Down and out in New York Citys 1980s hardcore scene.
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Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Warzone, Murphys Law, Bad Brains.
Ancient band names, at this point as legendary and distant as Ozymandias.
Once again, the kids who didnt fit in flocked to the East Village.
But the reality was much different.
The Warzone Women were known for periodically taking over the pit during their shows.
But Smith never joined them.
Instead, shed carefully grab a spot on the edge of the mayhem and take photos.
Appropriately titledSunday Matinee, it is both a tribute and a body of work.
Everyone in my high school and my hometown thought I was a freak.
The photographs that follow are kinetic, joyful, and affectionate.
Im gonna start a band even if I cant play, Smith tells Vulture.
I think I really wanted to perform.
Theres the drummer, singer, guitarist, bassist, and theres Brooke on the camera.
Clearly, the crimper should come back.
She doesnt have it anymore.
But she finally admitted that she took it because Iknewshe did.
It was my favorite sweater.
I wore it all the time.
And it almost looked like it was alive.
Thats Terry, who was with Billy Psycho, who was in the band the Psychos!
I love this photo.
I love her face.
I read a story in Rogers book the other day.
I wasnt there when it happened, but I guess Terry became a nurse.
They threw him in a van and took him to the hospital.
And she put pressure on the wound until they got there.
English Mark was the sweetest guy.
This is when we were squat hunting.
The guy with the long hair, thats Roger.
I think he was basically saying, Can you hold the kid while I go in and play?
And then the one on the far left with the arm sticking out, thats the mom, Amy.
This was the first hardcore baby.
Madonna was always, dare I say, a mother to everyone in a way.
She still lives in Staten Island.
I cant remember who was playing.
I kind of want to say it was Jerrys Kids.
Djinji was the only Black fan there.
And he was the lead singer of Absolution; his dad was Marion Brown, the jazz musician.
I know he came from the Bronx.
Hes got his arm around Carl.
And I believe Carl is singing for Underdog here.
And then thats Gavinon the left.
Thats James Drescher from Murphys Law being flipped off the stage.
And the guy whos doing it is John Wrecking Machine Goldin.
He was one of the two bouncers who would stand on the side.
One time, I got knocked down, and the second bouncer, Big Charlie, picked me up.
I remember these arms came down and just made sure that I was all right.
He was singing that day for Straight Ahead, a straight-edge band.
And thats Alexa Poli, my roommate and one of my best friends.
This was a gig in New Jersey.
It wasnt far out.
I guess, nowadays, youd put earphones on the baby.
She was always with her kid unless she was onstage.
Its not like she had a babysitter.
Sometimes I would hang with him downstairs and miss the show.
He was a fantastic drummer.
On the right, you have Brad Batmite Davis; hes no longer with us.
Isnt everyone so young.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this blurb incorrectly IDd Petey Hines and Brad Davis.
Its since been updated.
I just loved Carl.
He was one of my closest friends.
And he was such a great dancer.
I was so glad that this photo came out … People talk about CBGBs, but its hard to explain to someone exactly what it felt like.
It was hot; it was sweaty.
It feels like the closest experience I would have to sports or church.
