By Derek Reyes

Photos by Apples

Twenty-five years and still tough as shit, Agnostic Front and Death by Stereo hit me hard in my nostalgic bits as they performed at Take II Wednesday night.

So where were you?

Apples and I strolled into Take II to a smaller crowd of fashionable black clothing and a few punky looking characters.

Where the fuck was everyone?

Where were all the skin heads and punks that I used to see at every god damn show?

Where were those energetic kids from the DI show and the Voodoo Glow Skulls show?

Death by Stereo was the first band we caught. I apologize for missing the other opening acts.

Death by Stereo has changed quite a bit. It isn’t as punk as it used to be with all the heavier growling and frequent guitar solos.

They didn’t suck though. Singer, Efrem Schulz, has such a unique voice that it makes me sad that he yells and growls so much now. It was energetic performance and the crowd was equally energetic. During one of their songs an enthusiastic fan got on stage and was given the microphone and he growled his heart out.

Agnostic Front went on and it was fucking great. Vinny Stigma and Roger Miret still got it.

I think what people don’t really understand is that these guys and their music are historical. They are creators of the real New York hardcore sound. They are like the George Washingtons of the east coast punk scene.

They’ve stayed true to their roots and still perform with every ounce of their being. I’m glad they’re still around and still making great music.

They played gems like “Victim in Pain” and “Gotta Go.” During “Gotta Go” everyone was crowded in around stage with their fists pumping yelling out “Gotta Gotta Go!” and “Oi!”

Despite the less than stellar turn out, the crowd was into it. They sang along and made frightening circle pits. I’m just glad I got to enjoy and share my love for the punk scene with Apples. She now knows how I feel. So where were you?