In what has become a holiday tradition, production specialists SOS Booking have successfully executed one of hardcore's most anticipated gatherings with their ever-evolving For the Children toy drive. Equal parts charity initiative and hardcore showcase, the three-day congregation in Los Angeles held court at The Belasco Theatre and touted a stacked line-up of some of the very best in the space.
Headed by electrifying sets from Rotting Out, Terror (performing Lowest of the Low in its entirety), Sunami, Vein.FM, Harm's Way and a set from Santa Cruz disruptors DRAIN that included a complete stage takeover from the fans - For the Children further emphasized the heft and health of contemporary hardcore.
(Check the mob scene during DRAIN's finale at about the 20-minute mark)
Spanning two stages, along with the addition of an intimate, in-your-face pre-party headed by God's Hate, ACxDC and the introduction of DEADBODY - the full weekend long festivities offered a powerful punctuation on a year that saw record crowds for genre-leading festivals like Sound and Fury.
Photographer Oscar Rodriguez was on-hand to capture the spectacle of the three-day holiday slobberknocker that collected an insane amount of gifts for deserving children, while framing the renaissance of hardcore that is shaping the future of heavy music.
See the complete gallery of images below.
ROTTING OUT
DRAIN
HARM'S WAY
KING NINE
INGROWN
FUMING MOUTH
AGE OF APOCALYPSE
TERROR
SUNAMI
VEIN.FM
TAKE OFFENSE
INTERNAL AFFAIRS
MINUS
VAMACHARA
INCLINATION
SECTION H8
GOD'S HATE
ACxDC
DEADBODY
LIVING WEAPON
