Happy May Day! White Light Parade: House of Commons, coming 05/18

White Light Parade promises us they are “a band on a mission for a call to action and to rebel against the establishment.” Perfect fodder for your May Day celebrating, eh? They certainly promote rebellion in quite an appealing way. Watch that video, I mean, that is some downright pretty rebellion right there, folks!!! Fascism might be imminent but go to your window and yell angrily, because waking up the population to the possibility of a classless and free society will cure youthful dystopia and boredom. Yes, I critique this (partly) in jest. But of all the tracks on this album, “Wake Up” is the most prettied up, the sugar coated rebellion for the middle class, with it’s melodic chorus and cute boy lead singer prominently featured. The only other song that approaches the marketability of “Wake Up” just happens to be “Wait For the Weekend,” the other track of this album that has been released early as it’s debut single. This band is being marketed very shrewdly. Yet, it is “Riot in the City,” one of the harshest tracks on the album, House of Commons that is making someone a load of money as it’s featured in the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto IV. I wish I could give it to you to download, but no tracks have been released from the album yet. Wood For The Trees, from a previous recording, gives you an idea of their range of sound in comparison to what you see on the videos below. (above track given with permission by Cannonball PR)

This band suffers from an identity crisis. Or perhaps it is all young rockers who suffer from an identity crisis. Perhaps we will all suffer from an identity crisis until we’re forced to chose one. Can I say that I live out my political ideals in my daily life? Absolutely not, not by a mile do I make choices on the local level that reflect how I really feel about the power of the State and how it must be kept in check and by whom. But, that does not stop me from spouting off my opinions at various times and in various places, resulting in varying degrees of success. I reserve the right to both criticize and evangelize, regardless of my lack of 100% adherence to principles. I’m human, not a megalomanic bitch and I try to live in the real world. So I give White Light Parade a break for selling out to the MAN and providing Grand Theft Auto a soundtrack with which to desensitize our children towards violence and sexist behavior. The rest of House of Commons is really full of thought-provoking songs, only a few being more pop inspired than their politicized image can support. Enjoy this band’s success, we all need music for the revolution, and “Riot In The City” is indeed a great anthem for this generation of working class rock-n-rollers. Of course comparisons will be made to the Clash, for White Light Parade is a band from the UK, with that bang of the drums and clash of cymbals accompanied by sharp guitar solos and punctuated vocals that show their debt to that great band. I maintain that House of Commons remains an album with something to say, and it’s timing could not be better.

Tracklist:

Burn It Down
Humdrum
Wake Up
Riot In The City
Wait For the Weekend
Shotgun
We Start Fires
Surrender
Losing Control
Young Believers
Heroes and Foes

White Light Parade* – Riot In The City from Jennifer Morris on Vimeo.

Tour Dates:
2 May 2009 Live At Leeds @ Cockpit Main Stage 3pm Leeds

9 May 2009 Wolves Little Civic Wolverhampton

14 May 2009 Water Rats London

20 May 2009 The Harley Sheffield

21 May 2009 Indie+ @ Warehouse 14+ Middlesbrough

24 May 2009 We Rock The Village Halifax

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Who else holds the torch for sticking it to the MAN in this time of economic collapse? I have to honestly say that I’m not sure, I’m not the perfect fan to ask. In all my dilettantism, I barely dabble in anarcho-punk music, in labor-folk and the music of the politically rebellious. I do know of a few sources: G7 Welcoming Committee remains a resource despite it’s best intentions You can order Propaghandi’s latest album, Supporting Caste, from them there. They’ll also tell you all about The Weakerthans too. Of course, Billy Bragg remains true to his calling and if you don’t know his political tunes you should. And of course, there is the World Inferno Friendship Society, who I’ve covered on these pages recently. I’ve not listened to much of The (International) Noise Conspiracy but they are legit anarcho-rock too.

Blogs you should know that I know:
Cactus Mouth Informer which is a wonderful mix of social commentary, music, war poetry and some odd 80s stuff. Highlander has backed me up, taught me much, and made my day many times, xoxo
Armagideon Time which is a crazy mixed up mess of cartoon snark/social commentary and music and good politics. And Andrew Weiss is probably the coolest person on the internet, I’m just sayin.
Battle of Midwestern Housewives which feeds me all the pop/anarcho/melodic/punk I can eat and for whom I am forever grateful. Silverunity doesn’t wear his politics on his sleeve but I count him as a comrade in arms. He makes awesome mixes too.

If you want to read any books, go here to AK Press.

Happy May Day, xoxox