Political punk icons Anti-Flag have teamed up with INDECLINE to produce and film a video for the title track from their latest Spinefarm Records release 20/20 Vision. INDECLINE is an Activist Art Collective founded in 2001. It is comprised of graffiti writers, filmmakers, photographers, and full-time rebels and activists. INDECLINE focuses on social, ecological and economical injustices carried out by American and International governments, corporations, and law enforcement agencies.
Watch the video here.
“For INDECLINE, Anti-Flag have always provided more than just music.” comments INDECLINE. “Growing up, the band gave us valuable insight into the mechanics of politics, war and propaganda. Their songs inspired us, provided a soundtrack for countless illegal missions in the name of activism and articulated things in a language that we spoke. It was an incredible honor to collaborate with Anti-Flag on this music video. Their concept for the track was a perfect fit and lent itself to a stark and cinematic production. We were also privileged to collaborate with dancer and choreographer David Mayorga, whose performance took this video to an entirely new level.
“Conceptually, this video harbors a profound message that we at INDECLINE have been actively working to disseminate through artistic disruptions for close to two decades. The viewing experience is also really engaging as it forces the viewer in real time to make the decision between enjoying the lighthearted performance element or the dark and depressing reality just behind it. This is quintessential INDECLINE in terms of visual content and we couldn’t have asked for a better collaborative partner.”
A thought once posed by philosopher Noam Chomsky — “The key element of social control is the strategy of distraction that is to divert public attention from important issues and changes decided by political and economic elites, through the technique of flood or flooding continuous distractions and insignificant information — inspired what you see in the video.
“This idea is something that was rattling around in our minds for a long time,” the band explains. “Taking the viewer through a history lesson of pop culture, dance moves, and the horrors of human rights atrocities and violations. The politics of distraction, the escapism of art, the crumbs of capitalism that make people apathetic instead of empathetic, all of it plays into our ability to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. When we found the activist/artist commune of INDECLINE, we knew we had found the folks with the visual capacity to execute this idea and tell the story. We are all held prisoner. Forced to fake joy in the escape. While the environmental, racial, economic injustice unfolds behind us. Another world is possible.”
Anti-Flag start their North American tour on March 11 in Ottawa, ON, and are once again are partnering with three organizations that share the band’s values and ethos. They are teaming up with Punk Rock Saves Lives, Amnesty International USA, and HeadCount on the tour.
For over two decades, Anti-Flag have been at the forefront of socially conscious punk rock, tirelessly releasing music, touring, organizing, and introducing generations of fans to progressivism through fiery protest songs. With 20/20 Vision, the Pittsburgh, PA based band prove that they have plenty of vitriol left, aiming to face the challenges of our chaotic sociopolitical times head on. The band pull no punches lyrically, immediately drawing a line in the sand against the fascistic hate mongering of the Trump administration and making it clear that 20/20 Vision is an album intended to explicitly address the here and now.
ANTI-FLAG ON TOUR:
3/11 Ottawa, ON @The 27 Club *
3/12 Montreal, QC @ L’Astral * SOLD OUT
3/13 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground *
3/14 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater (Anti-Flag Only)
3/15 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
3/17 Asbury Park, NJ @ House of Independents *
3/18 Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom *
3/19 Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry *
3/20 Richmond, VA – The Canal Club*
3/22 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade @ Purgatory *
3/24 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In *
3/26 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *
3/27 Buffalo, NY @ Rec Room *
3/28 Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre – ANTIfest * +
5/2 Charlotte, NC @ Epicenter Fest 2020
5/3 Columbus, OH @ A&R Bar ^
5/5 Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground ^ SOLD OUT
5/6 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme ^
5/8 St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall ^
5/10 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre ^
5/12 Dallas, TX @ Dada ^
5/13 Austin, TX @ Barracuda ^
5/14 El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace ^
5/15 Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge^
5/16 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex^
5/17 San Diego, CA @ Casbah^
5/19 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room^
5/20 Oakland, CA @ New Parish ^
5/21 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Atrium at The Catalyst ^
5/23 Las Vegas, NV @ Punk Rock Bowling
5/27 Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver ^ SOLD OUT
5/28 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre ^
5/29 Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall ^ SOLD OUT
5/30 Seattle, WA @The Crocodile ^
* w/ Grade 2 and Doll Skin
^ w/ Bad Cop/Bad Cop and Grumpster
+ Suicide Machines, Punchline, Swiss Army, and special guests To The Front traveling art show
