The International Noise Conspiracy, a socialist band from Sweden fronted by former Refused lead singer Dennis Lyxzén, will perform tonight, April 12, at the Rotunda.
Lyxzén feels as though The INC have something that most bands don’t have: a purpose.
“So many bands nowadays have absolutely nothing to say. All they want to do is impress fifteen-year-old girls and we’re not about that. I’ve been a socialist for five years and that’s the main reason I decided to have a political band,” says Lyxzén.
Lyxzén also reflects on the possibility of placing his band on a major label in order to reach a wider audience.
“We feel there is a lack of intelligence in music and its very hard being one of the smartest well-read bands in the world, so we’ve toyed with the idea of joining the mainstream in hopes of helping people realize how ridiculous their music really is,” says Lyxzén.
Most people might be wondering what the hell Swedes are doing invaded the American music scene. After all, there’s only a miniscule amount of people in Sweden compared to the United States. However, Lyxzén feels that Sweden has much better bands.
“I’ve really been into Nicolai, Dunger, Randy, and Silver Bullett. Sweden really has an amazing music scene when you figure how few people live here,” he says.
The socialist ideals grow deep in the hearts of all the band members and this is even reflected in their decision to wear suits. Lyxzén explains it’s relationship to his politics, “We are a collective. No one is the leader. Capitilism feels the need to always single out one person, we want to be based on a collective. They are more uniforms than anything else.”
The INC sound is 60s garage punk with a little R&B mixed in, but the CD collections of the band members go way beyond that.
“I grew up listening to The Dead Kennedys, DRI, and the Exploited,” says Lyxzén. “These are the bands that really got me interested in music in the first place. However, lately I’ve been listening to a wide range of music. It may not be reflected in our work, but I’ve been listening to D’Angelo, Prince, and Destiny’s Child as much as anything.”
You may go to the show a capitalist, but you’ll probably come out a socialist, primed and ready to battle the evils of the corporate world and dedicated to making worker’s lives easier.
The International Noise Conspiracy is currently touring with Rocket from the Crypt. They appear at the Rotunda (4012 Walnut St.) tonight, April 12. The all-ages show is $12 and starts at 6:30 p.m. The first band is the Explosion, followed by INC and RFTC.
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