I was a metal kid who got into hardcore through bands like SOIA around 93/94. They were always a force live too. I loved the ‘scratch the surface’ record so much that I redesigned the cd cover in high school art class one day. From memory it was a bunch of stencils of the live shots from the inlay with the logo in the middle. The teacher was a cool surfer dude who wanted to connect with the kids but when he heard the music he asked me: do you have problems at home? Haha
Such a good read and relatable feelings with finding punk and hardcore at a young age. I don't know where I'd be without this community. Lou Koller forever. SOIA forever.
It’s amazing to see how many lives were touched by Lou and SOIA. They were my first hardcore show as a kid…. They were on tour with helmet and during that show, everything changed for me.
Finding each other in the early 90s gave many of us the feeling we were not alone. The isolation you feel when all you see are square holes and you are not even a peg, cannot be stated in words. But we found each other with music. It’s been a community, family, and support system of strangers who often don’t know each other’s names, but embrace each other in a sweaty pile in front of a stage night after night.
I remember listening to Just Look Around when it came out and knowing instantly that this version of NYHC, even as a NY kid, was for me. At that same time, I was getting out of high school and facing a world I didn’t want to be a part in. But SOIAs and Lou’s voice helped shape me to who I am today. It has given me the hype, courage, and hope as soundtracks to my life.
I don’t have any tattoos* but have always wanted to get the Alleyway Crew Dragon since I saw it over 30 years ago. A few hours before we lost Lou, my teenage daughter was getting her new eyebrow piercing at our local tattoo shop and asked when I was getting my first ink job. I said, “I told you if Lou from SOIA passes, I’ll get the dragon.” Two hours later I got the news and have been gutted since.
Many of SOIAs songs I feel deeply connected with and have screamed face to face with Lou in pit piles since the first time at either CBGBs or The Chance in 1995. But the one sticks out and reminds me that we stand alone is Road Leas Traveled.
Blood sweat and not tears
Feast and famine through the years
Working hard keeps us here
On the road less travelled
Good or bad the choice is ours
No one to put blame on
Take a gamble right or wrong
On the road less travelled down
Our job now is to honor Lou. Yes, we grieve and mourn. But tomorrow we keep fighting and make the choice not to live but truly be alive.
Lou would be pissed if we stopped. And no one wants that.
* I did nervously ask Jacob in email a few years about helping design one which he politely declined.
I got lost in that rabbit hole of videos. I somehow fixated on how tepid the crowd was for Burn. Then Chaka does that running front bomb into the crowd for The Bait. Later for “…Shall Be Judged” without much action from the crowd he does that clean front flip, leg kick over the mic stand and later that effortless back flip for the outro. Another reminder these guys played their hearts and bodies out even if people were a little behind. No phone ins.
Though we knew Lou would expire soon, it doesn't take away the sting. He was like an uncle to so many of us—we didn't see him often, but when we did he (and the band) helped to shape us as better humans.
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this.
I was a metal kid who got into hardcore through bands like SOIA around 93/94. They were always a force live too. I loved the ‘scratch the surface’ record so much that I redesigned the cd cover in high school art class one day. From memory it was a bunch of stencils of the live shots from the inlay with the logo in the middle. The teacher was a cool surfer dude who wanted to connect with the kids but when he heard the music he asked me: do you have problems at home? Haha
Very cool. Well said. Moments are lifetimes
Such a good read and relatable feelings with finding punk and hardcore at a young age. I don't know where I'd be without this community. Lou Koller forever. SOIA forever.
It’s amazing to see how many lives were touched by Lou and SOIA. They were my first hardcore show as a kid…. They were on tour with helmet and during that show, everything changed for me.
Beautiful as always, Jacob. Thank you.
Finding each other in the early 90s gave many of us the feeling we were not alone. The isolation you feel when all you see are square holes and you are not even a peg, cannot be stated in words. But we found each other with music. It’s been a community, family, and support system of strangers who often don’t know each other’s names, but embrace each other in a sweaty pile in front of a stage night after night.
I remember listening to Just Look Around when it came out and knowing instantly that this version of NYHC, even as a NY kid, was for me. At that same time, I was getting out of high school and facing a world I didn’t want to be a part in. But SOIAs and Lou’s voice helped shape me to who I am today. It has given me the hype, courage, and hope as soundtracks to my life.
I don’t have any tattoos* but have always wanted to get the Alleyway Crew Dragon since I saw it over 30 years ago. A few hours before we lost Lou, my teenage daughter was getting her new eyebrow piercing at our local tattoo shop and asked when I was getting my first ink job. I said, “I told you if Lou from SOIA passes, I’ll get the dragon.” Two hours later I got the news and have been gutted since.
Many of SOIAs songs I feel deeply connected with and have screamed face to face with Lou in pit piles since the first time at either CBGBs or The Chance in 1995. But the one sticks out and reminds me that we stand alone is Road Leas Traveled.
Blood sweat and not tears
Feast and famine through the years
Working hard keeps us here
On the road less travelled
Good or bad the choice is ours
No one to put blame on
Take a gamble right or wrong
On the road less travelled down
Our job now is to honor Lou. Yes, we grieve and mourn. But tomorrow we keep fighting and make the choice not to live but truly be alive.
Lou would be pissed if we stopped. And no one wants that.
* I did nervously ask Jacob in email a few years about helping design one which he politely declined.
100%. Thank you for sharing.
I got lost in that rabbit hole of videos. I somehow fixated on how tepid the crowd was for Burn. Then Chaka does that running front bomb into the crowd for The Bait. Later for “…Shall Be Judged” without much action from the crowd he does that clean front flip, leg kick over the mic stand and later that effortless back flip for the outro. Another reminder these guys played their hearts and bodies out even if people were a little behind. No phone ins.
Legends.
Thanks for sharing, Jacob. The outpouring of support for Lou and SOIA has been impressive. Seems like no one has a bad word to say about Lou
Thank you so much for sharing. And for DOING IT, still.
Thanks for this.
Though we knew Lou would expire soon, it doesn't take away the sting. He was like an uncle to so many of us—we didn't see him often, but when we did he (and the band) helped to shape us as better humans.