HardLore

This is another piece of HardLore history in the making, as we’re joined by our first ever actor, the great Brooke Smith of Silence of the Lambs, Grey’s Anatomy, Bates Motel and more!

I am once again joined, very appropriately, by Alec Faber of Holy Blade, Twitching Tongues & God’s Hate (and formerly of the Reel Deal podcast with… me)

Long before she graced the silver screen as the iconic Catherine Martin in Silence of the Lambs , you could find her romping around all over the lower east side as one of the infamous WARZONE WOMEN, and a staple of 1980’s New York Hardcore. She spent the golden decade of NYHC taking legendary photos of bands like Agnostic Front, Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Underdog and more, as documented in her incredible book Sunday Matinee.

We get into her life as a legendary publicist’s daughter, befriending and falling out with the Cro-Mags, the informal formation of the Warzone Women, growing out of hardcore just as acting started to become more serious, her life changing by being in one of the greatest movies of all time, AGAIN with Grey’s Anatomy, and everything in between…

An incredibly fun conversation with a genuine legend. Thanks to Brooke for joining us.
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HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.

Shot, Mixed & Edited by ⁠Steven Grise⁠
Title sequence by ⁠Nicholas Marzluf⁠

• Join the ⁠HARDLORE PATREON⁠ to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episode.
• Join the ⁠HARDLORE DISCORD⁠.

• Head over to THE MUSIC ZOO for all of your guitar needs! Get 15% off a Dunable custom with code HARDLORE.
• Visit GOOD SNOOTS DOG RESCUE to support the fostering and rescuing of dogs all over California.
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00:00:00 - Start
00:01:39 - Brooke Smith
00:04:09 - Growing Up
00:06:39 - Women in Early New York Hardcore
00:09:28 - Picking Up Photography
00:10:33 - Sunday Matinee
00:12:54 - The Cro-Mags
00:17:32 - Best Mosher in Early 80s NYHC
00:18:40 - "New" Bands That Formed In Real Time & Changed Things
00:22:12 - Hardcore in the 80s vs. Now
00:23:49 - The Warzone Women, Straight Edge, & Her Infamous Pool Party
00:27:33 - Brooke Flips The Script on us smh
00:29:00 - People & Details in Sunday Matinee That Stood Out to Her
00:31:48 - Phones at Shows Now, The Ramones
00:33:49 - Agnostic Front & The Donahue Show
00:36:05 - Hare Krishna
00:37:57 - Modern Day Equivalent of 1980s CBGBs (Shut Down the Internet)
00:41:04 - Close Calls at CBGBs
00:42:28 - Playing Bass In A Band with Carl the Mosher
00:43:42 - Pardon This Interruption…
00:46:22 - The Misfits & Growing out of Hardcore in 1990
00:50:42 - Acting & Hardcore Intersecting
00:53:05 - Getting the Acting Bug
00:54:43 - Developing a Project With Elgin James
00:56:33 - Silence Of The Lambs
01:05:48 - Friendship with Ted Levine
01:08:08 - Brooke's Silence of the Lambs Journals, Vanya on 42nd St
01:12:37 - The Roles That Could Have Been
01:16:38 - Worst Career Advice
01:18:55 - Grey’s Anatomy
01:29:25 - Jeff Buckley
01:33:08 - Motherhood
01:42:06 - Every Character Goes To See AF
01:45:10 - Top 4 Hardcore Records

We're joined his week to by Chris Conley, the founder, vocalist, and songwriter of Saves The Day for a comprehensive, career retrospective conversation… Featuring special guest co-host, Dr. Britty Drake of Pity Sex.

In this true 3.5 hour epic, we start from the beginning and deep deep into Chris and STD’s entire history… From discovering punk through free tickets to a Rancid show, instinctively writing music the second he touched a guitar, Sefler’s humble origin and demo quickly evolving into Saves The Day, working with Steve Evetts and Equal Vision records, Lifetime’s influence on the early days and Can’t Slow Down, dropping out of school to tour on Through Being Cool, taking a leap into the mainstream with Stay What You Are, the harsh reality check of In Reverie, all the way up to feeling “resurrected” by his family in 2026 and finding new ways to handle his lifelong battle with depression.

A true feast of information for any fan of the band, Chris, hardcore, punk, emo or beyond… Thank you to Chris and Britty for joining us.
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HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.

Shot, Mixed & Edited by Steven Grise
Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf

• Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episode.
• Join the HARDLORE DISCORD.

• Get 10% off GUILTY PARTY site-wide with code HARDLORE and grab some of our favorite clothing brands of all time.
• Get 10% off MILLS VINTAGE site-wide with code HARDLORE.
• Visit GUITAR SANCTUARY for all of your guitar, amp, or pedal needs.

00:00:00 - Start
00:01:22 - Chris Conley
00:02:24 - Discovering Music in New Jersey
00:08:58 - Developing His Songwriting Chops
00:11:24 - Everything Comes From Hardcore
00:13:47 - The Show That Changed It All...
00:19:09 - New Jersey Word Association
00:28:56 - How Sefler Became SAVES THE DAY
00:34:13 - Saves The Day's First Hardcore Show
00:36:48 - Sefler
00:38:20 - Saves The Day's Relationship With Steve Evetts
00:41:44 - Equal Vision Records
00:43:21 - CAN'T SLOW DOWN
00:51:38 - Pardon This Interruption...
00:55:04 - Favorite Fret
00:57:37 - Evolving as a Teenage Lyricist
01:04:41 - First U.S. Tour with Bane
01:10:08 - The Story Behind "I'm Sorry I'm Leaving"
01:12:22 - Attending NYU
01:15:26 - Dropping out of NYU
01:16:57 - Can't Slow Down Songs that Resonate with Chris Now
01:18:20 - "Blindfolded"
01:20:35 - "Always Ten Feet Tall"
01:21:04 - THROUGH BEING COOL
01:30:50 - The Iconic Through Being Cool Album Cover
01:32:26 - "Shoulder to the Wheel"
01:35:31 - Saves the Day's First Consistent Lineup
01:37:24 - Shoulder To The Wheel Music Video
01:38:31 - Pop Punk vs. Emo
01:45:34 - "Banned From The Back Porch"
01:49:44 - Tours On Through Being Cool
01:51:39 - Vocal Conditioning & Early Voice Changes
01:55:12 - Reflecting on Through Being Cool
01:57:10 - "Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off To Heaven"
01:58:06 - STAY WHAT YOU ARE
02:01:41 - "At Your Funeral" & Working With Rob Schnapf
02:07:53 - Chris' Voice Changing
02:09:15 - Stay What You Are 25 Years Later
02:11:06 - Growth Over The Years
02:19:20 - Criticism After In Reverie
02:22:19 - IN REVERIE
02:24:39 - Dreamworks
02:27:38 - In Reverie's Cursed Roll Out and Release
02:30:50 - Fatherhood Changing His Perspective
02:31:41 - UPS AND DOWNS
02:34:50 - Trilogy Chapter 1: SOUND THE ALARM
02:43:05 - Formulating the Idea for This Trilogy
02:45:50 - Trilogy Chapter 2: UNDER THE BOARDS
02:47:31 - Touring On The Records
02:50:28 - Trillogy Chapter 3: DAYBREAK (GOATED)
02:54:54 - Dealing With Criticism
02:58:10 - S/T
02:59:51 - Re-Signing to Equal Vision
03:02:58 - Five Year Gap Before 9
03:07:51 - Feeling "Resurrected" in 2026 Thanks to His Wife
03:15:15 - Next Chapter For Chris & Saves The Day
03:18:45 - Top 4 Hardcore Records

In this highly anticipated next chapter with one of our favorite bands, HardLore is finally joined by Jade Puget: the man who was instrumental in defining the iconic AFI sound. Featuring special guest co-host Alec Faber of God’s Hate, Twitching Tongues and Holy Blade.

Following our legendary two part special with Davey Havok, we’re honored to share Jade’s side of the greater AFI story… Starting from the beginning with Jade discovering punk & hardcore in Ukiah, CA alongside his brother Smith, his days in Redemption 87, joining AFI and creating their definitive sound with his work on Black Sails in the Sunset, the surprising legacy of the All Hallows EP, his (and the band’s) frustrations with Nitro Records, the opportune timing of Art of Drowning, the cultural phenomenon of Sing the Sorrow and continuing success of Decemberunderground, the agony of Crash Love, the triumph of Burials, all the way to re-defining the AFI sound with Silver Bleeds the Black Sun.

It was an honor and a joy to finally chat about all things AFI and hardcore with Jade, and we can only hope you enjoy this 3 hour chat as much as we did.
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HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.
Shot, edited and mixed by Steven Grise
Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf
• Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes
• Join the HARDLORE DISCORD
• Get 15% off DUNABLE GUITARS with code HARDLORE. Seriously. A guitar. What are you waiting for???
• Get 15% off TIMELESS COFFEE site-wide and grab a bag of my favorite beans and the best vegan cookies I’ve ever had:
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00:00:00 - Start
00:01:38 - Jade Puget
00:03:10 - Discovering Punk and Hardcore in Ukiah
00:06:28 - Skateboarding & The Muhammad Ollie
00:12:57 - Straight Edge & The Way It Is Compilation
00:18:05 - Redemption 87
00:24:21 - Becoming Aware of AFI
00:28:04 - Joining AFI & Writing BLACK SAILS IN THE SUNSET
00:34:30 - Jade’s Favorite Fret & Restraint in Songwriting
00:38:03 - The AFI Sound
00:43:10 - All Hallows EP
00:51:01 - AFI, Danzig, Samhain Tour
00:57:38 - Art Of Drowning
01:06:36 - Commercial Success And Overall Shock
01:09:20 - SING THE SORROW & Slowing Down the AFI
Sound
01:13:20 - Jerry Finn & Butch Vig
01:21:21 - Sing The Sorrow’s Electronics (Fruity Loops)
01:26:48 - Leaving Song 2 & Initially Hearing Sing the Sorrow Finished
01:31:34 - MTV New Years Eve With Three Six Mafia
01:32:59 - Leaving Song 2 Video
01:37:46 - Sing The Sorrow’s Release Into DECEMBERUNDERGROUND
01:44:17 - Picking the Singles for DECEMBERUNDERGROUND
01:47:59 - Butch Vig Declining to Work on the Album
01:50:54 - Writing 120 Songs & The “Hardcore Club”
01:57:00 - The Whirlwind of Decemberunderground into the Agony of CRASH LOVE
02:01:15 - Blaqk Audio/Crash Love Coinciding and “Stripping Down” AFI
02:11:51 - Sing The Sorrow At The Forum
02:17:25 - The Triumph of BURIALS
02:24:13 - The Blood Album & Producing AFI
02:28:18 - Silver Bleeds the Black Sun & Evolving the AFI Sound
02:39:22 - BODIES & AFI in 2020
02:43:05 - Birdlegs & Getting His Revelation Star
02:46:23 - Jade's Insane Chipotle Order lololololol
02:51:51 - Top 4 Hardcore Records
02:54:22 - A Les Paul Epilogue For Bo

It is my tremendous honor to be joined by Patrick Walker of Warning and 40 Watt Sun for what is not only first ever non-print interview, but also HardLore's first ever 1 on 1 interview with a guest.
In this appropriately intimate chat, we discuss his humble upbringing in Harlow, Essex UK.From the Jackson 5 and Tears For Fears to Revelation and Saint Vitus, we discover how Patrick's emotional connection with music flourished, and how he evolved into someone i've always considered to be one of the most personal and deliberate songwriters in the world.
We learn the canonical standing of Warning and 40 Watt Sun in Patrick's point of view, the 20 year lasting legacy of "Watching From A Distance" and why now was finally time to return to Warning for "Rituals of Shame."
After years of championing Patrick's work both on and off HardLore, it was an honor not only to have this chat, but to share more about someone whose work I admire so much. Thanks for watching.
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HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.
Shot, mixed and edited by ⁠Steven Grise⁠
Title sequence by ⁠Nicholas Marzluf⁠

• Join the ⁠HARDLORE PATREON⁠ to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes.
• Join the ⁠HARDLORE DISCORD
• Get 15% off DUNABLE GUITARS with code HARDLORE. Seriously. A guitar. What are you waiting for??? 00:00:00 - Start
00:01:12 - Patrick Walker
00:02:47 - Finding Music in Harlow, Essex
00:04:59 - Doom Metal & Discovering the Guitar
00:09:41 - Emotional Connections to Music
00:15:22 - WARNING
00:18:41 - Revelation Looms Demo
00:22:59 - Blessed By The Sabbath
00:23:48 - The Strength To Dream
00:27:07 - Patrick's Favorite Fret
00:30:39 - Re-Approaching Warning
00:33:10 - Watching From A Distance
00:43:20 - The "Footprints Moment"
00:45:42 - Vulnerability in Public-Facing Art
00:48:27 - Pardon This Interruption...
00:49:48 - Touring In America / Patrick's Love of Food
00:56:51 - Patrick on Modern Doom Metal
00:58:17 - 40 WATT SUN
01:09:33 - Changes In Touring Solo
01:12:16 - Rituals of Shame
01:23:27 - Patrick on Spirituality
01:25:29 - Top 4 Doom Metal Records

Destiny has come: After being officially crowned the hardest hardcore band of all time in our official tournament bracket… We’re finally joined by the great Pete Morcey, vocalist of 100 DEMONS for a long form, sit-down interview.
We’re ALSO joined by special guest co-host Dan Seely of King Nine, for his historic 5th full-length appearance on a HardLore episode.
We start from the beginning of Pete’s nearly 40 year musical career, from making the “definitive American oi record” in Forced Reality, spearheading heavy hardcore in Connecticut with Higher Force, joining 100 Demons and writing the iconic self-titled record, his dark folk masterpiece that is Murmur’s The Boundless Black, all the way to now singing for Blood For Blood, and making 100 Demons’ first record in 22 years, Embrace the Black Light.
Thanks to Pete, Dan, and the Detroit Masonic Temple for having us.
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HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.
Edited by Steven Grise (https://www.instagram.com/iamonenineseven/) • Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf (https://www.instagram.com/marzluf/)
• Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes: https://patreon.com/hardlorepod
• Join the HARDLORE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jA9rppggef
• Get 10% off GUILTY PARTY site-wide with code HARDLORE and grab some of our favorite clothing brands of all time: https://www.guiltyparty.co/
• Get 10% off MILLS VINTAGE site-wide with code HARDLORE: https://www.millsvintageusa.com/
• Get tickets for LOUDER THAN LIFE Festival! Can’t wait to see you all there: https://louderthanlifefestival.com/.
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00:00:00 - Start
00:01:22 - Pete Morcey
00:02:51 - Finding Punk & Hardcore in Connecticut
00:17:50 - FORCED REALITY, Pete’s First Band, Defining American Oi!
00:14:28 - Jocko Willink & The Connecticut Skinhead Crew
00:29:00 - Forced Reality S/T & Tours
00:33:22 - Sean Martin
00:34:57 - HIGHER FORCE, Connecticut’s First HARD Band
00:39:42 - Higher Force’s Very Confusing Discography
00:43:08 - Pete Morcey: Classically Trained Opera Singer
00:48:00 - The End of Higher Force & Beginning of 100 DEMONS
00:51:50 - Morcey’s Restaurant & The Tuna Pita
00:54:00 - Pardon this interruption…
00:57:03 - The Lost Higher Force LP
00:59:27 - 100 DEMONS - Self-Titled
01:08:36 - His Fathers Son to Cold Wind of the Crossroads
01:14:50 - Recording New 100 Demons after 22 Years
01:21:00 - Larry Dwyer’s Cinnamon Challenge
01:24:24 - Growing as a Vocalist & Lyricist
01:31:17 - Pete’s Haunted House
01:37:35 - A Visit From Bo
01:46:55 - Joining Blood for Blood
01:54:50 - MURMUR (Pete’s Masterpiece)
02:03:24 - IG! And the IGfits!
02:10:13 - Pete’s Most Personal Creative Endeavor
02:20:55 - Top 4 Hardcore Records