Lelahel Metal Interviews FORTITUDE about DCxPC Live Vol. 12 and More!
Interview Fortitude
dimanche 7 janvier 2024Celebrating 25 years of Fortitude! In this interview, dive into the band's journey, the essence of "Old Ethics Hardcore," and the timeless themes that continue to resonate. Plus, insights on live recordings, venue significance, and navigating the hardcore scene.
1. Congratulations on 25 years of Fortitude! How does it feel to reach this significant milestone in your career?
It's pretty amazing to think for the past 25 years we have been able to produce 10 releases, do 14 tours, & continue to play good shows with great bands. It's been an amazing journey & I can only hope we can continue to play the music we love for another 5 or 10 years possibly-
2. "Old Ethics Hardcore" is a term you've used to describe your music. Could you elaborate on what this term means to Fortitude and how it influences your approach to hardcore music?
When we started We definitely wanted to bring back the Punk Ethics of hardcore while still producing contemporary sounding material. We wanted to take the things we learned from punk/hardcore in the 80's & tackle similar topics & ideas all while keeping it positive.
3. Your song "Old Ethics" from 25 years ago focused on scene unity, racial harmony, and hardcore pride. How do these themes continue to resonate with the band today, and how have they evolved over the years?
I believe the song Old Ethics is a timeless song personally, it pretty much has stood the test of time & is regular rotation & played nightly when we perform. I believe the only thing that has changed are the kids that attend the shows today, our friends have all gotten old & barely attend shows as frequently as they once did but this is a fact of growing up, but really the scene is very similar to what it always has been, just new different faces. Old Ethics is the type of song that everyone of all ages can not only appreciate but identify with imo
4. In your newest release, a live document spanning a couple of decades of classics, how did you go about selecting the songs to include? Was it a nostalgic journey or more about showcasing the evolution of Fortitude's sound?
Basically the songs are the songs that have lasted through the test of time. The songs from the earliest recordings are of course the most prevalent because at the time of this recording our drummer Big Dave is from that period. The songs were just all kind of selected by all of us beforehand & we always try to have our set flow with certain slower & faster songs & songs that either stop or have certain breaks or intros that fit properly together. But realistically this was just a typical basic set for FORTITUDE, the same way we've been doing it for years.
5. Can you share some memories from the live recording at Uncle Lou's in Orlando, FL? How did the venue contribute to the energy and atmosphere of the performance?
I don't really think the venue or the audience had much to really do with our overall performance to tell the truth. I must admit I'm stoked that the Orlando scene has Lou's we played one of the 1st hardcore shows he ever had at his original location with a band named "Make or Break" Charles the guitarist approached Lou in 2007 about doing a hardcore show & it's been going down ever since
6. The album includes 25 years of demos and full-length tracks. How challenging was it to curate a setlist that represents the band's journey while still delivering a powerful live experience?
The set list pretty much writes itself nightly & after playing all these songs for a number of years now we kinda know how to fit them together properly. Also we strategically try to set up the songs in 3's then take breaks between the 3 or 4 songs. We try to deliver a solid product while also making sure the songs are different enough from each other to play a sort of wave of songs going from mid tempo to fast & so on...
7. "Old Ethics" is not just a phrase for Fortitude but a guiding principle. How has this philosophy helped the band navigate through line-up changes, personal tragedies, and health issues over the years?
Basically the motto of Old Ethics keeps us going, keeps our love for hardcore strong, keeps making us want to push forward & write more songs in the same vein of that classic. Yes we push old ethics because it what we grew up on & it's what we're proud to represent through positive hardcore
8. Tell us about the decision to have the live recording at Uncle Lou's. Why was this venue significant, and how did it contribute to making the recording a special event?
As I said before we were one of the 1st bands to play a hardcore at Uncle Lou's so when there was a choice of where to do the show we picked Lou's because his spot has been a staple for all these years, it's low key, & all ages, nuff respect to Uncle Lou!!!
9. You mentioned playing the first hardcore show at Uncle Lou's in 2005. How has the Orlando hardcore scene evolved since then, and how does Fortitude fit into this landscape?
We've never fit into the Orlando Hardcore scene, although we've played some amazing shows in Orlando with a ton of Amazing Bands, we've never really been an Orlando favorite by any means. But though our longevity perseverance & FORTITUDE we have been fortunate to outlast EVERYONE & we are proud to be able to still represent old ethics & play shows
10. The album represents a collaboration with DC×PC, a Florida label. How did this partnership come about, and what significance does it hold for Fortitude and the hardcore scene in Florida?
Our old friends from a band named Two Man Advantage & DC×PC released a live record & when I saw the singer Spag advertise it he said I should contact Scott (from DC×PC) & the rest is history basically. With the response the record has already received I can only believe this can be a Postive partnership between 4T2D & DC×PC for the future
11. Looking back at the various venues you've played and the tours you've done, is there a particular show or tour that stands out as a defining moment for Fortitude?
We all have hundreds if not thousands of stories from over all the years, but to tell the truth the best ones are written or told yet. We still love playing shows we still love doing what we're doing, we are never stagnet for too long, we are super excited for every new show & every new situation. We love meeting new people, hearing new bands, & experiencing new places, & with this release the future looks a bright as it ever has
12. With 25 years in the industry, what advice would you give to newer bands trying to approach hardcore with realistic goals of unity, inclusiveness, and understanding?
Just do you, focus on your band, sound, stage presence, & instrument. Don't judge your success by comparing it to other bands & don't get involved with internet conflicts & don't believe anything you read online good or bad.
13. How do you see the landscape of hardcore music today compared to when Fortitude started in 1997? Are there aspects that have changed significantly, and are there elements that have remained constant?
A whole lot hasn't really changed, there's still underground scenes/shows/labels that keep our scene moving forward. Some things have definitely changed like now there's more & more kids who are filming or taking pics at as many shows as they can get to & just for the love of the Scene, these kids are awesome! But the music business has always been about who you know rather than what you know, so we have always tried & make positive good impressions on others, because you never know who will grow up to promote bands, or own a venue or record shop!
14. Fortitude has played with numerous bands over the years. Is there a particular band or artist that you would consider a significant influence on the sound and ethos of Fortitude?
There's really no band we've ever played with who we've ever tried to jock their sound or style, a lot of people say we sound like "Raw Deal" or "Killing Time" & I take that as a compliment because I've always loved those bands since the 80's. We learned a lot from doing numerous runs with Kill Your Idols when it comes to how to sound how to act & how to be humble, when it comes to business we learned from Tom Petta from BIG WIG on how to deal with & handle business when it comes to bigger venues, but even before linking up with these amazing bands both Wes & Mike Arronson (our founding bassist & original member) were in bands previous to FORTITUDE & Wes toured the west coast with his old band so we already had a great foundation before we even got the entire band together. Mike & Wes had literally played music for 5 years before getting back together 5 years later to start FORTITUDE
15. As you continue to represent Florida Hardcore and play shows with touring acts, what are the future goals and aspirations for Fortitude? What can fans expect in the coming years?
We are planning to record a studio album this year, not sure if it will be a full length or an EP, our buddy Big Dave is going to play a couple more shows with us then he plans to depart & retire from music, we already have a new drummer who's ready to rock & its very exciting to hear this newer improved version of FORTITUDE there's also a potential 2nd guitarist lurking in the mist that we hopefully can bring on board as well, either way 2024 is another year of nothing but positive potential for us as a band. Hardcore is our lives & we embrace the opportunities we receive through our music, we have been through so much it would be asinine for us to give up & throw in the towel now so we just keep on pushing
