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Last time our paths crossed, Mike Resist had consumed more than 30 Jello shots. One could argue that this was a bad choice, but I would respectfully disagree — he has ample cause for celebration. Eight months isn’t supposed to be enough time to go from opening matinees at the Midway to having, like, plenty of real live humans come to your shows. Through some cocktail of perseverance, market savvy, and mayhem, Refuse Resist have accomplished the improbable. They’re also the only hardcore band I’ve seen inspire impromptu go-go dancing. With almost every song making its point and ending in well under three minutes, Mind: Yourself isn’t out to waste anyone’s time, and it doesn’t aspire to anything beyond fast, gnarly rage chow à la Minor Threat and Agnostic Front and maybe Trouble. It’s a splendid ambiance for those occasions when every single piece of furniture in the room must be destroyed. The fastidious clamor emanating from Shawn Refuse’s soundhole is evocative of a truly nonplussed Cookie Monster, and this is a wondrous thing. Here’s hoping the Red Sox replace “Tessie” with “Still in Massachusetts” as their anthem next time they take the World Series, if only for its chorus: “Why am I still in Massachusetts?! State that I love and I haaaaate!”
-Barry Thomposn - The Boston Phoenix
Last time our paths crossed, Mike Resist had consumed more than 30 Jello shots. One could argue that this was a bad choice, but I would respectfully disagree — he has ample cause for celebration. Eight months isn’t supposed to be enough time to go from opening matinees at the Midway to having, like, plenty of real live humans come to your shows. Through some cocktail of perseverance, market savvy, and mayhem, Refuse Resist have accomplished the improbable. They’re also the only hardcore band I’ve seen inspire impromptu go-go dancing. With almost every song making its point and ending in well under three minutes, Mind: Yourself isn’t out to waste anyone’s time, and it doesn’t aspire to anything beyond fast, gnarly rage chow à la Minor Threat and Agnostic Front and maybe Trouble. It’s a splendid ambiance for those occasions when every single piece of furniture in the room must be destroyed. The fastidious clamor emanating from Shawn Refuse’s soundhole is evocative of a truly nonplussed Cookie Monster, and this is a wondrous thing. Here’s hoping the Red Sox replace “Tessie” with “Still in Massachusetts” as their anthem next time they take the World Series, if only for its chorus: “Why am I still in Massachusetts?! State that I love and I haaaaate!”
-Barry Thomposn - The Boston Phoenix
Discography
Mind: Yourself LP 2008 Rodent Popsicle
Rhode Island Rejects and Massholes compilation featuring the song "Still In Massachusetts" spring 2008 Reject Records
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Bio
Refuse Resist was formed in a garage in Methuen Massachusetts with only a dream of bringing back the sounds of yesterday's punk hardcore scene. Only one year later and over 40 shows under the belt, Refuse Resist is starting to leave a mark on the modern Boston Hardcore/Punk scene.
The influences of the band are set back in the 80's and 90's "when hardcore punk was at it's prime" says Shawn Refuse. Refuse Resist draws a lot from the bands Black Flag, Minor Threat, DYS, Gang Green, Dead Kennedy's and DRI to name a few.
Strong, fast chords and powerful vocals with meaningful lyrics are a staple at any Refuse Resist show.
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