PA Hardcore Doc Benefit Show Saturday in Lansdale

There's no real way to define it—Pennsylvania Hardcore just is.

It isn't a thing as much as it is a culture. It isn't a genre as much as it is a lifestyle. It isn't a great song as much as it is a brotherhood.

PAHC exists—replicating and duplicating, on and on for decades—because millions need it to.

This sonic juggernaut is the basis of a documentary by Deptford, NJ resident Loren W. Lepre and Mark Devito, produced by Average Superstar Films. Lepre heads into editing and post-production on Tuesday. 

This groundbreaking titan PAHC also invades the Lansdale VFW Saturday night, with a benefit show for the documentary, presented by Stay on Point Booking. Lepre said proceeds would be used in post-production and, hopefully, on the festival circuit.

The show begins at 7 p.m., headlined by Lansdale hardcore stalwarts Dysphoria. Strength For A Reason, Pillars of Villainy, xSluggernautx, Objection, and Back and Forth join them on the bill. 

Entry charge is $10. All ages. Legal age to drink, with ID.

When reached for an interview on the documentary, Lepre's statement on why he is making it was simple—he loves PAHC.

"The people in this scene are my family, and I think it's our turn for the story of Pennsylvania to be told. PAHC has a rich history and over time it's grown and grown," Lepre said. "The torch now belongs to us; PA is where it's at."

Like many who grew up in the scene, Lepre flocked to the hardcore shows to find comfort, to fit in, to be welcomed. Friends found friends that had a common interest, close to home. That was in 1993.

Today, Lepre spends more time acting than attending shows. He formed Average Superstar Films and instantly became attracted to the notion of a documentary on "the scene."

"After a few people pressed me I jumped right at it. I can tell you the whole scene came together in making this film," he said. "Almost 200 people were interviewed for this project."

Some of those in that 200 interviewed are members of  renowned and respected Lansdale-area hardcore bands, like the aforementioned Dysphoria, Chine, CDC, XIII PFP and Soulgrind.

"As for larger names," Lepre said, "we got members from Lamb Of God, A Life Once Lost, Agnostic Front, Cold As Life, and God Forbid, to name a few, that talk about time in the PAHC scene."

Lepre explained that not one interviewee had the same essence in their nostalgic tales; each one recounted specific instances of the influence of PAHC as it related to their neighborhoods. Lepre said his documentary looks at the history of PAHC and its effect on different parts of the state.

"PAHC today is on top," he said. "We have the two biggest hardcore fests in the world going on in Pennsylvania. Kids from all over the world come to these events."

At one time, Lepre said, Pennsylvania hardcore used to get lost in the shuffle with D.C. and NYC hardcore.

"That's not the case today," he said. "So many bands coming out of PA these days. The world of hardcore has its eyes on PA right now."

If there will be anything to take away from Lepre and Devito's documentary, it is this: While it is a culture, a statewide (and nationwide) brotherhood, each area of Pennsylvania has its own smaller culture and brotherhood. Therein, lies its success.

"For years, this state was overlooked. Each area tells a different tale. It's going to be something," Lepre said. "I think the world of hardcore is about to learn another tale from the people that wrote it."

The utlmate goal for the Pennsylvania Hardcore documentary is to screen it around America and make it available On Demand, available through iTunes and viewable on IFC.

"I want to have this film pushed to the max," Lepre said. "Lots of people gave me their time, and making a documentary is hard work. Myself and Mark put a lot of time into this project."

He said the documentary will be the first full-length film under his company banner. There is a Summer 2013 planned release.

"We want to make an impact," he said.

Check out more on Lepre's project at this link.

Find Average Superstar Films on Facebook.

The annual This is Hardcore Festival returns for a seventh vicious extravaganza over four days in Philadelphia, from August 8 to August 11. Find out more here.

For all things hardcore, check out Stereo Killer.