Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
Brass Against, TEGDAINTY Promotions
My normal function is to promote and review music, but this time I’m publicising an upcoming tour.
Brass Against is a New York City-based collective of some of the Big Apple’s best musicians, who have come together to form a unique brass band that combines rock and hip-hop mixed with some of the traditions of big band and brass band music.
What makes them unique is not so much their unusual line-up, but the music that they play and that’s why I feel it’s important to bring them to your attention.
We are living in very troubled times. Integrity in leadership is difficult to find and disassembly, trite slogans and evasion has replaced genuine and thoughtful political debate.
Many of us feel disenfranchised and retreat from engagement in political discourse. The low voter turnouts in the last US election and the UK Brexit vote were prime examples.
And yet it is precisely at these times that we should be making our voices heard and that’s where Brass Against comes in.
Founded by Brad Hammonds, Brass Against play protest songs by bands such as Rage Against The Machine, Tool, Audioslave, and Deftones and their interpretations are brilliant.
The climate is right for protest music to once again grace our airwaves and become the voice of the young (and not so young), who are witnessing the almost total disregard of the world’s leadership for their welfare and that of coming generations.
As Hammond says: “We need Rage Against The Machine and other protest bands now more than ever. We need to do whatever we can to push back and music is a great place to start.”
Brass Against are passionate, angry, inspired and demanding change. It comes out in their music and they are Taking The Power Back This February.
You can be part of it as they grace our shores. Tour dates are: Sunday 23 February at Metro Theatre Sydney; Wednesday 26 February at The Triffid Brisbane and Thursday 27 February at Corner Hotel Melbourne. Tickets are available at tegdainty.com.
