Hardcore and punk rock have traditionally been associated with resistance, solidarity and liberation. And while the genre may sometimes lose its footing, the message always seems to persist. On Oct. 24, one of the biggest bands in hardcore, Turnstile, proved that to be true.
Approximately 60,000 people gathered at the Washington Monument for the band’s free concert dedicated to people affected by the humanitarian crises in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon. The Baltimore hardcore band partnered with Human Concern International to raise money for relief efforts, with donations surpassing $250,000.
Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon are each experiencing humanitarian crises that have displaced millions of people, destroyed communities and left civilians struggling to access basic necessities. Choosing the Washington Monument as the site for this show was not without intention.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly supported Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, while continuing to show his support for the upcoming elections in Israel. Trump even posted on his social media depicting an A.I. fantasy of “Trump Gaza,” callously depicting a takeover of Palestinian land. Trump and the United States also have a direct influence on the conflicts in both Sudan and Lebanon.
The monument sits at the centre of the National Mall, surrounded by memorials of American history and embodying the spirituality of American patriotism. With the White House just blocks away, the crowd’s message was directed toward the very institutions that influence American foreign policy.
According to Pitchfork, frontman Brendan Yates addressed the crowd by reflecting on the values of punk and hardcore that shaped the band. “We’re so grateful to have been raised by this scene, one that taught us that music not only reflects the artist making it but the people and the world and the suffering and the joy that surrounds it,” he said.
Yates then led the crowd in a chant: “Loud enough for the White House to hear it: Free Palestine! Free Sudan! Free Lebanon!”
Those familiar with the hardcore genre shouldn’t be surprised that a hardcore band would be at the centre of this story. Hardcore, as a movement and genre, developed in the 1980s as a resistant voice against neoliberalism and conservatism. In his 2022 publication studying hardcore and punk scenes, Paul Ramsey wrote the following:
“[The radicalism of 1980s hardcore] did not only target American conservatism; this political turn also was a hard left that took aim at mainstream liberals who, many radical punks believed, merely tinkered around the edges of the status quo and offered no real liberation for the oppressed.”
Hardcore has always been about resisting the status quo and oppression, and its roots are deeply entrenched in radical politics. Still, in mainstream pop culture, this intention isn’t always as explicit. Aesthetics have partially been co-opted by neo-nazi skinheads, while some aspects have become heavily commercialized without risk of political offence.
Conversation around Turnstile’s identity as a hardcore band is heavily contested, as the band’s sound has changed throughout the years. Yet, it seems the values of the movement are still embedded within their ideology.
Turnstile posted a video to Instagram on Oct. 30, featuring clips from the D.C. show overlaid with audio messages from fans with diverse backgrounds and experiences, all connected by the same music.
With over three million monthly listeners on Spotify, the band is one of the biggest representatives of hardcore in mainstream culture, and the consequences of this show will have real impact, providing aid to the three regions. While no longer performing in sweaty basements on a bill with seven other bands, displaying international solidarity on such a large scale still seems to embody the spirit of punk well.