Matthew Green photo above by Skipp Zhang
Featuring Matthew Green of New Heart | By Chelsea Scofield
Before stepping onstage one October evening in St. Louis, Missouri, Matthew Green performs his pre-show ritual. First, he listens to “Take A Stand,” by Youth Of Today.
I see you hide
Do you have pride
Afraid to share what’s inside
You’ve been walked right by
A real nice guy
Overlooked and shoved aside
Can’t hear your voice back in the crowd
Move up front and shout out loud!
Take a stand!
Take a stand, say what you feel
Be who you want, but be for real!
Voice your opinion,
Don’t just sit still
Speak your mind at your free will
Take a stand!
Stand your ground
Don’t let the world push you around
Take a stand!
Stand your ground
Don’t let the world push you around!
While the song plays, he reaches into his backpack and grabs something he never leaves home without: his black sharpie. Matthew removes the cap and marks the backs of his hands with large, thick X’s, a subtle badge of straight edge pride. Then, he prays.
“Dear God, please give me words. Words to say the right things to reach the right people.”
He takes a deep breath and jumps onstage, fueled with adrenaline. No matter the venue or the city, Matthew sticks to his pre-show ritual.
***
“Out Of Step” by Minor Threat
I Don’t smoke
Don’t drink
Don’t fuck
At least I can fucking think
I can’t keep up,
Can’t keep up
Can’t keep up
Out of step with the world
According to Minor Threat vocalist Ian MacKaye, the “X” symbol derives from local shows held in Washington, D.C., in the late 1970s. The bars in town were also venues, hosting many live performances. Because they were bars, however, fans under 21 were not allowed in. Eventually, bouncers allowed minors into the bars under one condition: they must wear large “X” marks on the backs of their hands to show bartenders they cannot be served. If a minor grabs for a drink or attempts to exchange money with a bartender, the mark is unmistakeable.
MacKaye and the rest of Minor Threat continued to wear the “X” markings even after turning 21 simply because they didn’t want to drink anyway. Straight edge members of the hardcore scene, then and now, prepared for shows by “X”ing up their hands. This was one way straight edgers would show their pride and communicate to others that they lived life substance-free. Today, companies sell all sorts of merchandise declaring the “X” symbol, from watches to hoodies to hats, even personalized varsity jackets.
Some straight edgers go even further to show their pride by getting the “X” tattooed on themselves. Matthew got his straight edge tattoo when he was 18 years old. Located on his left calf is an “X” drawn sharpie style, surrounded by a crest. The tattoo reminds him of his commitment as well as the reasons that motivated him to adopt the lifestyle.
***
That October night, women’s issues weighed heavy on Matthew’s mind. He was frustrated with the patriarchal ideologies found in the music scene. He was angered with the dehumanization of women—a product of American society.
Matthew Green, vocalist of straight edge band New Heart, was in the midst of a tour run with NoxThanks. The bands stopped to play a show at St Louis’ Kismet Creative Center, known for being a record store and art gallery that held live performances at night.
During New Heart’s set, Matthew shared his thoughts with the crowd between songs. He talked about the unfair treatment of women, specifically within the hardcore scene. He noticed a woman standing near the back of the dimly lit room wearing sunglasses. Following the band’s performance, she approached Matthew.
She removed her sunglasses revealing her bloodshot eyes, an injury left from being choked and struck just a couple days before. She shared her story with Matthew, explaining that she had just escaped a domestically abusive relationship with a man she had met in the hardcore scene. Following this experience, she was wary of the male-dominant crowds at hardcore shows. Tonight was the last chance I was giving the music scene, but what you said made me feel safe at hardcore shows, she said to Matthew. Then, she hugged him. Later that night, another woman hugged Matthew for addressing the same subject.
Crediting God’s insight and influence, Matthew said the perfect words for the people standing in front of him that night.
***
Straight Edge, known as both a youth subculture and movement, had its beginnings among Washington, D.C.’s hardcore and punk music scenes in the early 1980s. To claim straight edge means to take an oath, a lifelong commitment never to drink alcohol, use drugs or partake in promiscuous sex. The rationale is for those who value control over their mind and body at all times, and means maintaining a clean lifestyle devoid of any substances that would alter one’s health or state of mind. Along with these core beliefs, straight edge is known for its strong ideologies regarding feminism, environmentalism, vegetarianism and veganism.
Beginning with Minor Threat’s “Straight Edge” song in 1981, this culture of clean living continued throughout the ‘90s and into the new millennium. Now 35 years later, straight edge is still relevant, passing the torch from one generation to the next.
I’m a person just like you
But I’ve got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don’t even think about speed
That’s something I just don’t need
I’ve got the straight edge
I’m a person just like you
But I’ve got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
‘Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch
I’ve got the straight edge
I’ve got the straight edge
I’ve got the straight edge
I’ve got the straight edge
According to “Straight Edge: Hardcore Punk, Clean Living Youth and Social Change” by Ross Haenfler, straight edge has taken on many forms since its conception, beginning with Old School followed by Youth Crew, and continuing with the Politically Correct and Victory eras. Each era is categorized by characteristics of members of the music scene, including their appearance, values and beliefs.
Old School was home to many of the pioneers of straight edge, including Minor Threat, 7 Seconds, SSD and Uniform Choice. Also described as hardcore punk, Old School straight edge bands typically spoke about friendship, speaking out and standing up for oneself. Because of the era’s ties to the punk scene, straight edgers could still be spotted by their spiked hair, leather jackets and black Doc Martens.
Youth crew, beginning in 1986, formed straight edge from a culture to a national movement. Youth Of Today, the band known for leading the charge of this era, kick started the movement’s vegetarian and veganism ideologies. Youth Of Today is one of several youth crew bands, including Gorilla Biscuits, Slapshot, Judge and Chain Of Strength. The youth crew era welcomed many suburban youth as fans, leading to a more clean-cut, athletic appearance.
Politically correct straight edge represented the third era, introducing heightened awareness of social issues, including sexism, inequality and corrupted politics. Bands at the forefront included Bane, Mouthpiece and Endpoint.
The Victory style era began in 1991, with bands like Earth Crisis, Strife and Integrity. Earth Crisis is credited with bringing the animal rights and environmental ideologies to the straight edge culture. Earth Crisis are Strife are known to be the most political and adamantly straight edge bands of the subculture.
Beginning in 1997, straight edge experienced a revival of the Youth Crew era, led by bands such as Ten Yard Fight, Floorpunch, Good Clean Fun, Down To Nothing, Have Heart and Champion. The Youth Crew reincarnation is still relevant today, characterized by a combination of past ideologies including veganism and vegetarianism, animal and human rights, and protests against political corruption, sexism, racism and environmental destruction.
No matter the era, straight edge holds an emphasis on consumption and culture, possessing a good measure of consistency, high levels of identification, networking, and commitment. Each era depends on its forefathers to carry the torch, relying on a sense of obligation to mentorship. While other “trends” evaporate into thin air, straight edge has been around for 35 years, said Jason Torkelson, a PhD candidate at Rutgers University.
“Straight edge is unusual among youth movement in that its members seem self-actualization and a more positive world through refusing drugs and alcohol. The group combines conservative and progressive values to create a distinct form of resistance to dominant and youth cultures, resisting and reproducing aspects of both through its core values,” said Haenfler.
Today, straight edge core values remain as well as the desire for social change. Because of the prevalence of certain issues in today’s society, those issues have been brought into the hardcore music scene. Although today’s scene remains composed predominantly of Caucasian males in their late teens and early 20s, women are making their stand, whether it be by attending shows, jumping in the pit, or fronting the bands themselves. The straight edge crew of 2016 is individualistic, intergenerational and progressive, maintaining the clean cut look with baseball caps, tight denim jeans, and athletic sneakers. And now, some are choosing to live even stricter, cleaner lifestyles, avoiding caffeine and medication that can be replaced with home remedies.
Because of the overwhelming presence of social media and the internet in general, those who identify with the straight culture are able to access information about the culture and discover new bands and other local scenes across the country. Unlike any generation that came before it, today’s youth can pull up the “Straight Edge” Wikipedia page, along with hundreds of other Google search results and have a general understanding of the culture within a day. Because of its internet presence, straight edge youth can connect with others who identify with the movement all over the world, connecting one local scene to another. Further, the outside world is becoming more aware of the culture, as the term has now bled into the popular vernacular, according to Torkelson. He said straight edge can now be found in just about every high school hallway, with the typical claiming age to be around 15 years.
Those who claim straight edge take many paths to get there. Robert T. Wood, professor of Sociology at the University of Lethbridge, interviewed many straight edgers when writing his book “Straightedge Youth: Complexity and Contradictions of a Subculture.” He found that straight edge appeals to former addicts, youth exposed to substance abuse in their homes and young adults who experience the loss of a friend from overdose or drug related altercations. Minor Threat’s Ian MacKaye says it’s quite simple: Drinking and drug use are a waste of time. No matter the path that’s taken to get there, however, straight edge culture offers a sense of community, identity and a place to channel fun, said Torkelson.
***
When Matthew was only 6 years old, he remembers riding in the backseat of his mother’s Chevy Subaru with his other brother, Dan, who was 9 years old.
His mother, who was 45 at the time, raised Dan and Matthew as a single parent. While driving to take care of some errands one day, she cracked the window and lit a cigarette.
“Please promise me you’ll never start smoking because I don’t want to be doing this right now,” said their mother.
“Okay, I won’t,” said both boys.
At an age when one thing often goes in one ear and comes out the other, Matthew remembers this talk from his mother vividly.
***
As a teenager, Matthew Green viewed himself as countercultural, deeply rooted in punk and hardcore culture from a very young age. At the age of 13, he attended his very first show at Trash American Style, a record and clothing store in Danbury, Connecticut.
Surrounded by a crowd adorned in the all too familiar spiked jackets and band t-shirts, Matthew finally felt like he was around a crowd of his own. Coming from a broken home and often feeling like an outsider, this was a change of pace and he was eager to come back for another show the following weekend.
Growing up in southern Connecticut, Matthew was immersed in the competitive Northeast music scene. But, while punk rockers and their fans got caught up in drug use and alcohol abuse, he chose to stay sober.
Matthew was captivated by political punk music, listening to Aus-Rotten and Crass, bands that promoted anarchism and far-left sociopolitics. Angered by the G. W. Bush administration, he connected with the bands’ lyrical content and abrasive attitude.
In 2002, Matthew started the first of several bands, known as Flank The Enemy. He led a political punk band of his own, sharing political and religious ideologies with its fans. As the vocalist, he spouted hate-filled lyrics, inspired by his passionate beliefs regarding liberal politics and atheism.
Matthew’s wardrobe matched his anarchist attitude. Adorned in spiked leather jackets, band t-shirts, tight jeans and combat boots, he fit in at shows but stood out everywhere else. With an attitude that embodied the middle finger, Matthew was tough and proud of it.
In 2007, Matthew found interest in the straight edge culture. He had tried beer only once as a child and hated the taste, but never smoked cigarettes or experimented with drugs. He didn’t understand the fascination with addictive substances prevalent within the music scene as well as mainstream culture, but a year later, Matthew was still unsure if he would make the lifelong pledge to straight edge. Then in May of 2008, a tragic experience made the choice for him.
***
Seventeen-year-old Matthew sat alone on a Metro-North train. He boarded at the Redding Station, just 45 minutes north of Manhattan and waited for his stop, the Wilton, Conn. Station. The distance from Redding to Wilton was only four stops, but Matthew wasn’t worried about missing his exit. He had taken the same route on the same train every other day for so long, it was muscle memory.
On this weekday evening, the trains were operating on schedule. The conductor approached him, and he pulled $2.75 out of his pocket, handing the money to the attendant. Three stops left.
Matthew sat quietly, trying to keep himself calm. The train car was full, but he managed to save an entire section of seating to himself. Around 6:00 p.m., the transit system held a few leftovers from the rush hour that ravaged it just a couple hours before. Matthew distanced himself from the passengers with headphones in his ears, listening to “Thick and Thin” by Every Second Counts on his iPod.
It’s the ones we love that we hurt the most when we lose control of our tongues, vent our emotions, and let our frustrations go. It’s not right, and there’s no excuse. It’s not important enough to get angry about. It’s not important enough to come between me and you.
Don’t forget the times we’ve shared.
Don’t forget the fun we’ve had.
Don’t forget who’s always there.
Don’t forget who’s always got your back.
‘Cause no one makes it in this fucked up world alone. Without your help I sink like a stone. ‘Cause all we’ve shared is too much to throw away, and you don’t mean those hurtful things you say.
So don’t forget everything we meant, the places we’ve been, the times we spent. Even if you push me away I won’t let you go. It’s not about you or me, it’s about you and me together, staying friends as we grow old.
I understand where you’re coming from, and I respect the way you feel. I hope you would do the same for me. We all say things we don’t mean, just learn to let them fly. No, I’m not your enemy.
So don’t forget everything we meant, the places we’ve been, the times we spent. Even if you push me away I won’t let you go. It’s not about you or me, it’s about you and me together, staying friends as we both grow old.
I want to know you for the rest of my life. You’re the one I can’t afford to lose. And I know, no matter what happens, we’ll work this through.
So don’t forget the times we shared, the fun we’ve had, the places we’ve been. I’m always here, no matter what happens, through thick and thin.
Two stops left.
For the last two days, Matthew’s mind played like a broken record. Over and over, Kyle’s last words to him resonated. Kyle and Matthew were childhood friends who eventually grew apart. Only a year ago, the two reconnected and were close ever since. It had only been a couple months since those last words. Guilt poisoned those words. One stop left.
Matthew thought about the police report. Ben, Kyle’s best friend, read it just a couple days before and described it to him. He pictured Kyle making the exchange with a drug dealer. Twenty dollars for a gram of marijuana. The report stated the exchange had a complication: the dealer believed he was ripped off. As Kyle walked home, the dealer followed him. Once the two reached Kyle’s home, the dealer told Kyle he knew he had been wronged. Face the wall, the dealer demanded. The dealer pulled out a handgun and shot Kyle in the back of the head.
The train halted at the Wilton station. Matthew exited the train and walked to the station’s exit doors. Matthew and his group of friends made plans to meet at Merwin Meadows, a park located just outside of the station. He walked through the park to a spot near the pond, the group’s meeting spot. He was the last of his friends to arrive. Twenty-five high school students stood near the water, hugging and comforting one another, each one a friend of Kyle’s.
Meg was the first to approach Matthew. With a few words of somber conversation, she hugged him. Hers was one of those long hugs that relatives give one another. The kind of hugs that burst with warmth.
Matthew approached Ben. His face was flushed, his eyes puffy and beet red. Ben was the first of his friends to know about Kyle’s death, after his family shared the news with him. For days, Ben hadn’t left his house and he didn’t talk much, because every time he would attempt to say something, tears returned. Matthew was shocked that Ben even came to the park. He talked with Ben, but sure enough, he began crying. Matthew embraced Ben, comforting him with a long, warm hug.
The group now gathered in a circle, each sharing their favorite memory with Kyle. When it was Matthew’s turn, he told the group about an inside joke the two had shared. The memory was insignificant, he hadn’t put a lot of thought into what he was going to say. Appearing composed, he stood silent in a circle with his friends, keeping Kyle’s last words to himself.
“Next time I’m online, hit me up! I miss you,” Kyle said just a few short weeks before.
But Matthew forgot to contact Kyle. It was an innocent mistake.
Less than a week ago, this group of 25 teenagers were dealing with typical adolescent struggles, from having sex for the first time to trying drugs for the first time. After Kyle’s death, they changed. That day, Kyle’s friends valued one another, valued the friendships they had more than the adolescent interests that were once a priority. None of them attempted to hide their emotions, because none felt a fear of judgement.
“It took our friend being murdered for us to be that way,” said Matthew.
At 10 p.m., the group disbanded. Matthew walked back to the Wilton station and stepped aboard the first train that arrived. He thought about Ben. When he saw Ben’s tears, his eyes red and swollen, he promised himself he would never participate in what killed his friend. I’m forever done, he thought to himself. That night in 2008, Matthew officially claimed straight edge.
***
The following week, Kyle’s funeral was held. Matthew, his cousin Zoey, Ben, Meg and the rest of Kyle’s close friends attended, sticking together during the service.
Kyle was loved, and it showed that day. Many people attended the funeral.
Eventually, Matthew and Kyle’s other friends made their way up to his casket to say their goodbyes. He remembers being terrified by what he saw. He was a dead body, and he had been my friend, Matthew said.
Kyle’s family chose to have an open casket funeral, an unusual decision considering the nature of his death.
Makeup was caked on to cover the bullet wound.
***
When Matthew was 20 years old, he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. After just a few months, Matthew was immersed in the city’s local scene and on the verge of the next chapter of his life: Vocalist of New Heart and bassist for The Jig. According to Matthew, New Heart is one of only three Christian Youth Crew bands currently in the scene.
Between touring with Jig and New Heart, Matthew is currently on tour 10 months out of the year. Because of his touring schedule, he’s picked up roughly 20 different jobs since his move to Indianapolis, mostly at local coffee shops.
Becky Smith, 32, met Matthew in October 2013 when New Heart performed at the Unified Underground conference held in Grand Rapids, Mich. at Take Hold Church. Becky claimed straight edge when she was 14 years old, meaning she’s identified with the subculture and movement for 18 years.
When New Heart played a cover of a Gorilla Biscuits song, Becky couldn’t help but run to the front of the stage where she shared the microphone with Matthew and other passionate fans. Becky held Nora, her four-year-old sleeping daughter in her arm as she sang and danced to New Heart’s set.
Becky and her husband Chris, who’s also straight edge, have been hosting bands for about nine years. Since that show, Becky and Chris have welcomed New Heart while on tour into their home in Kalamazoo, Mich. While staying at their home, Matthew spent the time talking with Becky and Chris and playing with their daughter, Nora. Becky, Chris and Nora now consider Matthew to be a member of the family.
“The best word to describe Matt is passionate. He is extremely passionate in making an inclusive scene. He is passionate about music, straight edge, God, his convictions. He is passionate about being compassionate towards people and all living things. He is always striving to be his best while bringing the best out in others. He is genuine,” said Becky.
Becky and Chris even made the four hour drive down to Indianapolis for Matthew’s Birthday show at the Salvage Yard on April 30.
“There were punks, skinheads, straight edgers, people that had been drinking, teens, kids, people over 40, people “in the scene,” people not “in the scene,” and people of different races and religious backgrounds at the show. Matt loved everyone. He took time with everyone there, having relationships with them that he had built. He introduced everyone to everyone else. He helped to make us united and a family. Walking into the show, Chris and I knew maybe three people. Walking out of the show, I had more than 20 friends,” said Becky.
In Indianapolis and nearby cities, Matthew is known for being a bit of a “dad,” or a mentor to friends within the scene. Because of his mindful choices on sobriety, abstinence and spirituality, his peers often seen him as a pillar of stability, confiding in him for advice regarding dating, faith, and straight edge. God often gives me insights about whoever I’m talking with, allowing me to help them more, said Matthew.
***
The Jig playing house show in summer of 2016 – Photo by Errick Easterday
It was a hot and sticky day, one of the first of 2016 for Indianapolis. Over one hundred hardcore fans, hailing from Chicago to Louisville, and some even from Oklahoma, lined up in front of the Salvage Yard Church on April 25 for a show they’ve anticipated for months. Team Skylar, a cause that raises awareness about childhood cancer, had a show planned for 7:00 p.m. featuring Louisville locals Consequences, Michigan’s Hollow Earth, New York legends The Eddie Leeway Show, Oldham County’s Knocked Loose, and most importantly, Bane.
Hardcore band Bane began their musical career in 1995, taking their place in line as one of the scene’s most influential bands of the politically correct era. That evening, Bane were headed for the Salvage Yard to play their final Indiana show, one stop on their farewell tour after a twenty year long journey together. The group of guys, clearly appearing to be older than the crowd that awaited them, drove into the parking lot with their trailer pulled by a large, paneled van.
The guys walked through the double doors on the left side of the venue, guitars and gear in their hands. Vocalist Aaron Bedard stuck out among the crowd of youth. Although he wore almost identical clothes to the fans more than twenty years younger than him, his aged facial features showed wear and tear that resulted from a life on the road. Traveling far from his home near Boston, Mass., Aaron has toured much of the globe while maintaining straight edge and vegetarian lifestyles.
The same night Bane was celebrating their final appearance in Indianapolis, Matthew was celebrating his golden birthday—a milestone of 25 years. Although neither of his bands were on the bill that night, he stuck to his pre-show ritual, marking his hands with two X’s and showing off the “X” on his calf.
The group watched the other acts patiently while their merch guy set up t-shirts, hoodies, frisbees and sunglasses across two whole folding tables. The sunglasses, available in red, white, blue and black, featured a black “X” on the temple, next to an arrow pointing upward—a symbol recognized as meaning “above the influence.”
Bane was the final act to the stage. A spot that was once reserved for a mosh pit was replaced by dozens of kids crowding the front of the stage. Front and center stood Matthew, ready to rock out one last time. As the set started, showrunners Josh and Jessica shot confetti upward towards the crowd and threw balloons from both sides of the stage. The ground was littered with multi-colored confetti as fans passed balloons along to one another.
From the first note, Matthew knew the lyrics to just about every song on the setlist. He’d get right up in Aaron’s face, yelling the lyrics back at him. Matthew was one of about a dozen passionate fans that climbed on one another just to get closer to the mic.
“Count Me Out” by Bane
I can still see the reasons
That I opened my eyes to this scene in the first place.
I can still feel my beliefs growing stronger – stronger everyday.
I can still count the ways but for you it’s all over.
The feeling is gone and you’re moving on
and tearing us down with you.
You’ve shed your past.
Grown up fast, demanding that we all mature at your pace.
But here I’ll remain refusing to change remembering
when we were the same I support your decision,
I believe in change and hope you find just what it is that you are looking for.
But when you sit around and talk shit about everything
that you once based your whole life on,
well that is where you can count me out.
Because I will be here tomorrow, and I will be here next year,
just like this X on the back of my hand, I’m not going nowhere.
With only a couple songs left, Aaron stopped to speak with the crowd.
“The way we look, the clothes we wear, this culture of cool, it doesn’t fucking matter and it’s not why we’re here. I was drawn to this music because it was about caring and what’s on the inside. No caring about what’s on the outside,” Aaron declared. “You know those bleak days that turn into bleak weeks, and sometimes bleak months. Bands like Minor Threat get us through those times. I know music can save us. It saved me.”
It was until midnight that Bane played their last note and the band packed up their guitars and gear. With ears ringing, fans filed through the doors and out to their cars. Some walked slower than others, exhausted from hours of adrenaline.
Following the show, Matthew posted an update on his Facebook.
“[I’ve] seen Bane so many times over the years and it’s always been awesome, but the last few times I’ve seen them, I can’t help but cry. As a man who spends his life on the road in hardcore bands, almost every adult in my life is constantly telling me I’m wasting my time and that I need to “grow up,” whatever that means. It’s so important for me to hear older bands affirming the cry in my heart that says, ‘Go. Scream your heart out. Tell the kids they’re worth something. Spread the gospel. Strengthen subcultural community.’ Thank you for always speaking into my life when I see you. ‘Just like this X on the back of my hand, not goin’ nowhere.’”
***
New Heart at Audiofeed Festival 2016 – Photo by Errick Easterday
While most members of the straight edge subculture claim as teenagers and young adults, many continue to honor their oath well into their late 20s, 30s, 40s, and as the earliest of straight edgers have shown, 50s. As with the phrase “straight edge ‘til death,” the oath is meant to be a lifelong commitment and is meant to be taken seriously.
Although many stay true to the commitment, the role that straight edge holds in one’s identity as they grow older shifts. Just as their roles might shift as they graduate from school, start their careers, or become parents, the ways in which a straight edger lives their lifestyle is bound to change as well.
While researching the subject, Haenfler found that as a straight edger matures, they find very creative ways to incorporate the beliefs and culture into their lives. Some become mentors, some bring their kids to shows and some make career choices that allow them to still play music.
“It is a myth that people outgrow the culture they’re a part of. People transform the meanings. Meanings shift and change, what stays is the outsider mentality,” said Haenfler.
Becky is one of many parents that bring their kids to shows. Her daughter attended her first show when she was six months old. With degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Family Life Education, Becky has maintained a career for more than 10 years as a fourth and fifth grade teacher. Even my students know that straight edge is a part of me, said Becky. When her students ask about her straight edge tattoos, Becky explains the meanings and her convictions.
Robert T. Wood’s studies revealed the same outcome. It’s not that people stop being straight edge, but it’s significance or meaning changes, said Wood. It doesn’t mean that you stop being straight edge, you’re just straight edge in a different way.
Jason Torkelson adds that as a straight edge person matures, they often remain passionate in social issues, maintaining vegetarian and vegan diets, being politically active, and finding ways in which they can help their community.
***
With summer in full swing, Matthew is currently in the midst of touring season. After performing at Audiofeed Festival, New Heart continues their tour with Strengthen What Remains. Later this summer, the Jig will tour with Capitol Offense and Seeing Red followed by another full run of dates for New Heart in the fall.
At one point in his life, Matthew hoped that he’d be settled down by the age of 24. But at the age of 25, he shows no signs of slowing down. For now, Matthew hopes to continue touring, establish himself at his new job, spend time with his girlfriend, and someday, get a dog of his own.
New Heart at Audiofeed Festival 2016 – Photo by Errick Easterday
