The Freeze Preview – in the Los Angeles area July 16 – July 18, 2010

Any discussion about early Boston Hardcore will eventually involve The Freeze, who managed to help define the early Boston sound while also completely setting themselves apart from the Boston Crew of the early 1980's. In a sense it is ironic to even mention the Freeze as a Boston band as they were actually from Cape Cod, which is a decent drive away from the City. They also started up in 1978 which was way before Hardcore had become a phenomenon in Boston. Their first single "I Hate Tourists" shows how far off the band was from the X- Claim Records Crew with its punchy baseline and melodic delivery with lyrics about growing up in a community that is a ghost town during the Winter, Spring, and Fall but becomes an overwhelming tourist trap in the Summer. From the get go The Freeze were outsiders, living at least an hour away from the scene that was going on in Boston with the Real Kids and Unnatural Axe.

By the time bands like SSDecontrol and DYS were doing their take on Hardcore in the early 1980's The Freeze had already been doing their thing for a few years and made no effort to fit in with the new breed. The Freeze were about as far as any band could get from being Straight Edge and they were not fans of the crew mentality. They even wrote a song called "This Is Boston, Not L.A." which was allegedly a jab at the guys in SSD who Freeze vocalist Cliff Hanger saw as emulating Black Flag. It was this song that the iconic Modern Method Records compilation would take its name from and the band was spotlighted along with other now legendary bands like Gang Green, The FU's, and Jerry's Kids. Since The Freeze had been a band for a few years longer than anyone else on the comp, their songs like "Broken Bones" and "Trouble If You Hide" stuck out as some of the most memorable tracks on the record.

While the material on "Boston Not L.A." is definitely The Freeze's most well material, the band continued to progress and put out some killer records, particularly throughout the 1980's. Their first two L.P.'s- "Land Of The Lost" and "Rabid Reaction" along with the "Guilty Face" E.P. stand the test of time as Hardcore Punk classics. While The Freeze were fast, angry, and all together completely bad ass, they also had a strong knack for writing catchy hooks and incorporating a more melodic side to their music than any of their 1980's Boston counterparts. Some of the band's best tunes include "No Exposure" and "Nazi Fun" from "Land of the Lost" as well as  "Nothing Left," "Misguided Memories," and "Before I Hit the Rubber Room" from "Rabid Reaction."

The Freeze have had dozens of line up changes over the years with Cliff Hanger being the only constant member and they have been on hiatus for several years at a time, but they have always delivered a great live show. Part of what adds to the intensity is a sense that Hanger uses the band's music as a way to fight off his own demons and their live performances are raw and unpredictable as a result. This Summer The Freeze will be returning to Southern California for a hand full of dates with local bands like Poop, Doggy Style, Bad Antics, and No Spectators. These shows promise to be some of the most exciting gigs of the Summer.

The Freeze MySpace - HERE

The Freeze at: The Yard in San Diego, CA on July 16
- The Blue Star Cafe in Los Angeles, CA on July 17
- The Riff Haus in Fullerton, CA on July 18

-Ditch-
Managing Editor Big Wheel Magazine
 

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