This was the fourth year for the Disturbin’ the Peace Festival, making its return to Baltimore on February 1st. An all-day music festival organized by Flatspot Records, the lineup consisted of 13 bands that got the chance to be embraced by the Baltimore hardcore music scene.
The sold-out event began around 2:30 p.m. and went off with almost no delays, thanks to the efforts of the Baltimore Soundstage crew. You could see fans and supporting band members front and center, moshing and stage diving in exuberant camaraderie. Justice Tripp of Angel Du$t said it best right before his set: “Every band tonight is Baltimore City hardcore,” and that’s exactly what it felt like at the Baltimore Soundstage. There was so much love for local bands from Baltimore and the greater DMV area, such as Angel Du$t, JIVEBOMB, ERODE, Queensway, Sinister Feeling, and Backlash. I could tell that the support was real from the sheer multitude of stage divers and jumpers running on the crowd’s heads. That support extended to other bands as well, such as Dynamite from London, Raw Brigade from Colombia, Dmize from New York, E-Town Concrete from New Jersey, Leave No Doubt from Los Angeles, Life’s Question from Illinois, and SPEED all the way from Sydney, Australia.
The diverse crowd consisted of many niches of hardcore: those loving the heavy riffs, the trashy melodic rhythms, and the deafening, ethereal noise of hardcore. Some of my favorites in attendance were a banana, a shark, and a dinosaur, all of whom loved to get some big air before diving into a crowd of their peers.
Fresh from their pre-show performance at Metro Gallery the day before, Dynamite from London graced the stage with a brief secret performance that fanned the flames of London hardcore in the city of Baltimore. Some other favorites of the night were JIVEBOMB, Angel Du$t, and SPEED. JIVEBOMB’s performance was so much fun with their raw, guttural, and gritty vocals. They had just released a new single, “Survival Ain’t Taught,” and they were filming their next music video on stage, courtesy of filmographer Noah Haycock. The crowd delivered incredible footage for the video.
Angel Du$t took the stage after E-Town Concrete. After Justice’s little speech about unity, the place went into a frenzy when they opened with “Toxic Boombox.” Bodies were flying like meteors from both sides of the stage as fans kept taking leaps of faith into the arms of their family, the Baltimore hardcore scene. Even members of Angel Du$t, guitarist Jim Caroll and bassist Zech Ghostribe, jumped into the crowd and kept playing non-stop. The energy and chaos never subsided and only reached greater heights as the set continued; it was heartwarming. There was no way that anyone was standing still during this set, and if they did, then they had no soul. Vocalist and hometown hero Justice Tripp said, “I’m here spiritually… to guide you guys to sing these songs,” and invited the crowd, friends, and anyone that wanted to sing to come on stage and do so. Members of almost every band on the bill took the mic to sing alongside Angel Du$t, including Paris Roberts from No Idols and Akil Godsey from End It.
The lights turned off as SPEED took the stage, enveloping vocalist Jem Siow in a dark red glow as he played the flute intro to “Real Life Love.” After yelling “Baaaltimorrrre” with a giant smile on his face, the crowd ran across the stage as they opened with “Don’t Need.” This was the second time that SPEED has played in Baltimore, and their energy and appreciation for the city made it seem like it was a hometown show for them—and that’s the way the crowd treated them. The stage erupted with fans doing handstands, two-stepping, and singing. Jem showed a bit of vulnerability as he talked about the passing of the band’s brother Aje, who had passed away very recently. He recalled how they met and that, even though there was a language barrier sometimes, the thing that brought them and everyone together was, at its core, Hardcore. Every time I see SPEED, they always exceed my expectations, and this time was no different. The energy exuding from SPEED was unreal that day.
Flatspot Records always has an incredible roster of artists from their family and extended family, and this lineup was no exception. Che Figueroa, CEO of Flatspot Records, has created an amazing event that truly showcases talent from all over the world and brings it to Baltimore. I’m excited to attend next year’s festival and to be surrounded by so much joy.
Some of the bands from Disturbin’ the Peace will be performing at Richmond’s United Blood festival, including Angel Du$t, E-Town Concrete, Dynamite, and Backlash. Richmond’s energy and hardcore scene will be tested with SPEED, JIVEBOMB, and SCOWL, making stops in Virginia’s capital. This is an exciting time in music, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds.
“Thank you Hardcore” – Jem Siow (Vocalist from SPEED)
Article and photos by Cristian Espinoza
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