cognitive dissonance: “the psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously” – Merriam-Webster’s

Gulf Coast hardcore is fast, furious, and exploding with so much sweat and noise that it makes anything else happening in the scene seem like a tea party by comparison. So when we saw that a restaurant and sports bar, The Hot Dog Shop, was hosting four brain-hemorrhaging bands – PLF, HRA, Obama Nation, and San Francisco’s Abrupt – it seemed at first glance to make about as much sense as Varg Vikernes hosting the PTL club. Yet somehow, as we looked over the restaurant’s images of kiddie birthday parties, Lions Club eating contests, and women with hula-hoops, it all began to make sense. This was no accident from a sloppy booker, this was the work of a maniacal genius! We contacted HRA’s Francisco Pulido to talk hardcore and Hot Dogs with us.

29-95: This show is at a hot dog shop/sports bar. Funny enough, I was at Sound Exchange not long ago and someone was talking about sports bars and hardcore shows. What gives? How does a sports bar and hardcore work? I'm just trying to reconcile the idea of a bunch of suburbanites trying to eat hot wings and watch sports while blast beats and a circle pit erupts next to them.

HRAFrancisco: Well considering Houston has very few venues that will let us have hardcore/ grindcore/ punk shows that are all ages this is just a good place as any. Sure it's cool playing in front of people who actually like this stuff but seeing the expressions on the "regular" folks’ faces is priceless. I want to freak out mommy, daddy, and little Johnny. For the record, I love sports. So this is perfect for me personally.

29-95: If each band were to have a hot dog named after them, what would each band playing have on its dog and why?

Francisco: Obama Nation would be just ketchup and mustard since they are young ones and you know kids only like that on their hot dogs. HRA would be half Texas chili dog and half Chicago style dog since our drummer is from Chicago. PLF would have to be vegan (is there such a thing?) Abrupt -- they are on tour so I would imagine they would eat anything. Hardcore doesn't pay!

Obama Nation29-95: Obama Nation has to be the best bad pun band name I've heard since the Ale Gore. Who is in that band and why are they so awesome?!

Francisco: Well I just heard about them recently myself. They are young kids from Houston who play -80s style American hardcore. Lots of energy at their shows! It's cool seeing kids from Houston playing that style of music.

29-95: PLF and HRA: who has the better acronym and why?

Francisco:

PLFP (Pretty) L (Little) F (Flower) - I love the name myself but the band themselves do not like it. I've had people tell me they wouldn't expect a band to be that intense with a name like that.

H (Heavy) R (Roach) A (Activity) - if you don't know, that comes from Marvin Zindler. Everyone knows "slime in the ice machine" but this phrase was said by Marvin plenty of times. Thank you Marvin!

29-95: Abrupt, which is coming all the way from San Francisco, has a girl in the band, which begs the question: why aren't there more girls in hardcore bands?

San Francisco's AbruptFrancisco: I don't know why there aren't more girls in hardcore. I'm all for it though. Female vocals definitely add something unique to hardcore. Any girls reading this: go and start a hardcore band.

29-95: OK here's your chance to pitch this show. Why should people drive out near the beltway and 290 for this show? Or to phrase it another way…what kind of damnation will befall you if you don't go?

Francisco: Ok if you think driving maybe 15 minutes from downtown is far, then screw you. I drive an hour every time I come into Houston. I don't like hearing people complain about having to drive a little. This show has 4 bands that will tear you a new one so that's reason enough. Oh and Marty “Magic Fingers" from Houston's own Krullur will be there. Check out all the bands pages. If you like what you hear then come out.

8 p.m. Friday. The Hot Dog Shop. $5