review of the class war kids “reflection! rage! rebellion!”

From the GRAND RAPIDS IS SCREAMING blog…

The Class War Kids
“Reflection! Rage! Rebellion!”

The Class War Kids describe themselves as “a political punk rock band who believe that music can be a force for positive change in our world, and that music should be catchy as shit!.” It’s an accurate way to describe their music which is full of sing along choruses—generally poppy in the vein of Propagandhi. I’m not entirely into the music (and I preferred the first CD to this one), but I’m thankful for bands that present anarchist politics in an accessible way. All too often it’s impossible to pick out the lyrics sung by “political” punk bands, so the Class War Kids are a welcome band. The songs urge folks to take to the streets and fight, with songs about the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (“Riot 2010”), the water wars in Bolivia, and other such topics. One of the standouts is the anti-sexual assault song “Never Her Fault” that takes an uncompromising attitude (could there be any other?) towards perpetrators of sexual assault. (Rebel Time Records)

class war kids…full set…edmonton 2008…

Thanks to Chris and The Grind for this!

PATTY FROM CLASS WAR KIDS ON “ROOTS ROCK REBEL”

This past week, Patty from THE CLASS WAR KIDS was interviewed on the Roots Rock Rebel radio show. Roots Rock Rebel is a fantastic ska/punk show coming out of Montreal, Quebec. Great music and great politics!

You can stream or download the podcast HERE!

CLASS WAR KIDS – MORE EUROTOUR VIDEO!

Here’s some footage of THE CLASS WAR KIDS playing at a place called Esperanza a few days back, with WASTED YOUTH and THE POLECATS…you can find more footage from this show HERE at the Diffidati Records blogspot…

CLASS WAR KIDS – DOING A COVER OF “WHITE RIOT” IN GERMANY

THE CLASS WAR KIDS in Germany…

CLASS WAR KIDS INTERVIEW

Maximum Rocknroll magazine said they were going to run this interview, but they never did. So, here’s an interview with Patty from The Class War Kids…

The Class War Kid are a political punk outfit out of Newfoundland, Canada, playing what’s been described as “uber-catchy, melodic, politically-charged, socially-conscious, activist posi-punk-pop.” Bit of a mouthful, but it sums up what they are all about. What follows is an interview with Patty O’Lantern, the Kids main song-writer, singer and guitarist

Could you provide us a brief history of the band?

Dave was playing in a band called Brat Attack and I was in a band called The Embarrassments, I met Dave when Brat Attack came through one year and The Embarrassments opened for them. A few years later he decided he wanted to move from Winnipeg, MB to St. John’s NL, We decided it would be an awesome idea to combine our efforts to try and write something, we also just thought it would be fun to be in a band together. Another friend of ours, Megan, was lined up to play bass and so we needed a drummer. After asking around a bunch we found one in Miles. We got together and wrote
some songs and recorded our first album ‘A Strong People Need No Leader’ toured it across Canada and then got picked up by Rebel Time Records. After the first album/tour we got back home and I started writing a follow up. Miles left the band shortly after the first tour for school and we got a new drummer named Kaitlyn, she was great but she decided she didn’t want to tour so we got Sean instead. Sean had been playing in another band with Dave and so that’s how we knew him. Megan left the band shortly after Miles for personal reasons and we tried a few people out before deciding on Kyle. Honestly I don’t think our lineup has been stronger than it is now. I love everyone who’s been involved with the band, we’re all still friends, but Kyle and Sean have certainly filled in all the gaps and totally raised the bar.

You guys say, and I quote, “The Class War Kids are a political punk rock band who believe that music can be a force for positive change in our world, and that music should be catchy as shit!” Having said that, what’s more important, the music or the message? Do you want people dancing or debating?

I’d like to see both happen at once to be honest, I think debates would
be way more interesting if people had to do the Hucklebuck or the Twist or something and talk politics at the same time; it’d be a challenge for the mind and the body.

The Hucklebuck?! Don’t know that one? You’ll have to teach me…!

The movement is pretty well outlined in the chorus to the song:

‘Push your partner out,
Then you hunch your back,
Start a little movement in your sacroiliac,
Wiggle like an eel, waddle like a duck,
That’s the way you do it when you do the Hucklebuck’

Actually that sounds like a fucking fantastic new way to throw down!

(Editor’s Note: Check out the Music Player to your right to listen to The Class War Kid’s version of The Hucklebuck. This song, (and 3 other covers songs) has been released by the band as a digtial EP, with all funds raised for it’s sale going to Haiti relief efforts. Check out the compilation here and buy it for just $3.00.  Again, all proceeds going to Haiti relief efforts.)

Okay…dance lesson is over, back to nitty-gritty… what’s more important, the music or the message?

Honestly I can’t imagine one without the other. Politics can be really
fucking boring, and it can be incredibly daunting to try to find a
starting point. Music infused with politics is a great way to start. I
don’t know how long it would have taken me to get involved (or if I even would have) without bands like Propagandhi and Rage Against the Machine.
There are PLENTY of other amazing political bands to choose from, those were just the first two that grabbed hold of me and screamed “fucking pay attention!” when I was a kid.

Any bands in particular with a “well thought out” message that have
influenced/inspired your song writing and lyrics?

I am really digging the Rebel Spell lately, Todd is a great lyricist. The
Fallout are super rad too. I’m finding more political bands everyday it’s
really great to know more bands are taking up arms in the struggle.
Broadcast Zero are working on a new record and I’m stoked on that.

OK, what strikes me about the songs on the album “A Strong People Need No Leader” is just how optimistic and, well, joyous, they are. Songs like “Break Me” “We’re Gonna Be Alright” and “Song for the Broken Hearted” are incredibly upbeat, both in terms of the music and the message. You seem pretty sure that “we’re gonna be alright”…how come?

The world has some pretty big problems that need to be solved, but it is a world worth fighting for and a fight worth romanticizing, as far as I’m concerned. Every time I turn around, I realize I am surrounded by love, by hope, and that provides the sense that everything is okay, that we are going to be alright. Our greatest asset in struggle is a positive outlook; negativity is defeating.

Speaking of issues, are there any in particular that The Class War Kids
are trying to get across?

I think we’re humanists, we believe in equality. We’re anti-fascist. I
write about a lot of things, violence; poverty; racism; sexism;
homophobia; I realize those are broad issues and I try to be specific,
thoughtful and inspire a message of hope.

You just released a new CD “Reflection! Rage! Rebellion!,” How
does it compare to “A Strong People Need No Leader”? Any particular
themes? What’s the title about?

The new album covers a range of issues, there’s an anti-military song, the last song on the new album is about sexual abuse, there’s one about the water wars in Bolivia, one about the 2010 Olympics etc… The title is a quote from Oscar Olivera, he was the person who led the riots during the water wars against the Bechtel Company.

You’re currently touring across Canada for the second time, right from
coast-to-coast…how’s that going? Any good stories? Any bands that have impressed you?

Yeah, last year everyone except me made it back in one piece, I was in two halves or maybe it was more like two thirds and one broken third, I’m not sure. This year I’m still in one piece.

Touring is a brilliant experience really; we get way tighter as musicians,
and much closer as a family. We get to learn a lot about geography, one another’s first kisses, eating habits, tendencies to wake up screaming” Where am I?!” all that awesome stuff.

There have been a few outstanding moments; we accidentally woke up in the United States at one point. There was a day Kyle and I rolled in the sand and when we stood up he yelled “Dude I totally feel like cinnamon toast crunch!” I found out that the stage that I broke my leg playing on last year was torn down and they rebuilt it after that happened, I asked the kids to start a petition to get the stage named after me.

So, what’s in the cards for The Class War Kids?

Well we just put out the new record in North America through Rebel Time Records, and we are in the process of setting up a spring/summer tour to promote the record in Europe alongside Fire and Flames Records.

And, I understand that The Class War Kids are featured on a new compilation put out by Insurgence Records and Turn It Down! A campaign Against White Power Music called Northern Aggression: Project Boneyard Volume II…

That’s right. Our song “Common Threads” is featured on the compilation, which should be out by the time you read this. We’re on there with some other hard-hitting bands like Union Made, The Class Assassins, The Fallout, Death In Custody, The Oppressed and a whole lot more. The compilation has been put together as a way of challenging the spread of fascist propaganda (and the accompanying bad music!). Specifically, it’s been put together as a direct response to the most recent Project Schoolyard sampler CD which was crapped out by a bonehead label in the US last year. The Insurgence Records website has lots more information about the Project Boneyard Volume II CD; the reasons for it, the history behind it and the campaign around it. And check out Turn It Down! A Campaign Against White Power Music too! You can also download the first Project Boneyard sampler from Insurgence Records for free.

Thanks for chatting Pat, any last words?

Thanks to MRR and everyone who has helped us make it this far. If anyone wants to stay up to date check out the Rebel Time website
(www.rebeltimerecords.com), where you can get our albums and/or our
Myspace (www.myspace.com/theclasswarkids)

THE CLASS WAR KIDS: “POLITICAL BAND RELEASES EP TO HELP HAITI”

Great article about THE CLASS WAR KID’S new digital EP…

By Christa Cram

http://www.cna.nl.ca/troubadour/Feb%202/Entertainment_ClassWarKids.html

Back in June of 2009, the St. John’s-based band Class War Kids recorded several cover songs before going on tour, but it wasn’t until the recent earthquake hit Haiti that it was clear what to do with those recordings.

As of January 28, these tracks have been released on an EP entitled Twinkle’s Last Stand. All proceeds from its sale are going to the Batay Ouvriye Haiti Solidarity Network.

“Originally it was going to be a free download EP to say thanks to our friends and fans for their support over the past two years – that or they were going to be used as exclusive tracks to an upcoming Rebel Time Records compilation,” said the band’s guitarist/singer, Patty O’Lantern. 

O’Lantern was listening to CBC on the night that the tragedy happened and felt compelled to assist in Haiti’s relief efforts.

“I remembered Propagandhi helped out after the WTC (World Trace Centre) fell during 9/11. They were out giving blood the next week and encouraged everyone to do the same,” O’Lantern recalled. “We are a political band. I wanted our music to do something rather than just say something. It’s funny because a week or so before us, Propagandhi announced they were releasing a digital EP for Haiti. I actually wrote (Propaghandi member) Chris Hannah and told him we were stealing his idea.”

“It just made absolute sense to do something like this,” explained Randy Rebel from the band’s label, Rebel Time Records. “I would imagine that we will leave the EP up for sale/download indefinitely and rest assured that any monies coming in, no matter when they come in, will be forwarded to Batay Ouvriye. It’s not like the crisis in Haiti will be over in a week or a month or a year, so the needs for funds and fundraising will continue.”

The Class War Kids are asking for a minimum donation of $3 for the four song digital EP or if you just want to download a song or two, a dollar for each track. 

“This way if people want to donate more they can, and if they can’t afford much they can still have a copy,” said O’Lantern. “We try to keep everything we make as inexpensive as possible. We’re not in it to make tons of cash; we’re in it to make a difference…I want it to be accessible to kids.”

The album is available on bandcamp and includes the Class War Kids’ take on songs by some great artists such as the Weakerthans and Joe Strummer.

“We can play a ton of covers ’cause it’s fun to throw something into the set when you get bored of the same set list; thus we just chose our faves – ones we kinda really put our own twist on, made them our own and recorded,” said Davey Brat, singer/guitarist for the Class War Kids.

The band hopes that with a little effort, the sales of the EP will help make some difference in Haiti and offer support in their time of need.

“We hope to help alleviate some of the suffering and turmoil that is going on right now down in Haiti,” said Brat.

They chose The Batay Ouvriye Haiti Solidarity Network to donate the money to because they trust that it will get into the right hands with their assistance and actually help Haiti in rebuilding.

“I was excited to think that not only was the money being used to help the people of Haiti but that it was for the poor and working class to organize themselves against the multinational corporations that have helped to solidify the poverty that Haiti is buried underneath,” said O’Lantern.

“One of the biggest issues that the Haitian people are going to face in the wake of this disaster is the cost of rebuilding their country,” said O’Lantern. “When tragedies like this strike, there is a small window between aid pouring in and the voracious feeding frenzy that follows with companies looking to be contracted to rebuild decimated countries. Natural disasters, much like wars, are fantastic for business. The last thing the Haitian people need is to be driven further into the red by greedy North American contractors who will spare no expense.”

It’s clear that this is something The Class War Kids are passionate about, and they really want to make a difference.

“I am hoping that our contribution, however small, will help the working people of Haiti to rebuild their own nation so that they don’t end up incurring a disgustingly large bill from us that they’ll never be able to get out from under,” said O’Lantern.

THE ROTTEN AND THE CLASS WAR KIDS: “BEST OF 2009″

Both THE ROTTEN and THE CLASS WAR KIDS made the FLEX YOUR HEAD radio show’s “Best Of 2009″ lists! Check out/download the January 5th and January 12 shows and enjoy some great music…

Again, many thanks to the college/community radio stations and radio shows that play Rebel Time Records bands…greatly appreciated…

And, if you do a radio show and would like to play Rebel Time Record’s bands, drop us a line!

New Rebel Time Record Reviews From RIOT 77 Zine

From the latest issue of RIOT 77, a great punk rock zine out of Ireland…

The Brat Attack
Those Who Sow Sorrow Shall Reap Rage
Some well-informed hardcore here from Canada’s The Brat Attack. In what may be a collection of recent works, this disc gathers together fourteen tracks recorded over the space of six months. Undoubtedly from the same political (and at times musical) stable as fellow Canucks Propaghandi and earlier the Subhumans, this band are vegan torch-bearers out to put an end to the capitalist agenda of conservative world leaders and call for a leveling of the playing field. Truthfully, The Brat Attack can back themselves up pretty well in the booklet that accompanies this release and their politics are ones of inclusion rather than alienation, which makes a refreshing change from being spoken down to, as if often the case with bands as militant as this. A lot of effort has clearly gone into getting their message across correctly, inspiring and informing instead of aggravating the listener. With plenty of info and food for thought to be found here, the ideas expressed are well thought-out and avoid any dogma.

Broadcast Zero
Yesterday, You Could Change The World
Like Youth Brigade on speed, Broadcast Zero are a tight unit, playing no-nonsense Street Punk and Hardcore. Singer Nick Shrubsole has a pair of lungs on him that casts my mind back to hearing Mike Marsden of The Ducky Boys for the first time. Yup, those pipes are about to blow at any given second. The onslaught of Broadcast Zero is rich in the traditions of Punk Rock’s past, but there’s a spirit in here that makes me realize we’ve lost something along the way that this band is eager to put back. Choppy riffs that plough the hooks into your brain with brute force instead of sweetness. Pointing the finger at the outside world whilst maintaining a degree of warmth and affection for the listener, this connected with me on a level I expect from Punk Rock but unfortunately don’t always get.

The Class War Kids
Reflection! Rage! Rebellion!
The Class War Kids from Canada are a heavily politicized bunch of Street Punk miscreants. Musically this reminds me of some of the crossover stuff No Idea has invested in, where Street Punk and Midwestern Hardcore influences don’t seem all that far apart. Both favour singalongs, screeching guitars and pounding drum rhythms. Layer some hoarse vocals over the top and you’ve got a recipe for some very fine music indeed. The added bonus with The Class War Kids is of course their social conscience. The band shows no inhibitions in laying out it’s stall and calling out all those they feel responsible for the current state of trans-global relations. What really tips this record in my favour though is simply the kick-ass songs, that remind me of how good the old Punk Rock can be without all the trimmings. The beefy two-guitar attack lays waste to all in it’s path. Well played.

The Rotten
Enemy Of The State
From Canada, The Rotten are signed to an offshoot label of Insurgence and though no press info accompanied any of the releases from Rebel Time, its safe to say this band operate within the North American Street Punk circuit. With an emphasis placed on rhythm and pace, The Rotten are well aware they aren’t re-inventing the wheel here, but could care less and keep the focus on the good times. The upsurge in bands like this in the 90’s kicked the sheen right off Punk Rock at a time when it needed it most and brought back a sense of fun to the genre that had almost given way to PC histrionics. The Rotten make their point and share their love of a well-constructed Punk tune with the listener. Sometimes all it takes is a guitar lick and a snarl to bring a smile to my face and The Rotten occupy that slot on the stereo today.

OLD PUNKS NEVER DIE (OR LIE)

A few choice reviews from one of our favourite blogs: OLD PUNKS NEVER DIE. Well worth keeping an eye on, and, for those across the pond, The Old Punk stocks a good selection of Insurgence Records and Rebel Time Records material.

THE BRAT ATTACK – THOSE WHO SOW SORROW SHALL REAP RAGE

This is The Brats fourth album, and I don’t know how the fuck I missed the other three. This is anthemic rebel noise done right proper! Clearly designed to upset our enemies and fire us up in equal measure, the tracks are a finely-tuned and targeted assault on the stupidity that constitutes the current social order. It’s a big target, but The Brats main-line their attack straight into the system’s nerve centre. This is music that goes well beyond the meaningless clichés often found in lesser offerings. This mob know it’s 2009 not 1979 and, while they’re clearly well versed in our history, they’re also fully aware of the reality of the struggle today. ‘Those Who Sow Sorrow…’ is a beautifully angry response to the situation we currently find ourselves in.

That’s not to say they’ve forgotten their roots – there are definitely nods to the likes of Aus Rotten and The (English) Subhumans in their approach, but there’s also a strong flavour of bang-up-to-date melodic streetpunk underpinning the whole lot. Of course, without the intelligent, witty, and straight-talking lyrics, this would be nothing more than pleasing ear candy à la Rancid, and there’s more than enough of that sort of nonsense in the world already. The Brats are clearly not a part of that poseur punk mindset. It’s abundantly clear that they’re willing to accept the challenge of making punk rock a threat again.

The accompanying promo sheet nicely summarises the whole package as ‘a hummus-powered, positive & purposeful punk rock radical-left political primer… [that's] even got melody, hooks & a catchy chorus or two!’. This is the sound that fills you with hope as you put a match to the Molotov in your hand and in your head.

OP’s opinion: @@@@@

THE CLASS WAR KIDS – REFLECTION! RAGE! REBELLION!

I love this band! I want to have their babies and breed an army of punk rock superheroes hell-bent on creating regime-changing anarchy! OK, I know that I don’t have the appropriate ladybits required for babymaking but, if I did, my womb would be theirs. These young soul rebels have revolution etched into their genetic make-up.

This disc picks up from where the last one left off without simply being more of the same. It keeps all of the energy, urgency and humour that hooked me first time without sounding in the least bit rehashed. You could quite happily play their entire recorded output back to back and enjoy every fist-pumping, life-enhancing, sweat-soaked second of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you then pressed ‘repeat’ and did it all over again.

Even at their most serious, The Kids aren’t afraid of making you laugh while they fire you up. When they tackle sexual indoctrination and self-restriction in ‘Cherry Poppin’ Conservatives’, they do it with a literal ‘fuck you’ attitude, happily asserting that ‘it don’t matter who’s into penis or vagina, if you like ‘em both, best of ya!’. The remedy is to ‘whip it out, slap it around’ while also making sure that Christian Conservatives get their ‘ass cherry popped!’. Sounds like one hell of a party.

The funnies don’t always fit the theme, and that’s where the poetry of their message shines through. ‘The reason I’m so angry is because I’m so in love, I won’t give up but one heart can only bleed so much for a world so fucked up’ (‘Love & Anger’) captures the essence of why we feel so compelled to scream out, and how we’re building a future based on love as we kick down the world around us.

This whole package brings to life Raoul Vaneigem’s lesson that ‘people who talk about revolution and class struggle without referring explicitly to everyday life, without understanding what is subversive about love and what is positive in the refusal of constraints, such people have a corpse in their mouth’. In true punk rock style, The Kids spat the corpse out a long time ago.

OP’s opinion: @@@@@

THE ROTTEN – ENEMY OF THE STATE

On first listen, I was a bit underwhelmed by this offering. But I quickly realised that my mistake was playing this straight after the other two and not giving my brain a chance to reset. Much like wine appreciation, you need to clean your aural palate when enjoying fine music.

Suitably refreshed, I hit play again. What a difference a cup of tea makes to your ears. The Rotten may not have quite the same the musical or lyrical prowess of their label breathren, but that doesn’t stop ‘em expressing themselves in no uncertain terms. The noise is stripped down, punked up and gobbed out in the finest tradition of the old school style. There’s a decent dose of street politics and wrong-side-of-the-tracks anger aimed at the ‘great and good’, as well as tongue-in-cheek humour and the desire to just have fun. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

The influence of Canuck punk pioneers DOA courses through the veins of these 21st century (angelic) upstarts, underpinning but not overpowering this rough diamond of a record.

The Rotten – they’re anything but.

OP’s opinion: @@@@