Anti-Flag 'The Bright Lights Of America' album

"The Bright Lights Of America" is the first taste of Anti-Flag's new album which comes out April 1st 2008. Also called "The Bright Lights Of America," this is an album Anti-Flag is incredibly proud of, mostly because the songs and attitude within it come straight from you—the people who've listened to their records, come to the shows, spread a positive agenda in a too often negative life and live it right every day. This song is about that: It's an undeniable part of who the band is, a reflection of your life stories and their own...

Anti-Flag announces an US tour which begins March 28 and runs through May 4. The Bright Lights of America tour will be a place were people can lose the fear of not fitting in. A place were everyone can be theirselves and have a great time doing so.

tour dates
Mar 28 2008 Bogart's Cincinnati, Ohio
Mar 29 2008 Pop's Nightclub Sauget, Illinois
Mar 30 2008 Beaumoont Kansas City, Missouri
Mar 31 2008 Granada Theater Dallas, Texas
Apr 1 2008 Emo's Austin, Texas
Apr 3 2008 Sunshine Theater Albuquerque, New Mexico
Apr 4 2008 The Marquee Tempe, Arizona
Apr 5 2008 House Of Blues Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr 6 2008 Bamboozle Irvine, California
Apr 7 2008 The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Apr 9 2008 Roseland Theater Portland, Oregon
Apr 10 2008 The Showbox Seattle, Washington
Apr 12 2008 In The Venue Salt Lake City, Utah
Apr 13 2008 Ogden Theatre Denver, Colorado
Apr 15 2008 First Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 16 2008 The Rave II Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 17 2008 Metro Chicago, Illinois
Apr 18 2008 Majestic Theatre Detroit, Michigan
Apr 19 2008 Club Gravity Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Apr 20 2008 Agora Theatre Cleveland, Ohio
Apr 23 2008 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
Apr 24 2008 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 25 2008 State Theatre St. Petersburg, Florida
Apr 26 2008 Revolution Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Apr 27 2008 Fuel Coffeehouse Jacksonville, Florida
Apr 29 2008 The National Richmond, Virginia
Apr 30 2008 9:30 Club Washington D.C.
May 1 2008 The Crazy Donkey Farmingdale, New York
May 2 2008 The Palladium Worcester, Massachusetts
May 3 2008 Electric Factory Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 4 2008 Bamboozle East Rutherford, New Jersey

biography
I always wanted to produce a Punk album, but this isn't it.

Anti-Flag are intrinsically a Punk band, but on this album, they wanted to put unexplored territory into play. I was the playground supervisor.

All my Bowie albums started out as one thing and ended up as another. One thing I guess my generation has taught me is to go with the flow. I would say most groups want to work with me for the Bowie/T. Rex connection; however this meeting of minds was a result of Anti-Flag digging my one Morrissey album, Ringleader of the Tormentors. They loved the arrangements, the strings and especially the orchestral percussion; why not have these things on a Punk album?

The way I work, I let the song define itself and I let it tell me what it needs to become a classic recording (well, that's the plan). Anti-Flag wanted to create something deeper for their lyrics. They worked very hard on this concept before we ever met. I pushed the band and they pushed me to come up with the best possible interpretations and takes of each song. I wanted the band to play as much of their own ideas with the minimum involvement of session musicians. We hired almost every piece of percussion from the University of Kentucky and the band played timpani, tubular bells, piatti (orchestral hand cymbals), glockenspiel and a myriad of Latin American hand percussion. We used only four local musicians, two cellists and two brass players (sweet, sweet people) who played the parts none of us could play ourselves. I played keyboards and whatever. Our technicians, engineers Mario and Tim joined the "Choir of Dissention." Our children's choir was composed of kids from family and friends. Even after a 14 hour work day, there was still energy to be burned shooting pool, the inevitable table tennis tournament and soaking in the hot tub (two schools of thought there – some of us wore swimsuits some didn't).

In a day where politics are a very real and gut-wrenching way of life, Pittsburgh based Anti-Flag came to my attention as a group of musicians who give a damn, put their money where their mouth is and have the balls to commit. Even their name is a spit in the face to the Institution (although it is obliquely patriotic). My generation is known for its a-political response to all that is corrupt. To quote Dylan, "Whoever you vote for the government always gets in," and, "To live outside the law you must be honest." These feelings don't wash with this generation. Politics and policies are proactive events in the daily lives of Anti-Flag.

Anti-Flag don't use their politics to promote a record. They are their politics! They have taken it as their lives mission to work with many organizations including Amnesty International, ACLU, World Can't Wait, Code Pink, Axis of Justice, Student Peace Action, the African Well Fund, Music For America, Planned Parenthood and PETA. They are strong advocates for animal rights, one payer universal healthcare, conscientious objectors, prison reform and freedom for political prisoners. They have stood alongside Michael Moore, Gloria Steinem, MP George Galloway, Billy Bragg, and Congressman Jim McDermott as non-violent reformists. Anti-Flag also toured with a petition for Amnesty International's Music for Human Rights Campaign to assist in freeing Eritrean singer Helen Berhane. They have raised money for numerous charities, most recently donating tour proceeds to the African Well Fund. Anti-Flag have started two nonprofit organizations out of their own pocket, the most notable being www.militaryfreezone.org. The goal of MilitaryFreeZone.org is to make people aware of the sometimes aggressive tactics around military recruitment in high schools and universities, which increased because of a little known provision in the No Child Left Behind Act. This provision grants the military access to the private records of students across the country without their knowledge. You can watch a MilitaryFreeZone documentary at www.militaryfreezone.org.

On a more personal note -- bassist Chris #2's family experienced the horror of losing a family member when his sister fell victim to violent crime, leaving behind a young daughter and son. Anti-Flag put together a benefit EP in hopes it would help others who have gone through similar situations. The proceeds went to The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime (a local Pittsburgh organization that helps and supports victims and families who are dealing with the effects of violent crime, www.cvvc.org).

Chris #2's personal tragedy also opened a well of emotion for the other members of the group. Everyone felt, after years of fighting the good fight, that it was time to be open about all their personal upheavals, making this collection of songs very personal.

Anti-Flag are real people. They are talented musicians who cherish equality and peace for everyone. This album contains bold music and strong messages. In the middle of a work day, when we're putting the finishing touches on songs about political prisoners and child molestation and being über- perfectionists at it, it would come as a sigh of relief to hear lead singer Justin Sane say, "I've got to make some warm soy milk."

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Anti-Flag - The Bright Lights Of America