downset live at bogarts (cincinnati, ohio) and interview on urban discipline 2/10/97

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• published: 22 Oct 2011
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THE 400TH VIDEO!!! video shot and provided by: Matt Bischoff and John Gerhardt 1997 Urban Discipline edited by: George Forste 2011 idgf underground disclaimer: This video was shot with full permission from the band at the time. This video is for FREE PROMOTION ONLY. No profit is to be made off of this video. www.facebook.com/gforste www.facebook.com/pages/downset www.downset.net Rey Oropeza - Vocals Chris Lee - Drums Ares Schwager - Guitars Rico Villasenor - Bass Other downset. family members include: Roy Lozano - Guitar James Morris - Bass Roots X SAN FERNANDO HARDCORE X The roots of downset and its’ predecessor, Social Justice were tightly involved in the hardcore scene in Northeast Los Angeles, more specifically, Sylmar and neighboring San Fernando. formed in late 1986 in Bell Gardens, California with Jesse & Luis Garcia and Eddie LN?; playing a few backyard parties before the Garcia brothers moved to Sylmar, Ca. in 1988. Through the friendships of 5 local youth via the hardcore, punk, and graffiti art scenes; Rey Oropeza, David Acosta, and brothers, Jesse & Luis Garcia drove Social Justice to quick notoriety in the local scene. Playing with local bands, the band gained scene notoriety very quickly. Recruiting Steve Sain after recording their first demos, they were rocking the local scene with bands such as Positive Approach, Misguided, and IDK, and sharing the stage with bands like Bad Religion NoFx, Pennywise, All, Slapshot, Insted, Inside Out, Uniform Choice, and many more playing in the best venues in LA at the time. Social Justice signed to Mystic Records in 1989 after a Bad Religion show to enable the first recorded 12 inch LP, “Unity Is Strength” recorded at the Bad Religion HQ of West Beach Studios in Hollywood, Ca, and Engineered by none other than Brett Gurewitz himself. Released on Safe Side (Mystic) records in 1989, and, and after change of paths of some members the band split and went their separate ways just after the release of the album, but it was far from over… 1990, Rey decided to keep the band going and took time to find new players. Rey, Raul (drummer from Positive Approach), new members Don Ward on guitar and James Morris on bass started the band back up, but Raul’s often absenteeism prompted them to find a new drummer. The new lineup recruited Chris Lee in 1991 from the bands hometown of Sylmar. Chris was also into graffiti and punk, so the chemistry was right from the get go. The band set up shop in Chris’ Sylmar backyard and even threw their first re-united show in the same spot! This first show introduced the band to new guitarist, Rogelio Lozano. The band had evolved to a new level quickly, and as a five-piece was quickly adopting a brazen hip hop / hardcore sound and the newer material proved it. Social Justice was at it again, playing shows with local bands like Stickman, Knowledge Threat, Strife, Jughead’s Revenge, Tres Flores, Das Klown, and more. The band went and recorded their follow up EP, “I Refuse To Lose” in May of 1992 with the help of friend, Roy Z. This album was recorded at Silver Cloud Studios in Burbank, California. Released on the bands own, Justice Records, this was limited to only 500 pressings. (This formula of band, producer, studio, etc. would become the future downset formula) The new release captured the band at its peak. With a newer hip hop & hardcore crossover style the band was playing all over the Los Angeles County and once again dominated the SFV hardcore scene. The band was obviously changing and growing. With the loss of Don Ward and back as a four piece the band went on to perform live on KXLU radio in Los Angeles. downset songs to be, “Body Cry”, and “Breed The Killer” can be heard on this performance as well as covers by Hard Stance, and the ever loved, “Burning Fight” by Inside Out that downset went on to perform as well. The last documented Social Justice show was out in Riverside at a spot called Spanky’s on November 28th 1992. Day’s after this show the band decided to call it quits as the legendary valley hardcore act, and assumed the role of the crossover act, downset. You can read more and find more inormation on Social Justice at: http://www.xsfhcx.info source: downset.net The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They released their debut album, Unity Is Strength, in 1989 and the EP I Refuse To Lose under this name with a different lineup in 1992. They are also known for being one of the first hardcore bands to incorporate hip hop and funk influences into their music. In 1992, Social Justice (1987–92) changed their name to downset., and released their Our Suffocation demo in 1993. The album, which explored various social issues such as the death of lead singer Rey Oropeza's father by the hands of the LAPD, was praised by critics. Later in 1994, downset. signed a deal with Mercury Records, a subsidiary of Polygram Records, and released their self-titled effort in th