This is not Greg Benedetto, but it is a picture of a show he has put together.

Who are you?

My name’s Greg Benedetto. I’m one of the members of Stuck in the City.

What is Stuck in the City?

Stuck in the City is a collective of individuals who work together in
various capacities to put on shows in Toronto. We also maintain a
website, where we post photos, show reviews, updates and interviews.
We try and focus on things specifically related to the hardcore
community here.

Was there a specific moment that made you want to put this all
together? Perhaps you were stuck in Toronto one summer?

Haha. The name itself is actually a reference to a song by BREAKDOWN.
I decided on that name not just because the song rules, but because in
one way or another, we’re all stuck here, so we’ve gotta make the best
of our city.

The whole thing came together last winter actually. I had been trying
to get bands to come up here for awhile but with next to no luck. The
only band I had ever convinced to come up all on my own was THE FIRST
STEP. I was pretty happy about that though – they were one of my
favourites when they were around. But, eventually, with a few good
friends vouching for my ability to do it, I had a few more shows come
my way and I decided to really pursue it. The whole idea was that by
continuing to do shows we could create some sort of community for kids
to participate in here, which is something I felt was lacking a bit in
the year before this started. The site itself was created as a way of
keeping kids interested in what’s going on. With the way
communications is changing these days, using the internet to reach out
to kids 19 & younger is almost a necessity.

Who are your favourite hardcore bands? Have any of them played any
SITC shows yet? Any in the works?

It’s hard to say who my favourites are right now. I was really into
those FORFEIT and TRAPPED UNDER ICE records last summer and those
bands have both played here. I’m also really excited about MINDSET
coming up here to play. They’ve got a lot of great things to say. I’d
really like to see GOVERNMENT WARNING & ANNIHILATION TIME make it up
here at some point.

Do you have a favourite SITC show so far? If so, why?

My favourite show was probably the CEREMONY/TRAPPED UNDER ICE last
summer. At the time it was the biggest show we had done and it was a
total surprise. It couldn’t have gone better really. There was a great
turnout, the bands were all paid well and it went off without a hitch.
The recent HAVE HEART show was pretty gratifying though. It was a
great feeling to sit on that stage in a room with over 500 people in
it.

Any big plans for the Stuck in the City name beyond shows? I heard
word of a possible label – is this true?

Yeah, I’m fucking with a label idea. I really want there to be
documentation of what’s going on here. Once all is finalized, you’ll
hear about it. Outside of that, Stuck in the City just does shows.

Has the Stuck in the City name gotten big enough that bands contact
you for a show when they are coming to Toronto? Or do you still have
to do most of the footwork?

If you’re not putting in time and effort, then you’re not doing
anything. What we do is a direct reflection of the time we put in.
Some people seem to know the name outside of Toronto, but building
trust and reputation is important to being able to pull some of this
stuff off and those things do not come without hard work.

I appreciate you taking time for this interview. As a closing, any
last words? Also, what your favourite records right now?

Contribute to the scene in anyway you can. Everyone can do it. If
you’re a local band and you want to play shows, you better be
attending first. If you’re a local band and you want to get “signed”,
fuck off. A huge thank you to anyone who has made a zine, came to a
show or plays in a band.

Favourite records right now:
Morne – Demo 2008
Pulling Teeth – Paradise Illusions/Paranoid Delusions
Mindset – REALPOWER
One Last Wish – 1986
Rival Mob – Raw Life.
Obits – I Blame You
Mega City Four – Tranzophobia

VISIT THE STUCK IN THE CITY WORDPRESS HERE

Upcoming shows (copied from the SITC wordpress – as is some pics and stuff up above!)

The Effort, I Refuse, In Time, Bored Stiff – May 26th @ Siesta Nouveaux
Amebix, Brutal Knights, Kim Phuc, Murder Squad T.O., Legion 666 – May 30th @ The Kathedral
Cruel Hand, Urban Blight, Rah, Hazardous Waste, Bad Choice, U.V.Ray – June 13th @ Siesta
No Harm Done, Energy, Static Radio NJ, Think Again – June 20th @ Siesta Nouveaux
Coke Bust, Sick Fix, Urban Blight, Hazardous Waste – July 8th @ Siesta Nouveaux
Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, The Endless Blockade, U.T.I. – July 13th @ Siesta Nouveaux
Have Heart, Shipwreck, Bitter End, Cruel Hand, Bad Choice – August 18th @ The Kathedral