Flags, an Austin, TX-based punk band, is brought to life by Reid Haynie on guitar and vocals, Cait McCoy also on guitar and vocals, Lucy Weatherby handling bass, and Carson Braymer on the drums. Each member boasts a lifelong engagement with music, tracing their origins back to diverse locales such as Ohio, Mississippi, and various parts of Texas, before their paths intertwined in Austin to form the dynamic quartet.
“We’re all just full of ideas, so it’s really easy to feed off of one another,” says the band.
Their double single release, Levelheads/Adventure Capitalist, reflects upon their shared talents, influences, and backgrounds, splitting vocal duties and lead guitar. There’s a ferocity to them reminiscent of the B-52s, Devo, X, and The Gun Club, with the political sentiments of The Clash and Gang of Four, and the late 80s and early 90s punk and alt-rock earnestness of Bikini Kill and Sonic Youth.
Levelheads delves into the quest for meaningful employment and the challenge of persuading potential employers of one’s worth. As the song unfolds, it evolves into a critique of adhering to societal expectations without reaping the anticipated rewards. The piece pointedly addresses the income disparity that favours men over others, expressing a sense of betrayal by the promise that higher education is a surefire path to financial stability, only to be met with the harsh reality of lingering financial struggles. Despite being levelheaded, mature, and prepared for the workforce, the speaker faces disillusionment with the wage gap and the devaluation of their education.
The Titan submersible incident highlights the perilous nature of the ocean and the extreme lengths to which the ultra-wealthy will go in pursuit of adventure, often at considerable risk. This disregard for the ocean’s power and unpredictability prompts serious ethical considerations regarding such high-stakes ventures. This is further explored in Adventure Capitalist, which delves into the foolhardy fate of five billionaires who perished in their quest to locate the Titanic, offering a critical look at the intersection of wealth, risk, and exploration.
“It sort of wrote itself after that news story broke,” says the band. Lines like “How does it feel to wither away?” and “to all of us, it’s just another day” are kind of saying “how does it feel to struggle like the rest of us?” Or “What’s it like to be on a sticky situation?” Because, let’s be real, most of the folks in that sub likely hadn’t seen a day of struggle in their lives. It may be in bad taste? But oh well!”
Listen below and shake your fist in solidarity!
Andrew Hernandez produced Levelheads/Adventure Capitalist, and Jonas Wilson of Mr. Pink Records in Austin, TX, mastered the work.
Catch Flags live this Spring!
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