Hardcore for a Cure

Like most guys in a band, Dan Yemin really wants you to buy a t-shirt. But the vocalist with Philadelphia, PA, melodic hardcore punks Paint It Black won't be making any money off of it.

His band is one of many that have lent their support to the Shirts for a Cure project. Founded by punk photographer Mark Beemer in honor of his late wife Syrentha Savio, it raises money for women unable to pay for chemotherapy - and awareness about early detection of breast cancer - by selling T-shirts. Yes, T-shirts. A plethora of hardcore, post-hardcore, metalcore, and emo outfits contributes a design, and the money goes into the nonprofit endowment. Before their official SXSW showcase last Friday, Paint It Black took part in a fund-raiser; Yemin took time to talk about the number of friends of his who were being bankrupted by crippling medical costs and the sad importance of events like this when millions can't afford any or enough medical insurance.

Afterward, Yemin (also singer for scene godfathers Lifetime and formerly of Kid Dynamite. He also holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. Busy guy.) talked about the inevitable trips to the emergency room that come from life onstage and on the road. He said his "best" was after a collision with his guitarist in Manchester, England. Everything he'd ever been told about long waits and poor service in a nationalized medical service, he said, was wrong. There wasn't even an issue that he wasn't a UK citizen.

Damn socialists.