Whats Humming Through the Skulls of Orange County?

Photo by Jeanne RiceJOE FOSTER, GUITARIST FOR OC-BASED HARDCORE BAND THE KILLING FLAME, GRAPHIC ARTIST, WEB DESIGNER, ETC., ETC.

> Hardcore. "I love the word 'hardcore.' It's been my personal motto my whole life. In essence, it means to do anything and everything with 100 percent of your heart and soul."

> Embrace, DYS, (old) Dag Nasty, Rites of Spring, the Faith, Government Issue. "Bands like these have not only had an impact on my life but have also actually changed the lives of many people for the better. The difference here is the sound—powerful yet melodic, full of peaks and valleys. Metaphors with deep, intelligent lyrics. This music is real."

> 7 Seconds and Uniform Choice. "I've been playing in bands for 20 years. I've seen the face of music change. It was once a real and special community, and these bands epitomized this feeling of positiveness and family. It was a virtual identity that kids bestowed upon themselves, whether it was straightedge or hardcore, or it just gave them a positive place to go to that possibly replaced an otherwise negative life."

> Touring. "I toured quite a bit with my old band, Ignite. But after about the third time in Europe, I started looking forward to the cities that I'd see my new friends in. To me, touring was about more than playing music—it was about building friendships, being positive, exchanging energy, making an impression and trying to make a change for the better, no matter where you are. That's what I've striven for ever since I saw my first Minor Threat show at age 12. The feelings I had at that show I'll never forget. When we were on tour, it wasn't always easy playing the same songs every night, but the simple reward of appreciation I would get by giving a kid a free shirt or sneaking someone in who couldn't pay or being fed energy when 500 kids are singing the words to your songs—that's what keeps you going. What I've seen and the people I've met while touring has changed my life forever."