(guest blogged by Howie Klein)
A friend turned me on to an indie band from Florida a few years ago--friends of his--he said he was 100% positive I would love. He was right. They're Against Me! They're not exactly a new band, more like an underground band that is just starting to surface. Tom Gabel, the singer and guitar player started playing as Against Me! a decade and a half ago. He was just an impassioned singer-songwriter back then. Now he's an impassioned singer-songwriter with a kick ass punk band behind him. Do you ever hear older folks who were against the War in Vietnam complaining that there are no young musicians making socially relevant music anymore? They're wrong; they're just not going to the right places to listen.
You won't find Against Me on too many corporately owned radio stations or see them on former music TV channels like MTV. A better place to hear and see their music is at MySpace or YouTube. Tonight the band's first video, "White People For Peace," from their Sire Records debut NEW WAVE (which comes out next month) is our LNMC song.
They've been releasing indie albums since 2002 when REINVENTING AXL ROSE came out but NEW WAVE will be the first since 2005's SEARCHING FOR A FORMER CLARITY. Tom decided to call the album that for a reason. "We felt like that was our mission statement, or our manifesto for the record. Instead of sitting back and complaining about how there's no good music out there, you should be energized and take things over. Be the bands you want to hear. It meant 'wave' in a literal sense, coming and washing away mediocrity... Why let someone else have the loudest voice?"
Tonight's contest has 3 parts:1- The town where Against Me! is from has been identified with 3 huge rock stars, among the most famous in rock history. Name the 3.2- The guy who produced Against Me!'s new album is a major producer. Name 3 superstars he produced in the past.
3- Tell us the name of your all-time favorite protest song and tell us why it's your favorite. Send your responses to downwithtyranny@aol.com
And the prize? Let us surprise you.
Congratulations to Al for winning the gayest songs contest/Streisand DVD. Thanks for being a part of our LNMC community! We had close to 700 entries! Read below the fold for the most popular choices
Our readers think the gayest song ever is "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls. The other 4 gayest songs:
"Smalltown Boy"- Bronski Beat
"YMCA"- Village People
"Dancing Queen"- ABBA
"Reel Around the Fountain"- The Smiths
