Andrew Sims, Mercy Aster, Justin Fergeson and Matt Hanson got together for three main reasons: to make music, to be creative and above all else to cause some mayhem. Their hardcore band She entered the Anchorage music scene last year and they aren’t shrinking violets when it comes to their music and their message.
Lyrics for She’s song Pinch:
“He loves me.
He loves me not.
He loves me.
He loves me not.”
She used to pick
the petals off flowers.
Now she just grinds
their heads between
her thumbs.
Andrew Sims, vocals, talks to friends before their show at the appropriately titled ‘Teenage Wasteland” on March 8 2009.
Justin Fergeson, the band's drummer sets up before the show begins. Behind him two girls paint while the band plays. "We are really interested in creating more of an art scene in Anchorage," said Sims, "It's more about being creative than being a hardcore band."
Sims, Fergeson and guitarist Mercy Aster rock the Wasteland, at one point even causing bits of the ceiling to fall to the ground.
The band's influence is undeniably becoming more of a force in Anchorage. "I went to the mall the other day and some young kids came up to me and said they liked my music," said Sims, "It was really wierd."
Driving out to the valley for band practice at Justin's parent's house in the garage. Sims and Aster meet in Eagle River and carpool to the valley.
Aster and Sims prepare for rehearsal as they wait for the bassist Hanson to show up---which he never does. The band still rehearses--that is until 8pm when Justin's parents ask them to stop.
Working out the final details for their new song, deciding if it's better to say "shot to shit" 3 times or 4. A debate that takes the better part of an hour.
Fergesen, who the band says looks like a wizard when he plays the drums, is known as the pretty one of the band.
The band sets up for their show with nationally known hardcore band Ceremony at the Millennium March 13, 2009. The all ages venue is a good start, but the band hopes to play other places in Anchorage as well.
Sims, Hanson and Aster prepare themselves for the show. Seeing as Ceremony is a big influence on them, this one has to be good.
Aster and Sims rocking out, as the filled to the brim crowd rocks to the music.
Aster after the show at the Millennium who hit his head on his guitar during the show. He asks, "Is it bleeding at all?"
Perhaps it can be said that a show isn't a good show unless you leave some blood on the stage. Well, that might not always be true. But, for a truly hardcore band like She it most definitely is.
What a rowdy event. You had a nice progression of the setting up, drinking coffee, jamming, and getting speared in the head. Your final shot of the guitar with the broken neck lent a very dramatic quality to your story. There was a nice variance in your pictures that gave it a really well-rounded feel. While some of the show shots were a little dark, you did a really good job dealing with the lighting.