Northwest bands will bring the straight edge and hardcore punk music scene to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley Saturday for Smash the Skate.
The all day, all ages skate boarding competition and concerts will feature groups from Portland, Walla Walla, Spokane, Boise and Moscow at Mtn Dew Skate Park in Lewiston.
Hardcore is punk music that is louder, faster, more aggressive and politically fueled. Branches of hardcore include screamo, with screamed vocals, and crust, which blends in elements of metal. Straight edge is a subculture of punk in which the participants refrain from using alcohol, tobacco or any other drugs and from promiscuous sex.
“That music doesn’t exist here. There’s not a culture existing around that kind of thing,” said event organizer Andrew S. Evans, 24, of Lewiston.
For many people, including Evans, punk music and skateboarding go hand-in-hand. Evans grew up skating in the valley. He is now studying anthropology at Lewis-Clark State College.
“This music has meant so much to me my whole life and I only found it because of skateboarding,” Evans said of the genre that often addresses issues like animal and human rights and social injustice.
Music and competitions are from noon to 10 p.m. Skate competitions are open to beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, and are from noon to 1 p.m., 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m., with the advanced skaters featured last, Evans said. There is a $5 fee to enter competitions. Free skate is from 8 to 10 p.m. There will be prizes, raffles, food and drink. Proceeds will go toward paying off the skate park. There is $10,000 still owed to pay off the $425,000 project, according to Tim Barker, Lewiston Parks and Recreation Director.
If You Go
What: Smash the Skate, all ages skating competition and concerts When: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 2 Where: Mtn Dew Skate Park, Lewiston Cost: Free music; $5 to enter the skate competitions Of Note: All proceeds will go toward paying off the skate park.
Some of the bands expected to perform:
Ingrown -- Raw hardcore from Boise Nailbastard -- Moscow crust band Pinned Down -- Female-fronted, Walla Walla nu-metal hardcore Déformer -- Two-piece Spokane screamo East Sherman -- Metallic vegan hardcore from Spokane Narrow Minded -- Walla Walla-based hardcore Black Communion -- Metallic hardcore from Portland Climate -- Vegan straight edge hardcore from Portland
