Hey Ravi, thanks for taking a few minutes to do this. Could you introduce yourself to anyone who doesn’t already know you?

Hey my name is Ravi Bhatti! Born and raised in Kelowna,BC but currently residing in Vancouver... I play guitar in Juice, Delinquent and drum from time to time in other projects. But aside from music.. by day I am a 3rd year HVAC apprentice, and love to spend my free time focusing on weight lifting, biking and doing photography!

What was your introduction to punk and hardcore?

Oh man I remember this so vividly haha. Already having been into metalcore and all that crap, the transition couldn’t have been any smoother. I must have been 13 or 14yrs old and my best friend Jesse Hannebauer sent me Have Heart - The Machinist on MSN messenger, and remember being so mind blown. Hearing such raw power and emotion from Pat Flynn just got me instantly hooked. And great timing too because Have Heart was about to come through Kelowna in a couple months for their farewell tour with Shipwreck AD, Bitter End, Cruel Hand and Grave Maker

But as far as my first show goes, I think the first punk/hardcore show I attended was Ill Intent, Frustration, Horizons and Ratwheel in July 2010 in Kelowna. Could not have been a better introduction to the scene to be honest. Afterwards, I made friends in the scene quite quickly and they showed me a plethora of bands and hate5six videos haha. Honourable mention to Foundation, Carry On and Final Fight.

I’ve only gone up to B.C. a handful of times for shows and haven’t been up there since No Warning played in 2018. Tell me about the local scene and venues that are currently going.

I feel like ever since the covid era, the local scene has been flourishing like crazy. So many cool bands popping up in the Vancouver area, as well as a ton of new faces (especially younger kids). Then with venues, it always seems to be shifting every so often. Our go to for the last while has been Bullet Farm in East Van, Red Gate, Black Lab and Fortune Sound Club. They’ve all held it down recently. 

One interesting thing worth noting has been the influx of kids out in the suburbs who come out. Specifically in Whiterock (about 45mins south of Vancouver). A friend of mine put on an all local bill late Nov.2022 at a community hall, and had over 200 people come through. Absolutely insane to see that many people come out for a local show.

What are some of your favorite memories and shows from your time out here?

It is damn near impossible for me to think of Seattle and not instantly refer to Rainfest haha. No hesitation, my favourite set I’ve ever seen was No Warning from Rainfest 2016. If you’re reading this and weren’t there.. I highly recommend watching the hate5six video of that set. Ill Intent’s set from that weekend was a close second for me as well. Aside from the show aspect of it, just the energy that weekend was always so fun… from seeing all your friends from far away to watching the mayhem unfold in Capitol Hill after the fest was always a blast. Seattle never disappoints.

You come down pretty often for shows in Seattle and Tacoma. I know personally I need to try to make it out to shows up there and down in Portland more often like I used to. Do you see a big difference in scenes between the cities at all?

Having gone to shows in a couple different towns spanning from Vancouver to Tacoma, I’ve honestly noticed they’re all soo similar. One thing that made it very apparent was, I went to a house show in Bellingham a couple months ago that Apex Predator played. And saw so many young kids (as me and my friends refer to - tik tok kids haha) who are just so stoked to go to any show. And even noticed it in Seattle. Just such a big wave of new kids and the support that comes with it is sick.

What does this scene mean to you?

This scene changed my life in ways that 15 year old me would never have believed. Having gone to shows in Vancouver for about 9 years now (even though I’ve only lived in Van for about 2-3 years), it’s given me the chance to form friendships with people who I now hold very near and dear to me both in Vancouver and all throughout the continent. Not to mention through the friends I met along the way, it open up doors and allowed me the opportunity to tour quite a bit over the years. And it gave me a sense of purpose and belonging, almost like a second home

Watching this scene grow into what it is now over the years has been so cool to witness first hand. It’s truly blossomed into a spot that is vastly overlooked in the PNW when it comes to DIY scenes and what it has to offer. So many bands have came through here and left talking about how this is always one of their favourite places to play.

Who are some of your all time favorite NWHC bands?

I’m a little bit younger so I feel like I’m missing out on some very crucial ones haha but Ill Intent(all time favourite NWHC band), Black Breath, Wreck, Trial, Lower Species, OAF, Go It Alone, and Putrid Brew.

Who are your favorite current locals or bands you think people are sleeping on?

A Mourning Star and Madness Cartel. If you haven’t checked out either bands, you are sleeping for real, I’m tellin you.

What would you like to see from the scene currently?

As far as things are going right now, I’d say things are pretty solid overall. However, I do wish more younger kids would start bands. For how enthusiastic these new kids are to be a part of the scene, it doesn’t make sense in my head why you wouldn’t try picking up an instrument and be even more involved with the scene and try to create something cool. You never know what opportunities could fall into your lap! Or even tryna learn the ropes of how to put on shows, super crucial to pass the torch down to somebody someday.

Is there anything you’d like to leave people with?

Take advantage of any opportunity you are given. Go out and do the most. You truly never know how life may present itself at any moment when you follow the path of whatever passion you may have. And push that passion to the fullest extent, no matter how many doubts you may have.

…. Also shout out Dicks Burgers