Shop for exclusive vinyl variants — including DARE's new LP Against All Odds in "transparent yellow" and Bad Brains' Quickness in "clear with white, red and black splatter" — at Revolver's store. Quantities are super limited — so grab yours now!
O.C. hardcore upstarts DARE are already one of the most exciting new forces in hardcore — and they've only just dropped their debut full-length.
Thanks to their attention-catching 2018 EP and 2019's killer Welcome to the OC 7-inch, the trio have gained a growing grassroots fan base and earned respect from OGs like Terror's Scott Vogel. Vogel showed his support by guesting on DARE's ripping single "Hard to Cope" from their highly-anticipated debut LP Against All Odds, which streets today (August 20th) via Revelation Records.
DARE are dead-set on bringing a grooving, furious and infectiously fun energy to the scene — an attitude which, they say, is heavily inspired by one of the greatest hardcore innovators ever: Bad Brains.
On the eve of Against All Odds' release, we caught up with DARE drummer Anaiah Lei to discuss how the game-changing D.C. outfit inspired his own band's creative expressions.
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER HARDCORE PUNK?
ANAIAH LEI I was like four or five and most likely was the Bad Brains, to be honest. My dad grew up in L.A. during the early Eighties punk scene, so he played it for my siblings and I all the time. It's cheesy to say but it's kind of a part of who I am personally.
My dad … worked for [concert promoters] Goldenvoice, so he would always work the shows they had. And being Rastafarian and part of the 12 Tribes — look it up — they had that connection there. So they've been around me since before I knew who they were and it wasn't til I was like four or five where my dad explained that they played in a hardcore band. And yes, they've been my favorite ever since to be honest.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAD BRAINS RECORD?
Between self-titled [1982's Bad Brains] and Rock for Light. Self-titled set the tone for everything these kids like today and there isn't a filler on that.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE BAD BRAINS SONG?
"Stay Close to Me." The amount I listened to that song as a little kid was nuts … I didn't know how to describe the vibe of that song — it wasn't quite reggae [and] it also had hard elements to it. It definitely showed me there isn't some set standard to what you have to do as a punk band.
HOW DID BAD BRAINS INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WRITING OR PERFORMING MUSIC?
It's literally influenced everything for me. Watching Earl [Hudson] drum showed me how to properly play hardcore punk drums. The energy they brought was unmatched and ever since I can remember I've always wanted to have that same energy whenever I got the chance to play music live.
DO YOU STILL REGULARLY LISTEN TO BAD BRAINS?
All the time, absolutely and 100 percent without a doubt
WHERE DO BAD BRAINS RANK FOR YOU AMONG THE MANY INFLUENTIAL OLD-SCHOOL 80S HARDCORE BANDS?
Number 1 right on top.
