According to Propagandhi bassist Todd Kowalski, audiences can expect total fucking mayhem when the Canadian punk legends play the Mac Hall Ballroom on Halloween.
These vegans will cannibalize the university with their political punk. Don’t expect scissor kicks,– they’ve got chainsaw kicks. Be prepared to watch as they thrash as hard as they can and give it all on stage– that’s why they allow themselves a month to recover after the tour.
Fresh on tour for their latest album, Supporting Caste, and with a new home on Smallman Records– finally free from the constraints of previous label Fat Wreck Chords and owner, NOFX’s Fat Mike– things are looking up for Propagandhi. As one of the few bands who still believe punk music is about political statements and standing up against the ruling class, Propagandhi is paving the way for change.
“It’s our job to stir interest and emotion,” says Kowalski. “Rather than someone seeing us and thinking those guys are 100 per cent right, we just want people to think about new ideas.”
Propagandhi works closely with organizations such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Rain Forest Action Network and Canada-Haiti Action Network, helping to bring attention to pressing world issues. The band is entirely vegan and– according to their logo– pro-feminist, anti-fascist and anti-racist.
If change isn’t the main item on the menu, Kowalski says “you are still going to get rocked anyway.”
The band has been around for over 20 years and are still sticking to their guns by not accepting offers to play stadium shows and continually producing great albums independently. These shows give them the opportunity to play with label mates Passenger Action, DFA and The Rebel Spell.
“It’s never interested us to play [stadium] shows,” says Kowalski. “We’ve been offered them before, but why would we do that, when we can play with bands we like.”
With the aforementioned mayhem, chainsaw kicks and thrashing ’til they collapse, the audience can also expect costumes at their Halloween show. The band is still undecided as to what ghoulish outfits to don, but they encourage fans in the crowd to dress up.
“It’s a good way for us to spend Halloween,” says Kowalski.