Sound Check: Humble Beginnings
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- April 24 2000
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Have you ever gone to a live show and got super-pumped by the energy that the band put into it? I know I have, and on my way home I’m wishing that I could ride my bike surrounded by that energy. Well there are a lot of skateparks that have shows going on at night, and some of them even let you ride while the band plays¿like The Backdoor skatepark of Greenville, North Carolina.
The Backdoor is a small park which contains a tight bowl that goes from four-feet to seven-feet and a small street course with a couple of quarters and a wedge. The bands play in the street course, but you can ride the bowl while the show is going on. They’ve been doing this for about three years, but the last year things have been going really strong. Billy Rabon, the guy that sets the shows up, brings in tons of punk and hardcore bands and says that “the music that we have going on goes hand-in-hand hand with skateboarding and bike riding.” I’d have to agree, I’ve gone to plenty of their shows and it feels so good to ride with live music. When I asked Billy what the difference was between shows at a skatepark and shows at a club, he had this to say: “It’s more of a home feeling, a laid back feeling.” That is true. The bands set up on the same floor as the crowd as opposed to clubs where the band looks down on the kids.
I like seeing shows in clubs, but if I had my choice of standing there watching or riding while it was going on, I’m pretty sure you’d know what I’d do. This is a great thing that Billy and The Backdoor have going on, and I hope to see more skateparks doing this. Rock and ride on.
This is a small interview I did with one of the bands that played The Backdoor. The name of the group is Humble Beginnings, who kick ass (see reviews) and this is what they had to say about playing in parks.
Leigh:
So, who’s who?
Jeremy:
I’m Jeremy, I play guitar.
Josh:
Josh, I play guitar and sing.
Chris:
My name is Chris, and I am the drummer.
Rob:
I’m Rob. I smoke cigarettes and play bass.
Leigh:
What’s the difference between playing at a skatepark versus playing at a club?
Jeremy:
The music fits so well with the sport.
Josh:
The best thing about it (playing in a skatepark) is you have a common bond with everyone there. Everyone’s there for one reason. They like to skate and ride and they like the adrenaline-fueled music. That’s why there’s a common bond with the people that are watching, the riders, and the people in the band. 
Rob:
Skateparks are cool because we get to f*** around even though most of us suck.
Leigh:
Who do you think gets more women, the bike riders or the punk bands?
Josh:
I think the BMXer’s get all the skate-type girls and the California beach girls. We’re left with the spikey, crazy, dirty girls¿which is not a bad thing if you’re into that.
Leigh:
Do you like playing at The Backdoor?
Rob:
Yeah, like some skateparks you’re in another room (from the ramps) and that sucks. If you can’t see the kids riding and skating it’s not as cool. It get’s us fired up when we see people riding. It’s so much cooler.
Leigh:
Is there a difference bettween the crowds in the skateparks?
Chris:
The crowds have been a little bit smaller. I actually like the skatepark crowd better. You watch them on the ramps and they watch the bands.
Leigh:
Is there anything else?
Josh:
Yeah, about BMX¿after watching you guys today, like this town is kind of liked geared around riding. I have a really extreme respect for BMXers now that we saw the crazy shit you guys do. I think everyone needs to come out and check out BMXers. I have mad respect for riders.
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