Soulside

Soulside, also known as Soul Side, are a hardcore punk and post-hardcore group from the Washington, D.C. area in the United States. They form in spring 1986 and are active until 1989. The band is associated with the D.C. post-hardcore, emo, punk, emocore and hardcore scenes.

Sound and style

Soulside play a sound described as clean, heavy and warm, with lyrics centred on politics. They are one of the early Washington, D.C. bands to connect the hardcore emo strain of “revolution summer” with a more post-punk-influenced approach. Their work sits at an important point in the development of the D.C. scene, alongside groups such as Rites of Spring and Fugazi.

History

The group forms in 1986 and ends in 1989 after an extensive European tour and the recording of Hot Bodi-Gram. Their line-up includes Chris Thomson, Alexis Fleisig, Scott McCloud, Bobby Sullivan and Johnny Temple.

After Soulside

After the band ends, Scott McCloud, Johnny Temple and Alexis Fleisig form the post-hardcore band Girls Against Boys. Bobby Sullivan later forms Seven League Boots, a group that plays a blend of reggae and emo, and he also works with Rain Like the Sound of Trains, Sevens and Spontaneous Earth.

Legacy

Soulside’s guitar sound is noted as an influence on Ian MacKaye’s SG sound in Fugazi. Their place in the Washington, D.C. underground makes them part of the transition from hardcore into post-hardcore and post-punk forms in the late 1980s.