Hardcore shows are short. Write-ups of hardcore shows should be too. Even when the show isn't exactly hardcore.

Ten Times Fast is from KC. Its roots are hardcore, its influences are nu-metal, its infatuation is shoegaze. During its formative stage, the band was heavy-handed, always swinging for the fences. This twenty-minute set had nuance. It still crunched, it still punched, and the deafening guitars still made me woozy, but this time the earnest, scratchy vocals conveyed emotion and the guitar leads told stories. Maybe after two EPs it's now time for an album?

Squint is from St. Louis. Its hardcore roots were colored by post-hardcore elements that added more bounce and offered less crunch. Sometimes there were even wiry post-punk guitar leads. Wonderful rock 'n' roll swagger drove the penultimate number in the twenty-minute set. Vocals were barked out by the frontman who walked the stage, exuding energy, but thankfully skipping the customary proselytization. The lead guitarist hopped. The rhythm guitarist and bass player faced their amps. I loved every note the quintet played.

Public Opinion is from Denver. I've seen the project several times and the lineup is never the same. Thankfully the music always is. Hardcore is in its DNA, but the garage rock gene has been activated. Kevin Hart barked his vocals while pacing the stage. It's a theme. But melody surrounds him. There are hooks. Songs are big. This band could be. But it isn't now. There weren't many people at RecordBar. Is a pit full of karate kids necessary at a show? Do we need gymnasts flipping off the stage to enjoy the gig? No, not for Public Opinion. Hardcore is for anyone. This hardcore is for everyone.