thePULSEBands You May Not Have Heard of Yet…But You Will!
We here at The Pulse are committed to giving local bands who are just under the radar, who haven’t quite broken through yet, a little push. There’s a catch, though ~ we’ll only feature a band if they first nominate a band for an upcoming issue, and so on. So check out this section to read more about some talented musicians who might just be the next big thing!
12 Step Program
One Step Closer to Success
By Bobby Hankinson
When 12 Step Program takes the stage, their performance drips sweat, tears, and ~ quite literally ~ blood. Two years ago, the band’s passion on stage at a show in Bellingham escalated into all-out fisticuffs amongst the band members and left one of the guys dripping blood. That scene is a perfect example of the band’s passionate performance.
“We’re driven to try to play the heaviest hardcore music with one of the best live shows you’ve ever seen,” Guitarist Jeff Doiron said. “I haven’t ever seen a show that compares to our craziness on stage.”
The live antics don’t stop there. Doiron detailed some of the other facets of the band’s shows, including the 12 beers that sit at the front of the stage, audience members being pulled up from the crowd, and singer Trey Holton’s sky-high leaps ~ which, incidentally, don’t stop him from hitting every note.
“At our last Ralph’s [Diner] show someone in the audience told me that we look like we get a natural high from being on stage and it infects the audience,” Holton told The Pulse via email. “I think our stage show is more interactive than most bands and we engage the audience.”
Live performances are only one part of the equation. 12 Step Program’s new disc “Degredation Portrait” drops June 2 with a CD release party at Lucky Dog. Holton described the sound as a “…groove based metal/hardcore hybrid.” Expect to hear raging guitars, powerful vocals, and pounding percussion. Make no mistake, this is no folkfest.
But it’s also not your average metal or hardcore sound, either. Holton pointed out the band finds itself caught between two worlds ~ too heavy to play with the hardcore bands and not fast enough to rock out with the metalheads.
“Fans do not normally distinguish unless they are elitists and we like to cater to those fans that just enjoy the show ~ and hopefully we impress some elitists along the way,” Holton said.
There’s also a third factor that rounds out 12 Step Program’s wild shows and distinct sound: location, location, location.
“Plenty of people out there are into the music,” Doiron said. “The middle of Massachusetts is a breeding ground for heavier music.”
In addition to the release of the album, Holton mentioned plans for a tour and talks of signing with “fairly big name” management. The band’s success may be inching ever nearer and, given their history of violence, who’d want to stand in their way?
After all, the first step is acceptance.
Upcoming 12 Step Program Dates:
June 9th~Mayflower Club, Kingston
June 16th~Whiplash, Stoughton
June 30th~Mill Street Brews, Southbridge
July 4th weekend~Summer Nationals , Greenhill Park, Worcester
