Pittsburgh political punk band Anti-Flag have premiered the new music video for their cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.” The show is now available to stream on Democracy Now!. The video is a partnership with Everytown, featuring footage from the March For Our Lives and stats about gun violence. Everytown is a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities. “For What It’s Worth” comes off of Anti-Flag’s recently announced album American Reckoning, set to be released on Spinefarm Records on September 28th. The album features acoustic versions of songs from their past two albums, as well as covers of songs that inspired them.
“Inspiration and the energy to keep fighting for social and economic justice comes in all forms. Many would not expect a punk rock band to take that inspiration from an artist like Buffalo Springfield, but they’d be wrong. We have been influenced by the power of this song for years. We have used portions of the groove and drum beat on Anti-Flag records, and now have created this version of the song.
The live footage in this video is from our 2018 summer European Tour, where everyday people would ask us about gun violence in America and what people were doing to confront it. The March For Our Lives footage comes from the organization Everytown, who are on the frontlines of the battle against the NRA and the gun lobby in America. These are the people doing the real work to confront gun violence here at home.
To premier this video via Democracy Now! is an absolute honour and privilege. When people ask us how they can become informed, be better citizens of the world, find news predicated upon empathy and the truth, we tell them to listen to Democracy Now! To be featured on this life changing and undeniable force for truth and positive change in the world is incredibly special to our band.” – Anti-Flag
American Reckoning, the new acoustic album from Pittsburgh political punk band Anti-Flag, strips down some of the band’s latest hits to get to the heart of the message. The album features acoustic versions of songs off their last two albums, American Spring (2015) and American Fall (2017), as well as covers of some of the classics that inspired them. By arranging these songs together, American Reckoning functions as an account of one of the country’s most tumultuous political times told by some of music’s sharpest political minds.
The American series, all released on Spinefarm Records, showcases why Anti-Flag is recognized as a staple in punk rock. Known for their left-wing politics, focusing on anti-war activism, imperialism, class struggle, human rights, and various socio-political sentiments, Anti-Flag have proven themselves as both dedicated activists and accomplished musicians since forming in 1993. Decades of strong political ideals and rousing punk rock songs have allowed the band to assemble a devoted fan base of likeminded individuals all across the world. A quote from the band on their new album can be found below. Pre-orders for American Reckoning are available via Spinefarm Records. A quote from the band on the Democracy Now! feature can be found below.
Democracy Now! Stream available HERE.
‘When you’re a band that has been together as long as Anti-Flag has you take nothing for granted. We have far exceeded any personal expectations we have had for the band, our art and the reach that it has had. This chapter of our band started with the hope of American Spring, the anger of American Fall and comes to cessation with American Reckoning…
This piece focuses on songs from both records (Spring/Fall) that we felt maintain their relevance, even in the distraction politic Donald Trump America, where issues and truth are distorted in a seconds time. We also wanted to provide insight into our influences that lead us to write the records, that’s where the covers come in. They are songs that people may not expect to be influential to Anti-Flag records but either in their messaging or sonics they were tremendously impactful to us as individuals and hence the song writing process.
We can not be knee jerk reactionary to a president that uses corporate media to endlessly lie, we created statements and art that we feel directly combat these tactics, American Reckoning has allowed us to revisit some of those previous statements and shine new light on them.’ – Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag have recently announced a UK tour this fall with Cancer Bats and Worriers. Line-ups and other information can be found below, along with a full list of UK tour dates.
American Reckoning was recorded in Pittsburgh, PA, and mixed and mastered by long time Anti-Flag engineer Justin Francis. The album’s artwork was designed by Doug Dean, who also did the artwork for both American Spring and American Fall.