My friend is in a hardcore band (they’re called Maelstrom, check them out - Apple Music / Spotify) and last night they were performing in Newport, so we went along to support them. When we were buying our train tickets, we noticed that it was only £5 more expensive per person, to go first class. So because everyone needs a little treat from time to time (I do not. I’m always treating myself), we went ahead an upgraded.
We arrived into Newport feeling like royalty with our free cans of diet coke. We made our way to the venue, met with our friend and headed to their merch table to store our coats. All of the bands were selling the usual stuff; t-shirts, stickers, CDs etc. But one of them, to my surprise and delight, was selling coffee beans?! The band was called Positive Reaction, and they’ve collaborated with Durston’s Coffee to release a blend called Hardcore Gold, based on their Welsh Gold blend. The tasting notes say Biscuit and Burnt Caramel. Coffee origin: Vietnam, South America & Central America. I obviously had to buy a bag. I’ve not tried it yet but I’ll stick it in the hopper this week and see if it tastes as hardcore as they promise
Coats & coffee secured, we headed to the dancefloor (this was my first hardcore gig, idk what they call it). I spent the next hour or so with my fight or flight response going haywire, trying simultaneously to enjoy the music whilst also protecting my face from the flying fists and windmilling arms. All power to those that enjoy this scene but I’ve spent the last 32 years trying to avoid getting smacked in the face, so this scene is certainly not for me
Post-gig, we popped to Tesco to grab some barista coconut milk ready for flat whites on Sunday morning (bougie) and then headed to the station to catch our first class train (extra bougie). But the best was yet to come. The train host asked if we wanted any biscuits to go alongside our fresh orange juice (I’m old, I need my vitamins). I told him I was an annoying vegan but if he had anything I could eat, then yes please. He brought me the best vegan snack box I’ve ever had. Everything was vegan and gluten free; there was a bag of cheesy crisp snacks, a bag of sweet & salt popcorn, a nakd bar, some crackers and, get this, a little pot of tomato & olive tapenade.
We spent the whole train journey giggling about how ridiculous it was going from a dodging fists in a hardcore mosh pit to eating crackers and tapenade on a first class train within the space of an hour. Here’s a picture of me, absolutely over the moon about the situation
