(photos by Adam Testagrossa)
We have gotten a huge influx of new friends following our newsletter/facebook/trumblr/website over the past week, not to mention the past month. So I thought I would reflect on what the band is actually about:
WHO IS SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD?
SFTD is a everyone. I don’t think we have played a show in the past 2 months without adding a new member to the roster. Its a huge “almost” collective of active queer and allied musicians, artists, and noisemakers from across the country (but mostly centered in Worcester, MA). We have folks who play with us from Ohio, California, Arizona, and Florida, as well as tons of other spots. A lot of us don’t have concrete homes and travel from place to place. There is really no telling who is going to cross paths with us and join us on a set, and this is wicked true when we are on tour.
We have 11 albums, seven released last year, ranging from lo fi folk punk to full band sparkly rock with horns. You can find them HERE
The band has an open, revolving door policy in regards to performance. Skill level is not an issue, we will find ways for you to play your/an instrument which works best for you. What matters most is having fun and singing along and making a huge ruckus at a show. For us gang vocals ARE ACTUALLY GANG VOCALS.
We try our best to always make our music and shows available for free for everyone, but always ask that those who want to partake in it donate what they can. Too often shows that have $10-$15 tickets cater to middle to upper class kids who spend their parents money. There are so many more people in the world who can be reached and hugged and loved then that, so we make our music open to all. We don’t tolerate oppressive behavior or language (sexist, rascist, homophobic, transphobic, anything like that) and that is probably the only time you will see us be jerks.
And you probably don’t want to see a band of 15 people be jerks.
We are not looking for fans, we are looking for friends.
There are a lot of different incarnations of the band. We try to do our best to promote which format we are playing in, but due to the organized and chaotic nature of the band, there is really no telling who is going to show up. Sometimes we are a rock band. Sometimes I play by myself or with one other person. Sometimes its a 16 piece brass band. Sometimes its an 8 piece, unplugged nomadic guerilla folk punk band. Sometimes there is poetry involved. Sometimes theres a sound system. Sometimes there is not. Sometimes we are in the biggest electric rock venue in town. Sometimes we are in a park.
In other words, we can be anything we want to be. Or anything YOU want to be if you join the band. We are a ride share to and from shows. We often need rideshares to and from shows. We are a circus. We are all ages.
We will never be signed to a record label. We do all our own recording. We put out our own releases. We are learning to make our own merch. We can probably read your future cause we are crazy.
If you want to learn ways to help your local music scene grow: We dont claim to be exactly right about everything. But we can tell you what we know about how hype rockstar bands who charge 500 dollars to play for no reason ruin it for everyone else, and how “paying your dues” doesnt have to mean giving your all to bands who are “bigger” than you, so that someday others can kneel down for you and your music.
We want to help build a community. We hope you do too.
-sftd
