NO ATTITUDES, NO POLITICS, JUST GREAT MUSIC AND GUINNESS ON TAP

No one really expected trouble at the biggest show in New Jersey in years, but Keystone State “Skinheads” were making rumblings about attending, and regardless it did rile up some, enough for damn near every East Coast anti-racist to be on watch not to mention the Feds. In the end KSS stayed home and the show ended up being what it was supposed to be, a mighty fine time in the boondocks of Northern New Jersey. It was good to see some of the old vets out, although some of us had to come to terms with the fact we are not as young as we used to be! We’re trying to pass the torch though, which is hard considering all of the old New Jersey clubs, save for a few around the shore, are pretty much gone. This six-headliner show was a good effort in changing that, and to be honest we are damned glad KSS wasn’t there with their BS to screw it up.

One People’s Project

CLIFTON, NJ, Mar. 8–“Well it looks like KSS didn’t show up!” T. Dogg, the lead singer of Hub City Stompers said to a packed crowd at Connections regarding a possible appearance by a few members of the Keystone State “Skinheads”. “I was going to dedicate this next song to them!”

While the crowd responded with a sarcastic “Awwwwwww,” HCS broke into their song “Little Julie Swastiska,” a song about a romantic fling between a black skinhead and a white power bonehead girl so comical people actually stopped dancing because they were laughing so hard. It described the tone for one of the biggest shows New Jersey has had in a long time. Six bands, all of them headliners in their own right, played and brought out people, many of them old school punks and skins, from as far as Montreal. The show was sold out immediately and many who came late had to be turned away after the building reached capacity, a major concern with clubs after the tragic Rhode Island fire last month. The possible appearance of KSS was a rather diminished concern well before the show and no one would have been too worried about what stunt they would pull if they did show. Instead, everyone had a good time, the only possible injuries being whoever was hurt falling down in the pit and the most damage done was to a ceiling tile during Broken Heroes set.

The show still began on a bad note. Dead Heros could not play because their drummer Tom was badly injured when the car he and another bandmate was in hit some black ice in Cranford, NJ, skidded out of control and turned over, throwing Tom out of the car. The other bandmate emerged with minor injuries, but according to reports, Tom suffered a ruptured spleen and broken pelvis. Band members came to the show regardless and asked Northern NJ band Dysfunctional Youth to play in their place. They kicked off the night at 8:30, which by this time the club was already beginning to be packed.

N.Y. Relix was next to take the stage and was one of two punk bands to play this evening. They played songs from the 10″ they were selling at the show, and although lead singer Erika’s mike was not working properly, her voice was powerful enough to drive the songs in her usual way. Their crowd was the one to get the first pit of the night going and that continued when the Lower Class Brats from Austin, Texas took the stage after them, this being the first gig of their tour. The only ska act of the night, Hub City Stompers was next, performing a set that included new songs as well as those from Inspecter 7, which many of their members hail from. Broken Heroes took the stage just after 12, and the crowd had not diminished, and was still revved up. The headliners of the evening was Niblick Henbane, and this was the first show for their new drummer Kid Blank, formerly from Blanks 77.

The concern about KSS attending came simply from their members talking about going to the show on their Yahoo! groups. There wasn’t any indication that they wanted to do anything more than check out the show, but a person screen name “Bruisemaker” who was claiming to be White Power, inquired about the show on the discussion board at www.skinheads.net. The person was met with responses saying that all politics should be left at home. Once this hit the internet however, it caught the attention of the anti-racists, and a large contingent of SHARP and RASH skins as well and anti-racists seen often at the counter-demonstrations against Nazi rallies on the East Coast were in attendance. Much of the crowd was apolitical however, but the general feeling was any racist flare-ups would not have been tolerated. In addition, Connections employees noted that a Federal Task Force was also there in case something happened. KSS meanwhile had realized early on the attention it brought to itself and a post in the Yahoo! Groups said to members that the plans were squashed to attend the show.

“We all pretty much came to the conclusion it would be a bad idea,” the poster wrote.

THE BANDS

Hub City’s gonna put ya to the test! On this page you will find the lyrics to “Little Julie Swastiska,” for those who wish to sing along.
Dead Heros
Dysfunctional Youth
NY Relix
Broken Heroes
Lower Class Brats
Niblick Henbane