The Somerville musician who created a creepy fictional dystopian universe by merging the music of Joy Division with a black-and-white Teletubbies video has turned his sights on something just as terrifying but much more real — the Donald Trump presidency.
Christopher G. Brown, who plays in New England bands Vary Lumar, DESK, and the Difference Engine, has created a Facebook forum called We Are Not Trump, with plans to release a compilation album of the same name on Inauguration Day, January 20. Proceeds from the comp will benefit the American Civil Liberties Union.
“I know enough people who have legit cause for concern at the bewildering election of an unqualified demagogue who has promised to revoke basic rights for some citizens,” Brown tells Vanyaland. “As musicians, protesting against the basic fundamental rights is something that has been prevalent from Woody Guthrie to Rage Against the Machine. It feels dishonest to sit by and not try to do some kind of good when so many people feel that their safety could be endangered by Trump or more frighteningly, his followers.”
So far, bands and artists like Gramlins, Downcity Armory, the Luxury, the Wrong Chaneys, and others are confirmed to be included on the comp. But the organizer is still seeking submissions, from musicians from here and everywhere else.
“I’d like to not limit things to Boston in terms of inclusion,” Brown says, “but this is certainly a Boston-based and spearheaded affair.”