something. The turnout has been great.” (Scott Vogel of Terror)
Most of those in attendance expressed and displayed why they felt they needed to be at such a diverse show. The steady balance between the bands and their audience demonstrated a common relationship and reason as to why; they continue to be in attendance. “The common thread that runs through everybody on this tour is that they grew up with this level of a down-to-earth and straight thinking mind-state.” (Ryan Primack of Poison the Well)
From the vantage point of peering out into the crowd, you’d notice the hundreds of fists thrusting toward the ceiling and could also find the various members of other bands interacting as fans themselves. There was a full-fledged support from all the other bands. Many were found on the side of the stage as well. Others were found below staring up with enthusiasm. “I hate bands that don’t support other bands. They just expect everyone to support their band. That doesn’t fly with me. I’d rather support a band full of kids that really care about music and hardcore, that doesn’t sound good, than a bunch of dudes, who can play perfect hardcore, but don’t have the heart. I’d rather support the people that care. You don’t find that on this tour.” (Scott Vogel of Terror)
As I entered the tail end of the night, the air was still, but the buzz continued. The magnetic bond between friends, and fans showed their appreciation for one hell of a tour.
Merchandise sold like water for exhausted and dehydrated bodies in need of thirst. Besides the few unnecessary police calls and minuscule dramas, the 10 for $10 Tour’s self-sacrificing effort ended as a major success among all who partook in this extraordinary and treasured, music event.
“The biggest thing about this tour is getting to reach out to the kids, that maybe wouldn’t have checked us out before. Kids that are into Poison The Well, War of Ages, or Death Before Dishonor, who would have had us pigeonholed as a certain kind of band, and would be interested in us, they are finding maybe, they’re wrong. Maybe, they actually can connect with us.” (Aaron Bedard of Bane)
