Representative Albums: "Change Is a Sound," "To Live in Discontent," "Exit English"
Biography
Strike Anywhere emerged in 1999 from Richmond, VA. Vocalist Thomas Barnett (ex-Inquisition), guitarists Matt Smith and Matt Sherwood, bassist Garth Petrie (ex-Count Me Out), and drummer Eric Kane took a staunchly political and activism-minded approach to hardcore and punk traditionalism, drawing comparisons in both sound and vision to such stalwart acts as Avail and 7 Seconds. After an initial EP, Chorus of One, Strike Anywhere (named such after an old Inquisition song) joined up with Jade Tree, which issued Change Is a Sound in August 2001. Exit English followed in 2003, and the rarities collection To Live in Discontent in January 2005. Strike Anywhere hooked up with Fat Wreck Chords for their next full-length, Dead FM, released in June 2006. Tours both home and abroad followed through the next year; Sherwood amicably parted ways with the band in March 2007 to be able to settle down at home. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
Strike Anywhere is a punk rock/melodic hardcore band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1999 after the demise of frontman Thomas Barnett's previous band, Inquisition, they took their name from the Inquisition song "Strike Anywhere". Their music is characterized by fast tempos, catchy melodies, and emotionally-charged vocals delivered via shouting and singing. The band has received an increased amount of attention after their music appeared in 3 Tony Hawk video games: Tony Hawk's Underground in 2003 ("Refusal"), Tony Hawk's American Wasteland in 2005 ("Question the Answer"), and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam ("The Promise"). They were also featured in the documentary Wake Up Screaming about the 2005 VansWarped Tour. The band played their last show with guitarist Matt Sherwood in Auckland, New Zealand on March 17, 2007, with Mark Miller replacing Sherwood. Since then, the band has continued its regimen of international touring, including the group's first South American tour, where they played Brazil and Colombia. The band also did a European festival tour in Summer of 2008.
Strike Anywhere is a political band, with a stance that could be interpreted as either radical left or anarchist. Their lyrics touch on such issues as police brutality, anti-capitalism, women's rights, animal rights, and globalization. They have also contributed tracks to political benefit albums, such as a live version of "Sunset on 32nd" for 1157 Wheeler Avenue: A Memorial for Amadou Diallo and "To the World" for the Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 album. According to the liner notes for their album Change is a Sound, they support "the vegetarian lifestyle, the living wage movement and the fight against corporate globalization".[1] With its 2006 release Dead FM, the band moved away from political slogans to address "more sociological ideas about why these (events) happen".[2]
Their logo is similar to the Antifascist Circle, but with three downward-right pointing arrows.
Strike Anywhere generally allows audience members to record their live performances for personal, non-commercial use, and has gone so far as to authorize the Internet Archive to create a section where fans can upload and share their recordings.[3]
