Celebrating its sixteenth anniversary, the now iconic NEW ENGLAND METAL & HARDCORE FESTIVAL will commence on April 17th and run through April 19th. Featuring two stages, the yearly gala continues to drive dozens of bands and thousands of fans from around the country to the renowned Worcester Palladium for a solid weekend of mayhem. How does organizer Scott Lee keep it going since 1999? And how many stories must this dude have hanging with all the amazing bands? When does he sleep? We had so many questions for Scott, but only so much time to pick his brain. With any luck some of you will head up to “Wooster” and experience what may be the best metal and hardcore fest of the entire year hands down.
Take a listen (starts at :48) as we catch up
with Scott Lee
or here is the transcript with some hiccups from REV.com
You’ve been doing this for sixteen years?
Scott: Yeah man, from a teenager.
How did you get started?
Scott: How I got started? I used to do shows when I was a younger lad at the VFW Halls and then started hanging out with my friends’ bands and started playing these clubs and started getting involved with clubs and doing shows there.
Are you a promoter throughout the year? Do you do shows throughout the year?
Scott: Yes, sir. I book the Webster Theater. I book the Webster Palladium. I book a place in Holyoke called the Waterfront, which is a small DIY venue.
You’re a pretty busy guy.
Scott: Yes. I also have a management company with my best friend, Leah Urbano, called Crimson Management. I also own a company called Soundwaves which is a VIP ticketing company. I also do a clothing company with one of my good friends, Kyle Lusky, called Trip Clothing.
Where do you think your entrepreneurial spirit came from?
Scott: I don’t even know what that word means. What does that mean?
Oh come on Scott.
Scott: Intrepidal?
Entreprenurial. Entreprenurial.
Scott: That should be a band name. That’s sick.
I don’t know if too people could spell it though.
Scott: I definitely couldn’t spell that. I think it’s just like … I think I just like working. I enjoy making people happy. I try to make people happy and try to put on good shows. I’d rather do this than work in a fucking factory and try and make a difference and try to change people’s lives. It’s cool when people walk up to me and say, “We met at one of your shows.” They’re older folks. Since I’ve been doing this for twenty years. I’m like, “Cool, how’re you doing? Cool.” They’re like, “Yeah, we met at your show. We got married two years later. This is our son.” I’m like, “You wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for me buddy. That’s cool.” I like changing the game I guess. That’s the whole thing.
Speaking of VIP tickets can you tell me a little bit about the VIP ticket package that you have going for this year?
Scott: Yeah, it’s pretty sick. The company’s called SoundLink. Their website is SoundLink.com. We do scores for everybody from Vanity Canes, Texas in July, [inaudible 4:44], Destruction. We’re doing the Dillinger Escape plan, [i Metal Alliance, Memphis May Fire, [inaudible 04:59], anything, anything and everything. It’s pretty sick. We work very hard at it. One of the standing reasons was because of [inaudible 05:12], you know what I mean, to make this happen. You get a ticket to the event. You get a sick t-shirt. You get a laminate, a poster, guitar picks, sick meet and greets, a pen pack magnet and all that stuff. It’s really cool.
I couldn’t believe the affordability of it. When I was checking it out I was like, “Wow man. That’s affordable.”
Scott: It’s pretty cool. I’m pretty excited about it. That’s really cool. When you’re putting this on, there’s all these bands. It’s pretty insane.
Is there any way that you can enjoy the show?
Scott: Yes. I party. It’s like hanging out. I run around like a chicken with no head on. I make all this happen. You know what I mean? It’s a party, dude. I work my ass off but it’s …
Have you become friends with some of these bands over the years?
Scott: I have and good friends. I was great friends with Dave Brockie. They played this so many, many times. Me and him, we talked. We became really tight. Not really tight. I wouldn’t say that. It would be like we’d hang out and talk. Last time we talked he was at the Palladium. We talked about how he shared his heart but yeah man. I make friends. I made really good friends with a lot of these bands and people touring with the bands.
When you’re doing something for 20 years, you make a lot of friends. It’s the only business where I think you can travel anywhere and probably get a free place to stay and a meal anywhere probably in the world. You know what I mean? Because of all the friends that I have had made from doing shows and stuff.
Absolutely. I was going to ask you above Dave because he’s such a great guy. Every time he came into Pittsburgh I had such a great time with him. He’s such a funny dude. I’m just going to miss him so much. Anyone you’re really excited for this year?
Scott: I am excited for … Anybody I’m excited for? I’m excited for [inaudible 07:50]. I’m excited for Stars of Tomorrow. I’m excited to … I’m excited to see [inaudible 07:59]. I think they’re fun. [inaudible 08:08] is always the best, so much fun. Nails always makes me happy. Switching Tongues is a good time. Let’s see here. [inaudible 08:22] I’m very excited to see. [inaudible 08:28]. Yeah, man, there’s a whole bunch of bands on stage.
Yeah, there’s so many.
Scott: I’m pretty hot about the one, Sam Black Church.
Yeah, I saw that.
Scott: Are you familiar with that band or …
I’m not. I’m like, “I better check this out.”
Scott: Sam Black Church is a legendary New England-based band who toured all around the country, put out a bunch of records, got offered a major record deal and basically [inaudible 08:56] because it wasn’t what they were about. They are an amazing band. They are the [inaudible 09:04], grimiest … Their [inaudible 09:06] is the worst thing ever but it’s beautiful. This band, and the singer is named Jet. He jumps over everything. They just did a reunion show opening up to the Bosstones. It was just incredible. It’s a party. They are a great live band. They jump off of everything.
The early 2000s and ‘90s, you know what I mean? That’s where they came from. It’s just like they came from the Boston hardcore scene, coming up with [inaudible 09:39] now from [inaudible 09:44], all these legendary Boston hardcore [inaudible 09:47]. They played with them all [inaudible 09:52] .This is where they came from. They are truly the first metal core bands. That’s what I would say. They influenced people with Overcast. That also includes people like [inaudible 10:09], influenced people like [inaudible 10:12]. It includes people like [inaudible 10:14]. It includes people like [inaudible 10:14]. It includes people like [inaudible 10:14]. It includes people like Lamb of God. This is one of these bands that came from the underground and is a truly well-respected situations.
Speaker 1: Do you [inaudible 10:32]?
Scott: Yeah. I got the old men out of the jobs for a weekend but you know something? They’re not old men. They put on a hell of a good show. They’re really great people. I’m very proud to have them on the [inaudible 10:47].
If you can, check on my boy’s BattleCross. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen them before.
Scott: I love some Battle Cross. You know what? I’d love some … I love that Shannon’s playing with them. I think that’s awesome, Shannon from [inaudible 11:10] Black, all the [inaudible 11:12]. It was a very good time. Good people too. They’re great people. I’ve become friends with them over the years. Really good guys. [inaudible 11:25].
Tell me a little bit about the thing you had going at South by Southwest.
Scott: That was great. We had a party down there. What happened to this … The nice people that I mentioned rent out the old [inaudible 11:43] Inn. It’s in the … [inaudible 11:45]. They let us party with them from 11:30am till 6:00pm at night. We put together a bunch of bands that reflect what the festival is about. We’ve done … The first year I believe we did [inaudible 12:00] a bunch of bands that were touring. Then we did … I wrestled a bear once one year. We did a [inaudible 12:09] one year. It’s always a party. It’s free which is awesome but it shows what the New Moon [inaudible 12:15] Hardcore Festival is about.
This year we had [inaudible 12:21] with … I always forget the goddamn name, Come Back Kid. [inaudible 12:29] I said [inaudible 12:36], Backtrack, the [inaudible 12:41]. We had the best coming hardcore. We had the best coming in metal core. It was a great time. Basically what happens is last season the outdoor thing as 500 people. You leave. Another person would come in. We sold it out six times. That’s basically five times six. You know what I mean? I was almost about to say you can actually get one day of Metal Fest. We did it basically in seven hours. It was a party, man. A lot of people had a great time. The [inaudible 13:15] people were there hanging out doing their thing. It was awesome.
[inaudible 13:20] was there, a guitar company. It was really cool. We had a really great time. Everybody should go see South by Southwest. The shit that happened there in this past year could have happened anywhere. It doesn’t matter where … I doesn’t matter. I hope people don’t look bad on that but South by Southwest is a fun, fun time. You get to see a lot of ridiculous people. The people watching is incredible. You can go to [inaudible 13:55] and get a slice and a beer for $6. It’s thick. It’s great. It’s a good time. Everybody should do it at least once. [inaudible 14:07]. I was traveling by on ten-speeds. It was great.
That’s nice.
Scott: People think, “It’s so expensive. The hotels are expensive,” but you have that everywhere but the food, everything’s reasonable down there.
Yeah. It’s a great city. I was there one time. I absolutely fell in love with the city. I called you the other day.
Scott: I’m sorry about that.
No, it’s cool. It’s cool. It kind of actually was a great insight into your personality in that you actually took the time to say, “Hey.” You were totally calm in the midst of a crisis. I think that speaks a lot to someone who’s a promoter and can handle that. Does that type of stuff come up a lot? Is that typically your personality when you do have a crisis?
Scott: Yeah. It’s problems. Nobody got shot or was having a heart attack. It’s just you deal with it. It comes out. You just deal with it. Do you know what I mean? It’s just part of the game.
That’s a great attitude to have. I would love to get out there. This three days sounds …There’s just so many amazing bands. We’re going to try to get some people from Pittsburgh to trek up there but …
Scott: Get them up here.
It’s one heck of a line-up every year. Do you start planning for the next year as soon as you’re done?
Scott: A couple of months afterwards.
I would think you have to a little bit. Cool. I appreciate you spending some time with me, Scott.
Scott: No problem.
Good luck with everything. I hope to one day get up there and meet you in person.
Scott: Please. Please. Come on up. We’ll hang out.
This year’s installment merges multiple national tours including Metal Alliance, The Best In Brutality and Mission Quest To Metalfest and features the mammoth running lineup of: 1349, All Out War, All That Remains, Barrier Battlecross, Behemoth, Bent Life, Black Crown Initiate, Bleeding Through, Born Low, Broken Hope, Carnifex, Colin Of Arabia, Cop Problem, Counterparts, Cruel Hand, Darkest Hour, Discourse, Emmure, Enabler, Erra, Fallujah, Fire and Ice, Fit For An Autopsy, Gideon, Gift Giver, Goatwhore, Harm’s Way, I Declare War, Iced Earth, InDirections, Inquistion, Julius Seizure, Kadavar, King Nine, Kublai Khan, Lionheart, Loyal To The Grave, Malfunction, Nails, Naysayer, Nile, Obey The Brave, Oceano, Ramallah, Reflections, Reign Supreme, Revamp, Rivers of Nihil, Sabaton, Sam Black Church, Scars of Tomorrow, Silence The Messenger, Slapshot, Suburban Scum, Sylar, Texas In July, The Acacia Strain, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, The Mongoloids, Those Who Fear, Thy Art Is Murder, Twitching Tongues, Unearth, Warhound, Whitechapel, Will To Die, Within The Ruins and Years Since The Storm with more to be announced. More info on the history of the NEW ENGLAND METAL & HARDCORE FESTIVAL available at THIS LOCATION.
