We Are the Union explained

We Are the Union
Origin:Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States[1]
Current Members:
  • Reade Wolcott
  • Brandon Benson
  • Ricky Weber
  • Jeremy Hunter
  • Emily Williams
  • Devan Bentley
Past Members:
  • Brent Friedman
  • Matt Belanger
  • Tony Weinbender
  • Jim Margle
  • John Ryan, Jr.
  • Trey Cook
  • Daniel Ray
  • David Lackey
  • Charlie Held
  • Ben Wixson
  • Noah Fenton
  • Ryan Collins

We Are the Union is an American ska punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 2005. The band is now based out of California. The band has had many lineup changes since its inception, with vocalist/guitarist Reade Wolcott and bassist Brandon Benson as the only remaining original members. As of 2022, their live lineup often features guest horn players and touring members.

History

Early years and hiatus (2005–2013)

The band formed in August 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan[1] due to members being "unhappy with the current state of ska music." Their debut album, Who We Are, was released in 2007.[2]

Who We Are would be followed by albums Great Leaps Forward in 2010[3] and You Can't Hide the Sun in 2012.[4] In 2013, We Are the Union announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus,[5] stating: "We've decided to take a hiatus from active status. […] We were a band. Maybe someday we will be again. We've had some amazing times, and we truly appreciate those of you who've contributed to our existence. We've never been a supercool hype band or uberpunx beardy band, so we thank each and every one of you who listened to our music over the years."

Return, Self Care, and Ordinary Life (2015–present)

The band returned from hiatus in 2015,[6] with Jer Hunter of the YouTube channel Skatune Network joining the band on trombone.[7] They released their fourth studio album, Self Care, in 2018. Following this album release, the band appeared on Audiotree,[8] and released new singles in 2020.[9]

In April 2021, We Are The Union announced a new album, Ordinary Life, to be released on June 4, 2021, via Bad Time Records.[10] Along with the album announcement, lead vocalist Reade Wolcott came out as a trans woman, with much of the album exploring topics surrounding her transition.[11]

In November 2022, it was announced that drummer Brent Friedman would be leaving the group.[12]

Influences and musical style

We Are the Union cites Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Slapstick, Less Than Jake, and This Is A Standoff as influences. More recently, they have been influenced by indie pop and pop music.[13]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Adapted from Bandcamp, Spotify, Tumblr and YouTube[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

YearTitleAlbum
2015"Call In Dead"[34]
2018"What's Wrong With Me?"[35]
"A Better Home"[36]
2020"Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad"[37] rowspan="6"
"Your Way, Your Time"[38]
"You're Dead / Vampire Ska" (Norma Tanega/Horny Toad cover)[39]
"I'm Working Retail For Christmas"[40]
2021"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Punk Rock Stars"[41]
"Rasputin" (Boney M. cover)[42]
"Morbid Obsessions"
"Boys Will Be Girls"
"Make It Easy"
"Sound System" (Operation Ivy cover; ft. Eve 6)rowspan="3"
2022"OHMYGOD" (Eichlers cover)
"Yr Always Alone (On Christmas)"

As featured artist

YearTitleAlbum
2021"Set It All On Fire"[43]
Super Gwario Kart
"2 OF US"

Demos

Music videos

!Year!Song!Director!Ref
2008"This is My Life (And It's Ending One Minute At A Time)"Tyler Capehart[45]
2012"We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat"Tyler Capehart, Joelle Andrés[46]
2015"Call In Dead" (lyric video)We Are the Union
2018"A Better Home" (lyric video)[47]
"Dust on the Hourglass" (acoustic in-studio)[48]
"What's Wrong With Me?" (lyric video)[49]
2020"Your Way, Your Time"Chris Graue[50]
"Pre-Expatriate"[51]
"You're Dead / Vampire Ska"[52]
"I'm Working Retail For Christmas"
2021"Fresh Fruit For Rotting Punk Rock Stars"
"Rasputin"
"Morbid Obsessions"
"Boys Will Be Girls"
"Make It Easy"
"Sound System"
2022"OHMYGOD"Reade Wolcott
"Surfing on the Waves of Caffeination"Chris Graue
"December"Rae Mystic
"Yr Always Alone (On Christmas)"

Compilation appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: We Are the Union -- Audiotree . 26 January 2021. Audiotree.
  2. Web site: We Are the Union "Who We Are" Vinyl Re-Issue . Bad Time Records . 26 January 2021.
  3. Web site: Schultz . Brian . We Are the Union - Great Leaps Forward . Alt Press . 17 May 2010 . 26 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Album Premiere: We Are the Union, "You Can't Hide the Sun" . Alt Press . 9 October 2012 . 26 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Mandell . Xan . Interviews: Reed Michael Wolcott (We Are the Union) . Punk News . 26 January 2021.
  6. Web site: Chiasson . Alex . We Are the Union Premiere Two New Songs, Announce "Keep It Down" EP . Boston Ska (dot) net . 2 May 2015 . 26 January 2021.
  7. Web site: Hudson . Nick . Gainesville musician runs successful "Skatune Network" YouTube channel . The Independent Florida Alligator . 26 January 2021.
  8. Web site: We Are the Union -- Audiotree . 26 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . We Are the Union deliver super catchy ska-punk on new single "Your Way, Your Time" . Brooklyn Vegan . 26 January 2021.
  10. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . We Are The Union announce 'Ordinary Life' LP – BV-exclusive vinyl pre-order & new song! . Brooklyn Vegan . 23 April 2021.
  11. Web site: Stratis . Niko . Dysphoria Dies at MAGFest: We Are the Union's Reade Wolcott Comes Out As Trans. SPIN . 23 April 2021 . 23 April 2021.
  12. ClhDK5SvA3o. wearetheunion. brent’s last shows are this weekend in pomona and phoenix. come give him the sendoff he deserves! we’re sad to see him go, but thankful he’ll still be a big part of the team behind the scenes. who are we gonna see?? #ska #punk #wearetheunion #skapunkdaily #antiflag. Nov 28, 2022. We Are The Union.
  13. Web site: 20 NEW SKA Releases in 2020. December 30, 2020. YouTube.
  14. Web site: We Are The Union Recording Update - Drums. December 29, 2020. Jim Margle. YouTube.
  15. Web site: THE SUICIDE MACHINES - "Hey Ska (f/ Matt from WE ARE THE UNION)" Live at THE FEST 9 10/29/10. January 9, 2021. YouTube.
  16. Web site: Music We Are The Union. May 4, 2020. Bandcamp.
  17. Web site: Video We Are The Union. May 4, 2020. Bandcamp.
  18. Web site: We Are The Union, Spotify. Spotify.
  19. Web site: Releases We Are The Union. May 4, 2020. Tumblr.
  20. Web site: We Are The Union - YouTube. Jan 29, 2020. YouTube.
  21. Web site: We Are The Union - Topic - YouTube. Jan 29, 2020. YouTube.
  22. Web site: Who We Are We Are The Union. Bandcamp.
  23. Web site: We Are The Union - Who We Are (Full Album). January 9, 2021. YouTube.
  24. Web site: We Are The Union – Who We Are (Full + Bonus Track). January 9, 2021. YouTube.
  25. Web site: We Are The Union WMUC's Entirely Smooth. December 28, 2020. entirelysmooth.wordpress.com. I absolutely love WATU, and you’ll find that out very quickly by either listening to the show or poking around this site. Just a great combination of ska, punk and hardcore, these guys have a huge potential to break out soon. Great Leaps is also a phenomenal record that should be picked up by any fan of ska or punk.
  26. Web site: Great Leaps Forward We Are The Union. Bandcamp.
  27. Web site: You Can't Hide the Sun. Spotify. 16 October 2012.
  28. Web site: You Can't Hide the Sun, by We Are the Union.
  29. Web site: Self Care - album by We Are The Union. October 2018. Spotify.
  30. Web site: Self Care We Are The Union. Bandcamp.
  31. Web site: We Are The Union - Grow Up Or Shut Up. January 9, 2021. YouTube. Off their first EP "Grow Up or Shut Up.".
  32. Web site: You Can't B-Side The Sun We Are The Union. May 7, 2020. Bandcamp.
  33. Web site: Keep It Down by We Are The Union on Spotify. 15 May 2015. May 7, 2020. Spotify.
  34. Web site: We Are The Union - Call In Dead (Lyric Video) . January 15, 2021 . YouTube.
  35. Web site: Spotify - What's Wrong With Me?. 10 September 2018. May 7, 2020. Spotify.
  36. Web site: Spotify - A Better Home. 20 August 2018. May 7, 2020. Spotify.
  37. Web site: Spotify - Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad. 20 April 2020. May 7, 2020. Spotify.
  38. Web site: Spotify - Your Way, Your Time. 25 September 2020. October 28, 2020. Spotify.
  39. Web site: You're Dead / Vampire Ska - song by We Are The Union. October 28, 2020. Spotify.
  40. Web site: I'm Working Retail For Christmas - song by We Are The Union. 27 November 2020. January 8, 2021. Spotify.
  41. Web site: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Punk Rock Stars - song by We Are The Union. 5 February 2021. February 22, 2021. Spotify.
  42. Web site: Rasputin - song by We Are The Union. 19 March 2021. March 19, 2021. Spotify.
  43. Web site: Set It All On Fire - song by Louser. 9 February 2021. February 22, 2021. Spotify.
  44. Web site: We Are the Union on Audiotree Live. Spotify. 18 September 2019.
  45. Web site: We Are The Union "This Is My Life" Apocalypse Productions . January 9, 2021 . YouTube.
  46. Web site: We Are The Union "We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat" Apocalypse Productions . January 9, 2021 . YouTube.
  47. Web site: We Are The Union - A Better Home (Lyric Video) . April 10, 2020 . YouTube.
  48. Web site: We Are The Union - Dust on the Hourglass (Acoustic In-Studio) . January 9, 2021 . YouTube.
  49. Web site: We Are The Union - What's Wrong With Me? (Lyric Video) . April 10, 2020 . YouTube.
  50. Web site: We Are The Union - "Your Way, Your Time" (Official Video) . September 28, 2020 . YouTube.
  51. Web site: We Are The Union - "Pre-Expatriate" (Official Video) . January 9, 2021 . YouTube.
  52. Web site: We Are the Union release "You're Dead / Vampire Ska video Punknews.org . Punknews.org.
  53. Web site: Spotify - Dead End. 10 October 2013. Spotify.
  54. Web site: Spotify - Dust of the Hourglass. 9 October 2013. Spotify.

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