If there's one thing the Miami rock scene loves - it's a tribute night. Over the years there have been wildly successful shows consisting of numerous local bands playing covers of their favorite bands, including the Smiths, the Pixies and The Misfits. In fact, promoter Mark Pollack liked the idea so much, he began flying in John Joseph, the singer of the Cro Mags, for "Cro Mag Jams" with local players backing him up at Churchill's, in a bizzare pro-am twist.
Several years back, someone got the bright idea to cover entire entire subgenres, which has begat Friday nights entertainment at Churchill's Pub, entitled "Pogo: A Tribute to 1980s Punk and Hardcore." While the bill promises a mix of punk and hardcore, it's most notable performers, Trust No One, are straight up hardcore - right down to the breakdowns they learned at the feet of Sick Of It All, Minor Threat and Agnostic Front - three of the hardcore bands who will be paid tribute to on Friday.
In addition to laying the roots of DC hardcore and starting Dischord (the scene's most famous label), Minor Threat are (in)famous for starting the "Straight Edge" subculture in the early 80s, which involves marking ones hand with an X to signify they don't drink and preaching this philosophy to anyone who will listen - until they turn 21 and discover the merits of beer a few years behind your peers. So sure,listening to faithful interpretations of a 16 year old's anti-vice screed while pounding down a few bass ales at the bar may seem strange. But Minor Threat's songs are fast and furious and catchy as smallpox. Go and enjoy the nostalgia. Before you know it, the music will inspire toasting to Minor Threat's poisoned beer bottle shock graphic and your (not so) wasted youth.
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