The Empty Threats and the anti-fascism politico punk push back of "Boys in the gutter" (Official Video)

 

"if it's not my body then it's not my rights / if it's not your body then it's not your rights / if it's not our body then it's not our rights so fuck off, yeah fuck off!"

Some how the raucous politico punk pummel of "Boys in the gutter" by the 5-piece queer post-punk/ noise-rock band The Empty Threats (from Kaurna Land /Adelaide, South Australia) feels potently relevant at this time. Elevated by a Grand-Guignol Official Video, the strident song (as related by the band in press notes) "outlines the struggle in America at the moment regarding abortion rights, and on how harmful a decision made by a select few can be towards bodily autonomy rights, not only just in America”. Against piercing guitars, drums and barreling bass lines, the sonic sense here is a riot or assault on protestors, the shoutabout lyrics add to the discordant fray, with imagery of Police taking a heavy hand. 

Just yesterday Rupert Murdoch's Fox News unbelievably fired their most hateful and dangerous propagandist, Tucker Carlson who pushed probably one of the most historically dangerous conspiracy theory, 'The Great Replacement Theory' that feeds white supremacist, xenophobic, and anti-immigrant fear fires that posits white people are being replaced by immigrants, Muslims, and other people of color in their so-called “home” countries. These attacks in America especially in the states of Tennessee and Florida extend to LGBTQ+ communities as well in a big way. This is after several months of the right wing trying to do away with Abortion rights entirely since Dobbs was struck down. Just yesterday, in fact, South Carolina republicans filed legislation that if passed could result in the death penalty for women getting abortions on the pretense that abortion is in their minds homicide.

Theses words on "Boys in the gutter" stick with me, "it was Roe V Wade, God's gracious gift, brought down by a nation to breed more kids to enlist..." after which you hear radical female screams. It is a defining moment in the song because women as breeders ties in with the replacement theory, the feeling that America needs more born citizens to stave off the hordes of "others". We live in scary times and politico punk songs like this provide a visceral sonic push back. 

‘Boys in the Gutter’ is the first taste from "Monstertruck Mondays", the debut album from this Kaurna Land based noise post-punk band. The members of The Empty Threats are also heavily involved in the South Australian music community, also lending their talents to other musical acts including Tiles, Dead Roo, Placement & Soursob.

-Robb Donker Curtius

 

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://www.facebook.com/theemptythreats

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3yFZgbeIbg9UmgkOojGuGt

https://www.instagram.com/theemptythreats/

https://www.tiktok.com/@theemptythreats


The Empty Threats are a compelling 5-piece queer post-punk/ noise-rock band from Kaurna Land/Adelaide, South Australia. They create a blend of modern post-punk and 80s Australiana-rock while featuring political and lived convictions through their new album 'Monster Truck Mondays'. They are band to be witnessed live on stages any size.

During their tenure they have progressed to playing festival slots such as closing a stage at WOMADelaide 2022, Mountain Goat Valley Crawl & have secured support slots for Methyl Ethyl, Mildlife, Teen Jesus & the Jean Teasers, Jimmy Barnes, Icehouse, A. Swayze & the Ghosts.

The Empty Threats are set for an incredible 12 months ahead with the largest tour of their career in 2023, their debut album, confirmed festival appearances and the prospect of taking their show to Europe.


The Empty Threats, post punk, politico punk, noise punk, anti-anti abortion song, pro women's rights song, pro-abortion rights song, "Boys in the gutter", 5-piece queer post-punk/ noise-rock band,