February 16, 2009

Everyone is talking about Propagandhi this week. While Sydneysiders coo with exhilaration at having witnessed the epic Canucks live, Melbournians wait with breathless anticipation for their turn to be blown away. Though I’m a great fan of the band, my appreciation doesn’t come close to the pants wetting excitement some of my mates are currently enduring. So to get in the mood, this week has very much been dominated by all things Propagandhi. Which, pretty much means Potemkin and How To Clean Everything on repeat, which means studying lyrics, which means OH MY FUCKING GOD I’M A SELFISH, APATHETIC, BIGGOTED MURDERER OF SMALL DEFENSELESS ANIMALS.

As far as persuasive lyrics go, Chris Hannah and co have things covered. Their passion is so logically and thoughtfully expressed through aggressive lyrics that they are surely some of the most convincing musical activists of our time. I have never felt so compelled to give up meat for good after reading some of Hannah’s beleaguered rants on veganism which is novel because I usually find it both irritating and insulting when bands push their agenda so relentlessly, and I really, really love hamburgers.

The connection with such heavily opinionated bands is usually lost of me as soon as they express their concerns over the unfair treatment of female saw mill workers in inner east Africa, but kudos Propagandhi, you’ve melted this heart of stone.