Punk and politics have always gone hand in hand. It has served as an outlet for the voice of the people since the seventies; for the underdogs, the disenchanted, and the passionate. Even though the style of punk may have changed over the years, musically, the attitude is there and the fire still burns in countless bands. One band who chose never to shy away from what they believe in, be it politically, ethically, or personally, is Strike Anywhere.
“For me, the historical disaster that is our current political climate – and the conditions which inspired the Brexit vote for your fellow citizens – has been brewing and building like a virus for a while,” says Strike Anywhere vocalist, Thomas Barnett. “We all live inside a system that demands absolute dependency on faulty institutions that don’t serve us and instead work against us; late-capitalist nations in a global military, surveillance and market state of total war.
“The newer wrinkle in this tired-ass equation, to me, seems to be an issue with information. How we process truth and how vulnerable we are to manipulation on a now global and instantaneous scale,” he continues, delving further into the current state of the world. “So, yeah, in some ways, the shock and powerlessness that the election broadcasted into a lot of our country, and the world, isn’t a question of not understanding how it manifested, but how we didn’t see it coming sooner, and clear as daylight.”
Barnett speaks with an informed sense of confidence when discussing such issues as the recent US presidential election, and last year’s EU Referendum. You get the feeling he has analysed every detail, looking for answers. His delivery and manner of speaking help you understand the importance of Strike Anywhere.
“The critical aspect of our songs has always been to engage in the deep state, expose and combat the transformation of culture into a weapon against the majority of living beings, and the rendering of politics itself as a theatre to keep us disorganised and paranoid,” he continues. “A lot of this, unfortunately, is still what we’d write about – it’s the processing of the Trump election and the deep resistance to the expected mobilisation of the far right that would accompany his presidency that we need to address, both as counter culture contributors, and physically to defend our rights and the rights of the vulnerable minorities in our community who will be increasingly at risk.”
While some bands lose their spark or the will to fight, that’s certainly not the case for Strike Anywhere, who formed back in 1999 in Richmond, Virginia. “We are angry and hungry, as ever, to do this thing with our whole heart and have those moments at shows where we feel in the eye of a storm of amazing, fearless, creative and compassionate folks,” reveals Barnett, opening up about where the band is both professionally, and personally.
“I think we are also getting really motivated to try and put together a new collection of songs and try and pull the time out of the air to make it happen. There have been some new additions to the Strike Anywhere family this past year, and my band mates who are new fathers are busy up to their eyeballs.
“Amid all the political strife and noise, and the restless weeks of working and waiting, there are bright, peaceful and beautiful moments with friends and family that also inform our commitment to this band and this scene – even as the youngest of us dawns on middle-age-for-punks,” he continues.
”I’ve had my grey hairs now for half a decade and it seems that a lot of our generation of the punk and hardcore global community are still in this fight. This sonic medicine against the Adult Crash helps! So, to sum up: HANGRY!”
Despite it being eight years since Strike Anywhere released their last album, ‘Iron Front’, their audience is just as ready for new music. After the band posted an image on their Facebook page, a quick glance at the comments showed people saying things such as “we need you now, more than ever,” or jubilant statements thanks. It’s a connection between band and audience that few could match.
“We believe this relationship with our audience to be one where we learn and are a part of a continuum of equality,” admits Barnett, expressing his gratitude. “We aren’t always going to have the perfect response, or even the clearest outlook on some issues, and need to be able to get in the mix of life and learn what we need to about social movements, individual experiences, and especially ourselves.
“We are on the same path as our audience, and won’t be put on a pedestal; This is the No Heroes Movement – although the times are critical and the level of anxiety may be higher than it’s ever been in the Digital West. We all need inspiration, and, as bands and songwriters, the courage to listen and stay connected, not proclaim something untested from a distance.”
