Griffen Handshake – Backwards Country
Genre: Punk-rock
The propaganda of empires always has them spoken about as saviours and heroes. They are civilizing agents travelling to people whose culture has existed for thousands of years and taking them out of the Dark Ages. They are very generous in this way. And, for their troubles, they take some of the resources that the land has to offer. It’s only right!
Griffen Handshake have seen this modern propaganda firsthand and aren’t too impressed. Their vehicle for protesting is punk rock, a tool that has proven highly effective over the years.
The U.S.A. is a relatively new empire, and at the rate that things are going not one that will keep its status for long. Sadly, some of the goodwill that the country built during the first part of the last century has been eroded nowadays by all types of internal strife, including frequent and senseless gun violence.
Griffen Handshake’s “Backwards Country” is a punk-rock song filled with righteous anger, a tune about the terribly rich’s terrible problems. It’s a song that dares to question the general narrative about peace and understanding in one of the world’s most prosperous countries. For the rest of us, it’s a glimpse into what we, until recently, must’ve assumed had to resemble paradise.
The Bolokos – Factory
Genre: Punk
You need a permit to do anything nowadays! Anything of any importance, at least. Try to create anything for yourself, your family, or your community, and some official will surely come knocking on your door, asking about your intentions and telling you to pay a tax. Doing things truly on your own seems like a pipe dream most of the time.
In most countries, artists must jump through the same hoops. Becoming a musician, an actor, or a writer involves going to school, paying tuition, and, most often, kissing up to the older artists that believe have earned their place. Rebellion of any sort is greatly discouraged. The Bolokos will hear none of it.
In fact, perhaps, this is why punk rock, the kind played by The Bolokos on their single “Factory,” is so important. It’s predicated on the idea that you don’t need anyone’s approval to do it, no permits have to be handed out, and nobody can even question your ability to play and sing. Ain’t that a rare form of pure artistic expression? For their part, The Bolokos created an entire punk-rock spectacle in which they sat centre stage. Their music is filled with anger but also with the promise of a good time for all those who might be willing to accompany them. And who can argue with them? Can’t tell ‘em nuthin’.
