The Deal’s Rick Remender remembers a time when old-school punk ruled the SoCal scene:

“The scene at the time was so interesting and we loved being part of it. Emo, screamo and metalcore hadn’t taken over yet. Things were less fashion driven and bands didn’t have delusions of grandeur. Old school punk rock and straight-ahead hardcore were still viable platforms with solid followings. Bands like Sick of It All and Agnostic Front weren’t just legends, they were headlining big shows with both hardcore and punk bands on the bill. The Anti-Heros were still around and there were lots of great newer street punk bands as well. There were lots of opportunities. It was a really exciting time.”