This is Hell

By Jackie Cular

This is Hell, a hardcore band from Long Island, New York, is a band on the rise. The band has just finished its role as the opening act of the AP Fall Tour and is preparing for a tour in Australia with the Architects and Comeback Kid, followed by a tour along the northeast corridor of the US. Guitarist, Rick Jimenez, answers questions about the hardcore scene and the band’s Long Island roots.

TheCuttingEdgeCulture: “How would you describe the state of the hardcore scene right now?”
Rick Jimenez: “That’s such a hard question because it’s so disjointed. There are bands that tour and go from scene to scene and area to area but it’s not a united front. There’s definitely not one united worldwide scene, but that’s not enough a united scene in this country…there’s like three different scenes in my hometown. Even the term `hardcore’ has become such a big umbrella term, but I’m okay with that. Borrowing and mixing and merging ideas—I think all that’s great. Also to an extent, there’s a little bit, or a ton, lost from time to time. Hardcore is supposed to be so pure. Some people want to bastardize it, water it down… I don’t want to say that overall there is no underground, but as things get more watered down or labeled…it makes people go that much more underground at times and reaffirms their faith that there’s hard work to be done if we want to keep things really pure. It’s more than just the music…"

TCEC: “How has Long Island influenced you or the band?”
RJ: “Aside from a few hardcore bands…our lead singer, Travis, is into Glasjaw and Mind Over Matter. When he was going to those shows I was going to H2O, Sick of it All, and Agnostic Front. I think by the time I started getting into Long Island bands, I was already set in my ways a bit. As far as Long Island is concerned, I guess it’s a bit unique because it’s New York, but it’s not New York City. It’s suburban but you’re right next to the city and it is the greatest city. Being from L.I. we’re pretty spoiled like that; we never let it become something we take for granted. I think if you recognize it, you’ll never take it for granted. We have tons of great bands, though there’s less great venues, we still have it better than the rest of New York state, and other states.”

TCEC: “Name three things the influence your music.”
RJ: “My up-bringing was tumultuous but somewhat consistent, if that makes any sense… I was one of those kids that grew up before it was time to grow up. I recognized certain things at a very young age that other kids didn’t. I’m not saying that makes me better or anything at all. It’s a huge spectrum to say my whole up-bringing but…how I dedicate myself to things… it’s sort of a shit or get off the pot kind of thing… It’s not that New Yorkers are rude; they just don’t want to wait around. When I walk, I move with a purpose; I have a place to go.”

TCEC: “What’s one song outside of your genre that you’d like to cover?”
RJ: “It’s funny; we’ve actually done some ridiculous covers. Last summer we covered `Never Tear Us Apart,’ an INXS song. I remember the video… INXS Kick was one of my first cassette tapes…I can go through the list. My first vinyl record was Look What the Cat Dragged In by Poison that I bought in a flea market for $3.99. The first cassette I ever bought was Def Leopard’s Pyromania. The first CD I bought was Metallica’s Kill `Em All.”

TCEC: “What are the songs on your set list that get the crowd going?”
RJ: “Sometimes it’s not the song specifically but where we are in the set. The song we are opening with on this tour is the song that got the crowd going on the last tour, when it was the second or third song on the list… `Prelude’ is one that gets people going. I think it also has to do with tempo change and playing first in a tour’s lineup.”

TCEC: “What’s next for This Is Hell after the AP Tour?”
RJ: “We’ll be going over to Europe for a month.”

 Lead singer, Travis Reilly has his own T-shirt line, Support Shirts. While the company is not a non-profit company, Support Shirts has a strong value system and desire to help communities. Reilly explains.

TCEC: “Part of Support Shirt’s ideal is a merge between art and fashion. How does it come together with Support Shirts? How does it come together for you personally?”
Travis Reilly: “We have tons of friends who are amazing artists and we want their art to be seen on a large scale. We commission our friends to draw us stuff that we like and we put it on shirts.”

TCEC: “Why is it important for a company to have a strong sense of community?”
TR: “I feel like way too many people think for themselves and are only out to get theirs. This isn't a competition for us, we want to see everyone do their thing and we want everyone to have success.”

TCEC: “How does Support Shirts support communities?”
TR: “Our first design happened to be a bold shirt that just said `I support same sex marriage.’ We are by no means a political clothing line or whatever. It was just something that we decided to kick off with and I think it's something that needs more positive attention. We also have very strong ties to the music and arts community.”

TCEC: “How do you get your images and phrases for shirts?”
TR: “Like I said above, we commission friends to draw for us. Sometimes we have an idea and they sketch it up for us, other times we just let them go wild and come up with something.”

TCEC: “Many bands have worn Support Shirts; who would you like to see in your shirts next?”
TR: “I'm not really concerned with seeing a certain person wearing our shirts. I'd just like to see anyone who enjoys the designs to wear them, ya know?”

TCEC: “Where can fans buy them online?”
TR: “On the website.”

TCEC: “What’s up next for Support Shirts?”
TR: “The link above is our old stuff we are trying to get rid of to make way for new designs. We have plans for a bunch of new designs that we are going to launch ASAP.”

Read more about the band on their website.
Follow the band on Twitter.
 
Buy a copy of TCEC's charity CD, Cut the Sh, volume 1 for a song from this artist and sixteen more.