A playlist by Sadie Swayze.

This playlist is comprised of songs by punk bands based on—in my incredibly biased opinion—the best region of the United States: New England!

The bands are primarily from southern New England (Massachusettes and Rhode Island). As a native Rhode Islander, I will always go hard for my fellow Rhody hardcore punks. I have had the distinct privilege of seeing many of these bands live. A sliver of the playlist is some classic New England punk bands, like Gang Green and Dropdead. The majority of the artists that comprise this playlist are small, some with less than 100 monthly listeners on Spotify but are powerful nonetheless. I am always thrilled to share these not-so-hidden gems with the people of Emerson College on my radio station and with my friends whenever I am given the aux or by taking them to shows if I can. This is about to sound incredibly corny, but one of the best rushes in the world for me is being in the bowels of a mosh pit at a hardcore show. If you have never been in one or witnessed it, let me describe it for you.

In Rhode Island, we have a pretty well-populated and thriving punk scene. Once you arrive at a show you will see at least 13 different people you know from shows and maybe someone you went to high school with who you did not expect to see there. Regardless of the venue—whether you’re in someone’s basement or a bar or a “real” concert—it's about to get kinda musty in there. Yes, the rumors are true: hardcore shows have the potential to reek, people come out drenched in their own sweat and other people’s and sometimes the floor is sticky from people throwing around cheap beer.

The show starts and depending on the band and the crowd, it takes a song or two for people to warm up and form the pit. It starts with everyone away from the lip of the stage waiting for someone else to make the first move. We all collectively stand, leaving a semi-circle for what will become the pit and headbang along to the songs whether we know them or not. Usually, either someone familiar in the crowd will be the first to throw out a move in the pit—maybe someone from another band playing that night—or two or more friends will shove each other until they have made their own personal mosh pit. Once the mosh pit gets going and enough people join is when I feel safest to step into the pit. From there, I lose myself in all of these other people. I am bathed in noise and adrenaline. If I fall, someone will pick me up and I can go right back to it. Then I go back home with my ears ringing and my heart racing. Sometimes I go to an IHOP at one A.M. with some friends from the show.

All this to say, I have never once regretted going to a hardcore punk show in New England.

Playlist: Punks of New England