Universal Peace: Good friends, stage dives, high fives...

Few days of last week were all about the core. It all started with 2 Sick of it All shows in London that I attended. SOIA are one of my favorite hardcore band, so when I found out that they were going to tour UK and play shows in small clubs I couldn't miss that.
The shows I went to were pretty cool. The only bummer was that they focused more on playing newer songs instead of old gems. I pretty much have no idea how the last 2 Sick of it All albums sound like and I kinda hoped that they would play more older songs since all the shows were club shows. Well, we can't have everything in life. I had my share of good time at those shows.

After SOIA madness I packed my bags and headed south to Barcelona, Spain. The main reason of that trip was to see The First Step playing one of their last shows on the old continent. I heard rumors that they might be breaking up this summer so I didn't want to take my chances. Also I have a few friends down there so it was another good reason too. It was really great to see all those people again and chill a little bit. Barcelona is one of my favorite cities in Europe. I love pretty much everything about it. The weather is almost always good, hardcore kids down there are really awesome and enthusiastic and just the whole mentality of people living there is different then in the northern part of Europe. I think it has something to do with the amount of the sun they get, I bet that I wouldn't get that angry and frustrated so often if I could chill out in the sun that much.

I (and a friend of mine) stayed there for 3 days and my man's, Julio, place. Julio's friend Sarah from San Fransisco was visiting him at the same time so there was 4 of us hanging out (apart from the time when Julio had to work).
The show was on Sunday in some tiny venue, which was a youth center or something like that. The place was almost perfect for such a show, the only bummer was that stage was too little to stage dive, but some dudes managed to do that too.
Before TFS two local bands played, Cinder and Out Come the Wolves, which were pretty decent and made some kids sing along and bust some mosh moves.
TFS set was just nothing short but amazing. Stephen was giving some really great, short speeches in between songs and everyone was having a great time when they played their songs. The temperature inside was almost unbearable but it was not enough to stop us from having a blast and dance to one of the best songs in modern hardcore.
After the show I did an interview with Stephen and Aram which I hope to put on here very soon. I think it turned out pretty good. In the end it turned out into one, huge Youth Of Today talk in between Stephen, Aram and Fred (TFS drummer).
The First Step once more proved that they are definitely one of the most important bands in our scene at the moment with important and positive message. I only hope for more bands like that.
This trip made me realize one more time how cool hardcore scene is. There's no other place like that in the world. I only sent one email and I was hooked with a place to stay and great people to hang out with, who share common ideas and view on life with me. People that I can talk about so many different things that I don't normally talk with those who aren't involved in HC.
Thanks for that to all of you who shared that time with me.

Some pictures from the trip.