Enjoy a brand new premiere from Baltimore’s political d-beat mainstays, Old Lines, in the form of a new split effort with renowned social activist and author Will Potter (Green Is The New Red), aptly titled To Build A Fire. This forthcoming May 27th release is set to be the a first vinyl run via Life Advice Records, which is the new label imprint of Old Lines guitarist Mitch Roemer (formerly of Pulling Teeth).
This unique pairing sees Old Lines offering two blazing and deliciously brutal d-beat songs which are accompanied by spoken-word companion tracks via Potter. The first track “Hypothermia” is focused on the current loss of privacy in the United States and perceived complacency surrounding this phenomenon. Potter, in-turn, comments on the normalization of such acts as the FBI trolling social media, monitoring of phone records by the NSA, and corporations hiring their own private investigators to spy on protesters, in his “Paradoxical Undressing” spoken-word commentary.
Old Lines photo by Josh Sisk
The EP accomplishes what all good political punk music should- Offering stimulating music and plenty of food for thought. And for those looking to get deep into the thoughts behind the themes- Old Lines and Potter are offering a combo package that contains the new 7″ and a copy of Potter‘s book Green Is The New Red that Bill Ayers decribed saying “Part history, part action thriller and courtroom drama, part memoir, Green Is the New Red plunges us into the wild, unruly, and entirely inspirational world of extreme environmental activism. Will Potter, participant-observer and partisan-reporter, is the perfect guide…”
Old Lines have built an underground following based on genuine, DIY punk ethos and skill for songcrafting that seperates the band from much of the pack. The band has seen several EP and LP releases scattered across a number of noteworthy underground labels including 2012’s No Child Left Behind on No Sleep Records and 2014’s If You See Something, Say Something EP on Reptilian Records. The band’s latest self-released single, “Midnight In Baltimore” was an immediate reaction to the brutal police murder of Baltimore’s Freddie Gray. 100% of all proceeds obtained from the download continue to be donated to the legal defense fund organized by Baltimore United for a Change.
Will Potter on TED Talks
To Build A Fire will be available for physical purchase May 27th during the band’s record release show at the Maryland Deathfest Sidebar stage with Humanmania, Dronez, Mania for Conquest and a Secret Headliner that will be announced the day of the show. Old Lines are also slated to play Memorial Day at Ottobar with Rotten Sound, Infest and Doom, which serve as pt II of the band’s record release weekend. Old Lines are also slated to tour in July with Richmond’s unrelentingly awesome act, Prisoner.
A cassette tape version will also hit streets via Set the Fire / Tape It Good Records out of Jakarta Indonesia. First vinyl pressing on Life Advice Records is set for 500 records (400 on black, 100 on red with Kelly green splatter with hand screened covers).
Without further ado…enjoy the full Split release below. (Follow links on bandcamp player for more purchase options)
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