Worcester’s Foxfires Bring Hardcore Punk to Central Mass
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Old friends formed Foxfires in 2010 and they've already enjoyed great success. Photo Courtesy of Ryan MacNeil
Worcester's Foxfires is a hardcore punk band made up of normal guys with friendships that go way back and deep musical roots in New England. Although the band was initially formed by bits and pieces of other local groups specifically to write music that didn't necessarily fit into their other projects, thanks to the fact they all have a long history together (with one friendship even going all the way back to Middle School) the band seems to function as smooth as possible.
These members include Josh Lyford on Vocals, Brad Rheault on Bass, Jesse Menard on guitar and Conor Hobbs on drums.
The Music
Their brand of music, they admit, may not be for everyone. In fact, only a truly select few will appreciate the hard work, skill and talent that has to go in to the creation of their particular style, but that doesn't matter to them. They do what they love and write what they feel.
"Musically, not everyone will relate to Foxfires and that is ok," says Josh Lyford, vocalist for Foxfires.
"We play hardcore music and I think hardcore is something that some people either latch on to or they can't get into. Past that, we write exactly the music we want to and the lyrics are all extremely personal. They are about death and coping with loss, they are often pretty dark, but the songs are also about looking at the light in the dark and learning from these experiences."
A quick sample of their music will tell you all you need to know about their unmistakable sound. It hits you like an anvil with pounding drums, speedy, energetic guitar licks, and those ferocious and intense vocals that so often define the hardcore genre. At a concert, the urge to mosh will be almost irresistible and even when you're alone you may find your head banging before long.
A Wonderful Distraction
Ultimately the band hopes they can provide a wonderful distraction to listeners and that their music may help them deal with any personal problems that may arise in their lives.
"The lyrics to both the first EP we released and our Escapist Records release, The Golden Age, are pieces of poems and short stories I had written to try and cope with recent losses. This record is definitely more of a look at where you have come as a person as you try and understand these things. I hope anyone that is dealing with something like that can listen and understand that you can be mad about it, you can try and grasp it, but you can also look back at how this person changed you for the better and left you with something, you can grow from it," says Lyford.
The band of course hopes they are able to find a their very own release through performing as well. There is no other way of life that allows one to escape from reality so freely. The name of their record label itself, Escapist, reflects this.
"I get a lot from playing music. It is a way for me to express something that doesn't really fit in anywhere else in my world. On the one hand it is a way for me to get together with some of my best friends and have some beers and simultaneously do something relatively constructive. On the other hand, it gives me an opportunity to have some beers, bang my head and sing about the things that I struggle with," the vocalist says.
Writing as a Team
Their writing style is simple. Everyone has a relatively equal say on ideas, the creative process, and the overall direction of the band. Often, a jam session develops among the members, with each member taking turns on the others' instruments, and they see where it goes from there. Josh's singing style lends itself perfectly to the music. The result is a unity in the sound that only a group as close as they can provide. They have already put out two records since forming in 2010, but they aren't getting ahead of themselves with untenable ambition.
"We are each at a point in our lives where the band is here to be fun, first and foremost. Anything that we accomplish on top of that is a bonus. Having put out two records, played all over the northeast and getting picked up by an awesome label like Escapist are all a little mind blowing for me, honestly," says Josh.
Hopes for the Future
The band has performed in Worcester venues such as Ralph's, Hotel Vernon, The Palladium, The Raven, and Club Oasis, along with many other bars and clubs throughout the northeast. They also have a full tour coming up this summer.
But even if they do get famous beyond the local area, the people of Central Mass need not fear, for they will certainly remember their beloved home.
"I love Worcester. Growing up, if you wanted to see live music, you came to Worcester. I always felt a connection to the city and I do to this day, I honestly love it here. Great bars, great vegetarian restaurants, great bands, an awesome underground music scene and a tight knit community. You really can't ask for anything more, I feel like I relate to the city and its history, for better or for worse," remarks Josh.
For more information on Foxfires and ro hear some of their music please visit their Facebook page.
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