Have you been displeased with Wisconsin’s political climate for the last, oh, let’s say, five years? Does the very thought of a certain Wisconsin governor make you break out in hives? If you answered “no,” then you’re probably somewhere in this photo gallery; if you answered “yes,” then you’re probably so angry you could spit, take to the streets, and start making some real change. Or, you know, post a pissy and/or defeated link to Facebook and get back to work.
Yes, the sometimes impotent and almost always “unfollow”-worthy phenomenon known as “Facebook activism” is the subject of the first video and song from “Unintimidated,” a multi-media project of more than a dozen Wisconsin punk bands (organized by occasional Milwaukee Record contributor DJ Hostettler) venting their frustrations with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Up first is Kenosha’s FowlMouth, whose snappy “Too Tired To Riot” implores police to “save your rubber bullets, save your cans of tear gas,” because “I can’t even get off of my ass.”
Bands taking part in the “Unintimidated” project (including Heavy Hand, Volunteer, Testa Rosa, and Hostettler’s own Body Futures and IfIHadAHiFi) were each given a two-hour block of time to record their songs at Howl Street Recordings last summer. The resulting tracks will eventually be released via online videos, digital downloads, and a physical CD/DVD/zine. Proceeds from the project will be donated to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and various Milwaukee soup kitchens.
When “Unintimidated” was announced last year, one of its goals was to detail “exactly how Scott Walker has been bad for Wisconsin, and how he would be a disaster as President.” That last bit may no longer be an issue, but the first remains on the minds of many, including a handful of frustrated—and yes, sometimes tired—Wisconsin musicians.