“Now it’s time for us to step up and figure out how to be good neighbors and good comrades and good teachers and good partners and how to live closer to one another,” says Leah Song of folk and world music collective Rising Appalachia at the start of the band’s new single, “Occupy.” The song is housed on the band’s forthcoming live album, the aptly-titled Alive, set for release on September 29th.
“Occupy” is based on the powerful traditional African-American spiritual “Soon I will be Done”; in grand Rising Appalachia style, Song and her sister Chloe Smith put a contemporary spin on the mournful couplets–“no more weeping and wailing/no more big bank bailing,” they sing, calling attention to the banking crisis of the last decade. The pair use the song as a rally cry, as they encourage us to focus on building community while reclaiming our personal heritages at the same time.
Rising Appalachia spreads the seeds of this message in every place they perform–not only figuratively, but literally, adopting local non-profits to support on tour, culling volunteers to join them in planting trees, composting, getting their hands dirty in community gardens, as well as spending time on the front lines–be it after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, or more recently, Standing Rock–to lend aid and fight for justice.
Alive features standout moments captured over the last two years of the band’s live performances across the States, Canada, Europe, and Latin America. Give “Occupy” a spin, and prepare to get fired up, y’all”
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