Watch Pennsylvania Hardcore

Pennsylvania Hardcore is a 2014 documentary film that explores the rise of the hardcore punk scene in Pennsylvania during the 1980s and 1990s. The movie features interviews with many prominent members of the scene, including members of bands like Minor Threat, Agnostic Front, and Sick of it All. The film is directed by Tony Rettman and produced by Greg Benoit. While the movie is centered around music, it also delves into the political and social issues that the scene was born out of. The film aims to give a comprehensive look at the history of Pennsylvania's hardcore punk scene, which is often overlooked in the broader narrative of American punk history.

The documentary begins by providing some historical context for the formation of the Pennsylvania hardcore scene. The state had long been a hub of heavy metal music, with bands like Poison and Cinderella hailing from the area in the 1970s and 1980s. But as metal began to give way to punk and hardcore in the late 80s, a new scene began to emerge.

Central to this scene were bands like YDI, Sheer Terror, and Outburst, who were some of the first to put their own unique spin on the hardcore sound pioneered by bands like Black Flag and Bad Brains. As the scene grew, it attracted bands from other areas, including New York and Boston, who saw Pennsylvania as a fertile breeding ground for new hardcore sounds.

The film is interspersed with interviews with many of the key figures in the scene, ranging from musicians to promoters to fans. These interviews help to provide insight into the motivations behind the music, as well as the passion and energy that drove the scene forward.

One of the key themes that emerges in the film is the DIY ethos of the Pennsylvania hardcore scene. Many of the bands were completely self-funded and self-released their music, with no help from major labels or corporate sponsors. This allowed them to maintain complete creative control over their output, and ensured that their message remained true to their ideals.

Another important aspect of the scene was its political engagement. Many of the bands featured in the film were unapologetically left-wing, and used their music as a platform to speak out against racism, police brutality, and other social injustices. The film explores the ways in which the scene's politics were intertwined with its music, and how this helped to shape the identity of the scene as a whole.

Despite its relatively short runtime, the film covers a lot of ground, and manages to give a thorough overview of the Pennsylvania hardcore scene. It's also filled with plenty of great music, featuring performances and archival footage from many of the scene's most important bands.

Overall, Pennsylvania Hardcore is an engaging and informative documentary that sheds light on an overlooked chapter in punk rock history. It's a must-see for anyone interested in the roots of hardcore punk, or the DIY ethos that underpins so much of underground music.

Pennsylvania Hardcore is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.