2012 Best Hardcore Band: Sohns

Sohns

According to drummer Lawrence Mercado, Sohns isn't necessarily "looking for it" when it comes to accolades from press and academics. Last year, we learned their fans will demand it for them, as evidenced by the comment stream on my tad-too-negative Current's review of To Ward It Off and Drown It Out.

During the voting period for the San Antonio Music Awards, "none of us had time for real life," Mercado said in a phone interview (and yes, he inadvertently called Facebook "real life"). Sohns was tied up preparing new material for a vinyl concept EP scheduled for a June release and debuting at NotSXSW, a multi-day event held at the Mellow Mushroom in Austin. The proof is in their Facebook fan page. Visit it and click back to January (won't take long) and you won't find mention of the voting.

Once the news of the win set in, Mercado offered a premium blend of humility, thanks, vindication, and a just a slight sprinkle of "damn the haters."

"We're very happy that we've been acknowledged," he said plainly. "[But ] we're doing music because we want to do it. If someone said to me today, 'Hey, you guys suck,' I'd say, 'That's your opinion.' We haven't gone on seven national tours since we started this band because [we're awful]."

I found even myself agreeing, having recently developed a fondness for Sohns' gloomy interpretation of the highly telegraphed, Refused-era hardcore. I, as well as those who chose Sohns as SA's best hardcore band, look forward to June.

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