Make Punk Political Again
my thoughts followed by practical steps to incorporate activism to shows
Amidst Trump’s election, the genocide in Gaza, and global warming, all fueled by good ol’ fashioned fascism on the rise around the world, I think it’s important that musicians and artists do their part to bring tangible, visual, and audial expression to the revolution. Music is loved by all people, across party lines and borders. Humans. Fucking. Love. Music. Before we spoke, we sang.
Musicians have been speaking their messages in song to push the public since the music industry became a thing. From Nina Simone to Pete Seeger to John Lennon to Joe Strummer to Kathleen Hanna to Zack de la Rocha, all these people infused their beliefs into their music one way or another, clearly or subliminally, and they were able to invoke ideological change and inspire action through their melodies, lyrics, and instrumentation. In 2002, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros played an electric benefit show for firefighters on strike in London. It was at this show that Mick Jones, Joe’s former bandmate from The Clash, reunited after almost 20 years. This show not only brought funds to the Fire Brigades Union, but it also inspired hope, passion, and press for their strike. I mean, imagine fighting your bosses, and then hearing “I Fought The Law” live!
I see music, especially singing, as an incredibly spiritual practice, the universe gifting little ideas in my head for me to share with the world. I don’t know where they come from, and often times words fall out of my mouth before I can even register what is being said. Art makes feelings tangible. You can see your sadness visualized in a painting, you can feel the warmth of love and the ache of longing in a song. Is that not divine? Artists are sensitive. And if you’re an artist, ask yourself, do you really not feel the unrest in the collective consciousness, the distress of the Earth and its living inhabitants? What are we numb to?
I give us, as a species, grace. I think the wealthy, cis, white, puritanical men who have ruled for centuries have done a thorough job of brainwashing us to be their pawns, especially in the Divided States of America. We’re stumbling around their labyrinth of fucked up shit. With capitalism, you’re taught not to care, not to pay attention, not to change anything -- suck it up and make money for your boss like the rest of us. Capitalism, colonization, white supremacy, patriarchy, they’ll be the end of us if we let them.
But back to music.
Have you ever been to a protest without music? Sorry, but they’re boring. Now…you get a drum line, and we’re having a party while blocking traffic. Music feeds spirit. Music makes people happy. Music memorializes the struggles and triumphs of those that came before us. Music makes people feel heard. Who of us hasn’t been soothed by our favorite songs in a time of crisis?
Concerts are gatherings. Concerts are places where people connect with each other. Concert halls are third spaces. Venues become churches, churches of rock and electronica, a space where spirit is amplified and felt by all who attend. Shows are powerful vessels for change.
Frankly, I’m appalled by the lack of action from many bands and artists despite the dire condition our Earth is in right now (I’m looking at you cis white boy bands and old heads that have real power in this industry). “But music and concerts are an avenue of escape! People don’t wanna hear about politics, they want to dance!” I hear that. I really do. However, I’m not gonna accept that as a reason to stand by while I watch this holy world and its inhabitants suffer for no reason other than greed. You want to escape -- FROM OUR SHARED REALITY! A reality shaped by oppressive laws and the status quo, a reality constructed by and for the wealthy, a reality that WE CAN CHANGE. We do not have to live like this. A better world is possible.
I do think there is a huge value in just providing an hour of happiness to a big group of people. I have tailored my own approach to shows and activism for this reason. I also didn’t want to rely on speaking on stage to be the sole political action of the night. I want ACTION, material, measurable action. Trust, there are ways to incorporate activism into the concert experience without taking away the fun part of the show.
I will now explain some of my strategies.
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The gist of what I do is one, make the show as accessible as I can and two, bring a mutual aid group to speak on stage and table throughout the show.
(I say “mutual aid groups” a lot. I try to find groups that are focused on direct action like distributing food and other resources, but I have also invited groups that educate and train people in restorative justice. Basically, I intentionally look for groups that are by and for the community they serve.)
Destroy Boys books with a booking agent and we tour with a tour manager, so that’s where I’ll be speaking from. However, these should all be adaptable to a DIY show. I am super grateful to my tour manager, Jess, who has helped me in coordinating this and is often the one to introduce bands. You can also do this if you are a promoter or venue booker. I don’t think the responsibility should fall exclusively on bands, especially cause it would be a lot easier for each venue to have a few groups to coordinate with.
There are two sides of this from what I can gather.
One, is advancing the show, and two, is the contact with the political/social group.
Advancing the show means letting the venues know everything the band needs for that day. The tour manager sends all the normal info, plus this list of accessibility needs for the show, high up on the advance email so they don’t miss it. Here’s my list, copy and pasted from the advance emails (and slightly edited cause we just went on tour and learned some new things):
“- There will most likely be a mutual aid group coming. This means we need an extra table near merch or somewhere with solid foot traffic for them to set up. They will arrive around 30 minutes before doors (or earlier if the venue wants)
- No flashing lights during the DB set [if support is using strobes, they need to advance for signs to be put up]
- ADA accessible or have accommodations for people in wheelchairs
- Earplugs readily available for free or $1
- Gender neutral bathrooms (signs that say "stalls" and "stalls and urinals" -- no wording just a description of what kind of bathroom it is)
- Narcan on hand”
The venues often have questions the day of the show. We haven’t run into any problems with this so far.
Once the advancing is done, it’s time to find the groups. Here’s a how to.
Find a group in the city you’re playing in that you want to platform. This can actually be really frustrating sometimes, but it can be done. My usual go-to is to search “Mutual aid [city name]” on Instagram or Google. I also look for groups like Food Not Bombs and Sunrise Movement which are all over the US. Do some research, ask your friends, ask your fans, you will find them.
Send them a dm or an email. Here’s a template of how I usually write mine:
Hello [group name],
My name is [name] and I [play this instrument] in [this band]. I really like your organization because [reason]. I would like to invite a few representatives of your organization to come speak and table at our show. We’re going on a tour/playing a show in [city name] at [venue name] on [date of show]. If you’re interested, I can send you more details.
Best,
Alexia
Follow up.
If they don’t respond, I send another email being like “Hi, just making sure you’ve seen this.”
If they respond and they’re interested, I tell them
What time to show up (usually 30 minutes to an hour before doors)
Who to contact (My tour manager’s name and phone number for questions and entrance on the day of the show)
What to bring (zines, shirts, flyers, harm reduction materials, maybe a light for the table in case it’s dark. Generally I’m like “bring whatever you want” but some venues have restrictions on things like food)
When and how long they’re speaking (5-10 minutes before the DB set, so if we play at 10 I ask them to be side stage by 9:45, and I ask them to keep it under 5 minutes)
Then I ask them for:
- a name for the guest list
- the amount of spots they need
- a number to contact them the day of the show
If they aren’t able to make it, I tell them no worries, and I ask if they can lead me in the direction of another group that might be interested, and they usually do. If they can’t make it this time, I’ll come back around and ask next tour.
Show day. By this point, everything should be in place. Mutual aid shows up and has their spot. We chat for a moment if I have time. Fans go to the table and learn about the org and sign up to volunteer. Tour manager or a liaison texts the group before speaking time, and will guide them to the stage if it’s crowded. The group is introduced, they speak for a few minutes, the crowd cheers, it’s awesome. They go back to the table and then it’s show time.
And that’s that!
Pretty simple stuff really.
I’ve also managed to get $1 added to the ticket sales that will go to the group at the end of the night. I haven’t found a perfect way to do this, yet. (Logistically it’s like “does it come out of our guarantee” “who do we write the check to”... it’s a work in progress lol). But I literally just emailed my booking agent and I was like “hey can you add $1 to each ticket sale for mutual aid groups for this upcoming tour” and he was like “yep!”I’m not sure how it’s gonna shake out yet, it’s kind of a day of thing (In the past, the venue has written a separate check, I’ve written checks and gotten reimbursed later). So if your booking agent says they can’t do it, they’re probably lying to you (If ticketmaster can add $69 in services fees, I can add one dollar). I remember one group, after receiving $1100 one night, told me that “this money is going to save lives”. This, from an email that took me one minute to write.
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Surround yourself with people who believe in the vision and support your efforts.
Invite a mutual aid group to your show.
Make your show accessible.
Add a dollar to ticket sales for mutual aid groups.
Give the mutual aid group signed merch to raffle off.
Print merch and give the profits away to organizations doing work you want to support.
Throw a benefit show.
Hire all kinds of people. Hire women. Hire POC.
Make zines and sell them with your merch.
Wear radical clothing with a message.
Deck out your instruments with statements.
Write political songs.
Display a flag on an amp.
Speak on stage. Even for 10 seconds.
JUST DO SOMETHING.
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I have been inviting groups to speak at shows since 2021, and I don’t plan on stopping, just scaling up as we go. I am so happy by how the Destroy Boys crowds listen and uplift the people speaking. I am so honored to have fans as cool as you all, seriously. I’ve heard from many groups about how our fans have become a part of their organization, and how it makes them happy to table at such a fun event. My heart!
If you would like to request access to my spreadsheet of organizations, feel free to contact me and I will assess from there. (I will not be giving this spreadsheet out willy nilly because it has people’s information on there, and I do NOT want it falling into the wrong hands). If you personally don’t want to organize anything, I’m sure you have a friend who you could throw some cash to that would do it for you and your band.
I hope this was helpful, informative, and inspiring.
Please, just fucking do something.
Shared photo by Collin Heroux
Once I start either producing or playing shows I will mostly be in one area, would you think it would be better to just have one group come in consistently or try and change it up each show? I’m not sure which would be most effective