Have Heart

Have Heart
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	2002 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Defunct	October 17, 2009
Fate	Disbanded; reunion performances in 2019 and planned for 2024
Headquarters	New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Area served	United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Asia
Key people	Patrick Flynn (vocals), Ryan Hudon (guitar), Kei Yasui (guitar), Shawn Costa (drums)
Products	Music albums and EPs
Number of employees	4 (final lineup)
Website	bridge9.com/artist/have-heart/

Have Heart was a straight edge hardcore punk group from the United States, established in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 2002. Their discography began with a demo released in 2003, followed by the What Counts EP through Think Fast! Records in 2004. They debuted their first full-length album, The Things We Carry, via Bridge Nine Records in 2006. Their concluding album, Songs to Scream at the Sun, also released by Bridge Nine Records, garnered widespread praise within the hardcore community and was honored as 'album of the year' by numerous genre-specific publications.

The band's songwriting explored subjects pertinent to both the hardcore scene and broader societal issues, such as self-perception, adherence to the straight edge philosophy, discipline, mutual respect, pacifism, pressures faced by youth, resilience, self-destructive tendencies, camaraderie, and family bonds. These lyrical themes positioned Have Heart as a pivotal force within the positive hardcore movement and the larger hardcore genre.

History

Originating from the revitalized Boston hardcore scene, Have Heart came together in 2002 with founding members Patrick Flynn on vocals, Ryan Hudon on guitar, and Ryan Briggs handling bass duties. Initially hailing from New Bedford, they moved to Boston after completing high school. The band initially featured a shifting local lineup and performed their inaugural show in July 2003, followed by a demo release in November of that year. This early recording attracted attention from Think Fast! Records, which signed them for their 2004 EP What Counts.

In 2005, Have Heart joined forces with the respected indie hardcore label Bridge Nine Records. During this period, lineup changes occurred with Kei Yasui and Shawn Costa stepping in to replace former members. Their first full-length album under Bridge Nine's banner, The Things We Carry, arrived in 2006. Between 2007 and 2008, the band embarked on extensive tours spanning the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America.

Their 2008 release Songs to Scream at the Sun marked a commercial milestone by debuting at number 193 on the Billboard 200 chart and reaching number 16 on the Top Heatseekers list.

2009: Disbandment

On May 13, 2009, vocalist Patrick Flynn announced that Have Heart would dissolve following their planned world tour. He shared this message on their Myspace page:

"As autumn approaches, we find ourselves unable to continue this band in the manner we desire. With this deadline looming and a global tour booked, we want to bid farewell to all those we've met around the world.
We invite everyone to join us during these final months of touring. Asia has been incredible; we deeply appreciate all the kindness shown.
Our concluding performance will be held on National Edge Day, October 17, 2009, near Boston. This event will support a women's shelter in New Bedford managed by my mother.
These past seven years have been remarkable. Thanks to all the exceptional hardcore fans and bands we've encountered along the way. You will always remain unforgettable.
Take care and hope to see you soon."

This announcement sparked over 400 comments from fans.

On that same day, Have Heart confirmed their breakup after wrapping up their final tour and performing one last show on October 17, 2009—National Edge Day—in Massachusetts. The tour featured support from Shipwreck and covered every major continent. Due to a family emergency, Flynn was absent for the first week of European dates; during this time Sam Yarmuth from Triple B Records filled in until Flynn rejoined on July 3 in Wiesbaden, Germany. At Moshvalleyfest in Belgium on July 25, Flynn mentioned intentions to release a final EP later that year; however, this plan was ultimately abandoned. The band also appeared at Fluff Fest in Czechia on July 26.

Posthumously, Bridge Nine Records issued a live album capturing Have Heart's final concert titled 10.17.09 on November 23, 2010. This release included both CD and DVD versions. Accompanying it was a booklet announcing We Were Supposed to Stay Young, a documentary DVD covering the band's history and contextualizing their role within the scene; its title references lyrics from Minor Threat's "Betray". This documentary was scheduled for release in 2012.

Final show

Have Heart’s farewell performance occurred on National Edge Day 2009 in Revere, Massachusetts alongside other straight edge acts. Fellow musicians shared testimonials highlighting Have Heart’s profound influence on their personal paths and musical careers. The setlist featured songs spanning all three albums and lasted approximately one hour. The audience responded enthusiastically—some even stage-dived using boogie boards. The concert concluded with "Watch Me Rise" from The Things We Carry. Afterward, Flynn lay down on stage as fans chanted "Have Heart" while he spent roughly twenty minutes recounting heartfelt stories about the band’s impact. Attendance estimates ranged between 1,500 (according to Flynn) and 2,000 (per Bridge Nine).

2010–2014: Activities Following the Split

Following the dissolution of Have Heart, Patrick Flynn pursued a career as a history educator while continuing his involvement in music. In 2010, Flynn and Shawn Costa collaborated with members from Dropdead, Fucking Invincible, and Voices Forming Weapons to establish Sweet Jesus. Additionally, Flynn partnered with Austin Stemper to form the straight edge group Clear, which released a demo in 2011. Subsequently, Flynn and Costa joined forces with members of Basement to create Fiddlehead, unveiling their initial demo in 2014.

2015–Present: Free Formation and Reunion Performances

In 2015, four of the last five members of Have Heart—Patrick Flynn, Kei Yasui, Shawn Costa, and Ryan Hudon—alongside touring guitarist Austin Stemper, initiated the band Free. Their self-titled four-track demo was recorded in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and released on November 29, 2015. This was followed by the EP Ex Tenebris, comprising four songs and recorded at Dead Air Studios, which came out on May 15, 2017. Flynn explained that while Free maintained the lineup and creative approach of Have Heart, the name change was intended to avoid eclipsing emerging hardcore bands.

In February 2019, Free announced eight reunion concerts under the Have Heart name scheduled for July 2019 in Leeds, Boston, Los Angeles, and Cologne. To promote these shows, Bridge 9 Records issued a limited-edition 7" single featuring "Lions and Lambs," an unreleased track from the Songs to Scream at the Sun sessions; this track was also made available on streaming platforms. The outdoor concert held in Worcester attracted approximately 8,560 attendees, ranking among the largest events in hardcore history.

On February 13, 2024, Have Heart revealed plans for five reunion performances between June 2 and July 24. These dates include co-headlining Outbreak Festival as well as headlining both Sound and Fury and Tied Down festivals.

Acclaim

The album Songs to Scream at the Sun earned a high rating of 4.0 (excellent) from Sputnikmusic and received 4 out of 5 stars from Punknews. It was also placed at number 11 on Punknews’ list of top albums for 2008.

Musical Style and Influences

Lead vocalist Pat Flynn described the band's objective as reviving the sound characteristic of youth crew bands while progressively incorporating more melodic elements into their songwriting. Their influences encompass bands such as Swiz, Turning Point, Inside Out, Crossed Out, Embrace, Count Me Out, and In My Eyes.

Band Members

Final Lineup

Patrick Flynn – vocals (2002–2009, 2019, 2024)
Ryan Hudon – guitar (2002–2009, 2019, 2024)
Kei Yasui – guitar (2005–2009, 2019, 2024)
Shawn Costa – drums (2005–2009, 2019, 2024)

Former Members

Ryan Briggs – bass (2002–2009)
Ryan Willis – guitar (2002–2003)
Eric St. Jacques – guitar (2002–2004)
Justin Paling – drums (2002–2005)
Austin Stemper – bass (2019); guitar (2009, touring)

Touring Musicians

Evan Radigan – drums (2004)
Trevor Vaughan – bass (2004, 2024)
Chris Cox – drums (2005)
J.D. Shipwreck – bass (2005)

Discography

Year	Title	Peak chart positions		Record label
Year	Title	US	US Heatseekers	Record label
2003	2003 (EP)	—	—	Bottled Up Records
2004	What Counts (EP)	—	—	Think Fast! Records
2006	The Things We Carry	—	—	Bridge Nine Records
2008	You Can't Go Home Again (EP)	—	—	Bridge Nine Records
2008	Songs to Scream at the Sun	193	16	Bridge Nine Records
2010	10.17.09 (live album)	—	—	Bridge Nine Records

References

External links