I agree, but I also agree with what someone else said... 4-5 more slightly bigger hardcore bands (or at least on a well known hardcore label) admist the 280+ plus bands that play the entire thing isn't really going to dominate the crowd. I meant more in terms of modern hardcore too.

Also, the crowd was pretty intense for Ruiner's set on Saturday this year. A lot of those kids were more or less "stereotypical" modern hardcore kids and again, they far from dominated the crowd. With the exception of a couple of them, I actually saw very few of those kids around the rest of the weekend at the other shows. Which makes it somewhat clear that those people basically came to see the bands they wanted to (i.e. the handful of hardcore bands) and not to cause trouble. So, bringing in a few more, I doubt would have much more of an impact.

Coalesce wasn't in my example because despite being a "hardcore" band, any older band playing a reunion set of sorts is a huge deal for most Fest-goers.

For what it's worth, I'm not trying to suggest hardcore dominate The Fest. If I wanted to go to an all or mostly all-hardcore Fest, I would. I went to This Is Hardcore for two days this past summer and quite frankly, I was bored out of my mind. The Fest, to me personally, is one of the best punk/punk related fests BECAUSE of all the diversity in regards to representing most of the sub-genres of this whole scene. I can't think of one other Fest where I could see bands/acts like Coalesce, Algernon Cadwallader, The Copyrights, The Swellers, Ruiner, Shook Ones, Baroness, Paint It Black, Drag the River, Austin Lucas, andThis Bike Is A Pipe Bomb all in the same weekend... all bands that fall under some fragment of the "punk rock" umbrella but who sound NOTHING alike. This is part of what makes the Fest not only unique but not boring either.

Also, the reason I suggest perhaps a few slightly bigger hardcore bands is because the bigger bands are generally the ones that cross over in terms of their fanbase. Lots of kids who go to the Fest do enjoy hardcore bands and vice versa (hell, the Bridge 9 board had a friggin' 10 page Fest thread prior to that weekend). If the bigger bands can have a lot of the same crowd as the general Fest-going population, why shouldn't they have a chance to play as well?

I'd be down for Converge.

I'd be down for Converge.

I'd be down for Converge.

I'd be down for Converge.

I'd be down for Converge.

I'd be down for Converge.

I'd be down for Converge.

Honestly, I was really feeling my age this last Fest...when up front I was constantly getting annoyed by stage divers, thinking to myself, I just want to fucking rock out without getting kicked in the head! It got to the point where I stopped bothering going up front so I could actually enjoy the shows...I feel like if the Fest were invaded by a bunch of meatheads it would ruin the whole damn thing.

Everyone enjoys show's differently.

some shows I enjoy being upfront and in the thick of it all and other times I just want to sit back and watch and sing along with whoever is standing next to me

that's one of the reasons I actually like The Venue, with the way it's structured there are a lot of places you can stand and enjoy the show
I remember walking past some of the guys in Static Radio NJ who were way the hell in the back of The Venue and having the fucking time of their life singing along to Bouncing Souls

yeah I like the way The Venue is set up, but I think it could have been done a little better. I almost killed myself like 5 times trying to walk up and down the slopes and stairs in the middle of the crowds.

The only thing I didn't like about the venue was the pint cans of PBR were 3 bucks and then they ran out and only had kegs of PBR, and having a container without a lid of any sort at a show is like bringing a knife made of quik-dissolve paper to a super soaker fight.

speaking of PBR... why does everyone at The Fest like it so much? Stores here don't even sell PBR, and people who have even had it thinks it taste's like shit.

PBR is honestly the best-tasting cheap beer. Also, I think there is the ethical quality of it having been so "DIY" in the face of other major breweries, even from the beginning. The punx love that.

Also, Budweiser makes me feel like shit.

completely agree, PBR is hands down the best tasting cheap-beer

I'm not saying that if you can't dance to it the music itself isn't enjoyable, but it make the live performance more enjoyable to some people.

Also, the crowd was pretty intense for Ruiner's set on Saturday this year. A lot of those kids were more or less "stereotypical" modern hardcore kids and again, they far from dominated the crowd.