The premise of Classwar came about some time ago, before 2020 intensified into the dumpster fire we have come to know under 45’s administration. With two Americas sprinting in opposite directions, we seem to converge only to blister one another with identity politics. These are angry times, and I have been just as heated as the next person, sharing barbs with friends and family across the spectrum over the last several months. I am not aching for a return to social sedation, though. I’ve always felt the music community I’ve grown with over the last 20 years plays a significant role in modeling the humanity and inclusion we want for ourselves and others. The pandemic has shuttered several venues in my area, and we’ve been largely unable to gather, discuss, and exchange our experiences. These venues haven’t received the financial assistance other industries have, and our government refuses to lifeline the individuals who form the backbone of our scene. We’ve got work to do. There are national efforts such as Save Our Stages and local Kickstarter and Go Fund Me campaigns that have popped up to crowdsource some assistance. And when ‘normal’ returns, there will still be something selfish, unapologetic, and ugly to combat outside our gatherings. Worldviews are so drastically varied between us that facts are negotiated violently, and history reminds us there is always misinformation and manipulation engineering the intersection. I attribute much of the polarity, as many do, to the current administration, because I do not believe dog whistles and doublespeak are reckless. I call them intentional – a classic political play, and an empirically dangerous one. Enjoy the song. This is Classwar.
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