On Friday, May 19, 2023 Hope Fiend will perform for the first time ever in Portland, and they will be at the Lay Low Tavern in Scenic Central East Portland, 6015 SE Powell BLVD, doors at 9pm, $5 cover. They will be performing with two local acts: The Seditionists and Jerry Toeman. (The Lay Low has Instagram and Facebook.)
Hope Fiend is the punk-metal brainchild of Roderick ‘Rodcore’ Palmer. Rodcore is the former vocalist of Year of the Dragon, a band that featured members of Fishbone and toured and played club, arenas and festival stages with such bands as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Brains, Hatebreed, Living Colour and many more. He also did a side-project post ‘Dragon called #GOALS, featuring original Circle Jerks members Greg Hetson, Earl Liberty and Lucky Lehrer, and also was in the running to front Faith No More pre-Mike Patton!
After taking a break post Year of the Dragon, Rodcore decided to re-enter the music world. But he wanted his next project to combine social activism and, as a person in recovery, themes related to redemption and resolution in his music. Thus, HOPE FIEND was born!
Originally called GANESH, Rodcore changed the band name because social engines registered many other bands with this name, as well as the elephant-headed Hindu god. After playing one festival supporting Suicidal Tendencies, Rodcore decided to change the name right before going into the studio to record their first EP.
When asked about the band, Rodcore says, “Life is short. And not about living some rock ‘n’ roll fantasy. It’s about helping each other and pulling a man or woman down out of the mud. And making sure we can all grow as human beings and fight for the things we believe to be right, until they are.”
He has a dream of touring and working with local food banks and homeless outreach organizations at each road date to assist them, and encourage members of the audience to do the same. His goal is for Hope Fiend to stand for not just being a band, but a MOVEMENT.
Here’s some more info about The Seditionists, who describe themselves in this way, “a community driven, sociopolitical punk band based out of Little Beirut (aka Portland) OR.”:
https://theseditionists.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ecclectipunkPDX/
Here’s where to hear Jerry Toeman, whose music is described as “poor boy pop”:
https://jerrytoeman.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jerrytoeman/?hl=en
