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Fuck U Pay Us : Live at Cielo Gallery for Casa Solidaria del Sur's Melanin Unity Show (Review)


I found this band from L.A. through an incident happened to them on their tour. They got attacked by a bonehead that didn't like who they are. Sucks that they got injured and they had to cancel their shows. I got at least to discover the band and I feel that their raw punk needs to be out there. They are all women, feminist, afropunk, resistance band from Los Angeles. Their message, is what it's important here. Fuck patriarchy, end white domination, scream for freedom. The music is basic, hypnotic, anxious loops that will get you to focus on the lyrics, almost like prayers they want you to sing with them so you get the message. This is how punk should be, not a genre, but a way to express ourselves, get the message out there and the music can be whatever they like it and it shakes things up, deconstructing music and they are closer to an art performance, that's how I like it. Some people might not like this, because it's a rough live recording, I love it because, it's a rough live recording.

The band reminds me of Pussy Riot's EP Kill The Sexist, this is about bringing down the power, more than achieving musical prowess, it's visceral. The singing of Jasmine Nyende is intense, she makes sure that you get what she says, she will scream in your face, she will repeat the words several times until you start singing them with her. The Uhuruverse on the guitar and Ayotunde Osareme on the bass bring their minimalist riffs that will stay in your head for a while. Tianna Nicole behind the drums plays a diversity of beats that will get you moving. Fuck U Pay Us is an amazing band, love the messages, the fight that they have to go through is literal. They are amazing and bring the idea of punk back to the roots, not trying to sound the best and put on an act, to get as many followers, they are instead inspiring and original. The raw energy is way more entertaining and the simple music gets into you. Go check them. Facebook Bandcamp

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