Erika Ransom

12/02/2004

MRR Feb 2005

European Tour (Part 2)

So there I was, on the famous Kopi stage in Berlin. Playing guitar to an empty room. It was just the soundman and I, and a few random punks wandering through the large concert hall with the vaulted ceiling that looked like it could have once been part of a Victorian ballroom, now crumbling, but still glorious, high above the floor. I was playing loud distorted power chords, while the punk doing sound for the night was trying to get a good mix on the PA. I looked at the old banners on the wall from past festivals, and thought of all the amazing shows and events that had happened in this place where I’m now standing. I felt the way I did many times while on tour through Europe, so thankful and excited to be there. It was a little surreal but wonderful, standing on the Kopi stage, listening to the sound of my guitar filling the room.

That was October 2, the second show of THE PROFIT$ 2004 European tour. Of course, by the time you read this ramshackle tale of our misadventures, it will be well into 2005. Oh well! Bush can kiss my ass, and for the moment, I am refusing to write about him or his consorts. There is nothing new to report, except that things are getting worse. Fascist, nationalist sentiment is at an all-time high. It disgusts me to no end. Rather than strangle myself with sewing thread, I’ve decided to focus on the positive people in this world.

So, back to daydreams about tour, traveling in the back of Sloma’s van!

Now, back to the beginning, when 2004 was still new. Adam, Brian, Rich and I made the decision as a band that our yearly tour would take us somewhere we had never gone before, out of our borders, out of the fucking United States and off to Europe. It was a big choice and a big chance, as we would have to forgo seeing our old friends around the country for another year, and a European tour would be hard to pull together. The idea seemed almost impossible: we didn’t know anyone to help book shows, we didn’t know where to play, and we didn’t know what to do about gear, a van, borders, and getting our records distributed beforehand. There were a million questions and things we knew nothing about. With all these hazards and problems to sort out, why did we want to go? Why travel to another continent, where nobody has heard of us, when we could have much easily jumped in our van, headed west and enjoyed good shows with friends? What the fuck were we thinking?!

It boils down to this.

Punk fucking rock and solidarity has no borders.

After four years of touring in the states, we had to go!

And for me, the word solidarity means a lot. It’s is not just a nice thing to say at the protest. It is a strong feeling that unites struggles across boundaries and creates action for change. I remember well that day in February 2003, when over 30 million people across the globe came together to protest (what would soon be) the US attack and occupation of Iraq. The global solidarity was nothing short of fucking amazing, and I felt really thankful that people across the world took to the streets. For those of us here in the US trying to stop and oppose the war, that day gave strength, momentum and hope to our efforts. It was no accident Bush gave the order for attack only a month later, as by that time the US anti-war movement was gaining massive popularity and force.

I wanted to go to Europe to meet those people who took to the streets, and although separated by culture, language and borders, feel the same way I do about the world. I wanted to sing and share songs with people who share a passion for this thing we call DIY anarcho-punk, and the idea of fighting for a better world. I hoped to learn what I could about other struggles and collective victories. See squats, hear about organizing, breathe the air of somewhere outside my experience.

Ah! But we needed a lot of help to make it happen. And that’s where the story really begins. Nothing is an end result by itself, and there is always a process and journey to get where you want to go. Luckily, we met some amazing people along the way. If you regularly read my column, you know by now I stumbled upon Active Distribution based in the UK, which distributes DIY anarcho-punk music and radical literature throughout England and Europe. I had the audacity to ask them to do a European release of THE PROFIT$, and they had the bad sense to say yes! Then they even helped get our tour together! After much asking around, and months of worry, we were finally connected with Sloma from the band Infectiva (Poland), who agreed to drive us in his van. Pilip Fala found gear for us to rent, and Mrova made t-shirts for us in Amsterdam. And punks set up shows for us all across central Europe! So, although all the things that came up that we needed to prepare for tour constantly surprised me, I was always amazed and heartened by the punks who were willing to help us out. THANKS for everything!!

Now, back to the ancient and hallowed Kopi, a large brick building crumbling at the edges but well lived inside. There is a cement face of a woman looking up, her head as large as a Volkswagen bus, broken off at the neck, at one end of the building. Her gaze takes in the many window apartments of the squat, seeing the rich tapestry of years Kopi has been built, organized and defended by many hands over the last decade. In her eyes you could hear the sound of broken glass, when bank windows were smashed as a warning–Kopi would not be sold to the highest bidder!

There was a wait after sound check, and large servings of good food. We wandered around looking at all the posters and stickers on the walls, waiting for the show to start. People started showing up, and our good friend, the mighty Lucho, made it from Boston! Kauczuk also made it by train from Bremen, Hubert and Sloma set up their merch table and we all relaxed for a little bit.

It was a little intimidating, walking up the steps to the stage. It reminded me of my first time playing at Gilman Street or CBGBs, feeling the enormous energy that has been there touch a part of me. But Adam, Rich, Brian and I all played tight together, and our songs felt right. Looking out over the crowd of maybe 200 people at the show, speaking in English still felt lame, and I wondered if what I was feeling was connecting. I had no other choice than to just scream, to let go my rage and just play, and hope the sentiment carried. MURDER DISCO X played next, and then BIAKA GORACZKA from Poland, who I had heard so much about. BIAKA GORACZKA ended up being the perfect end to the show, a great set, and their uplifting tunes made everyone dance!

After the show was over, someone asked, “Can you be in the kitchen in two minutes for a meeting of the bands and the show organizers to divide the door money?” Two minutes! A sharp sense of time and organizing, these Germans…I walked into the kitchen, still smelling of the good food that was prepared for dinner, to find a serious looking bunch sitting around a table in the corner.

I walked up, banged my fist on the metal table and said, “The Profits demand all the money!”

Now, of course if you know me, or my band, this is a good joke. But you should have seen their faces! I had just been lucky to play the Kopi Anniversary Festival, and was now demanding all the money! I had to explain, “No, no, no, no, of course I’m only joking…” and then we all decided to split the money evenly which was fair given all the traveling and expenses each band had to go through for the show. I stayed in the kitchen and talked with the Kopi folks…two old punks who were pulling out their fake teeth and talking about past festivals, hanging their heads that this year was not as large a show as last year, a beautiful French woman with short hair who was traveling and now helping out with the squat, and a young punk who graciously rolled a nice tobacco and hash cigarette. Ah, good times!

Back at the bar, I found everyone tired, and poor Kauczuk asleep at the table, arms folded under his head. We roused the gang and followed one of the old punks and the beautiful French woman to his apartment not far down the street. Rich, Brian, Hubert and Kauczuk crashed out (and Sloma was sleeping in the van) but a few of us stayed up to talk about fascists, politics, Kopi and punk until the sun came up, listening to “This is Boston Not LA” to my delight…and the night was gone. I finally made it into my sleeping bag, and another day of tour was over.

Ransom END Notes

A.k.a. The Press Conference in My Head

[“OK, this is going to be short. First question…yeah you with the funny hat.”]

“Is this really the end? Why is this column so short, again?”

“Ah, dear readers, I’m off to London tomorrow, so I’m turning in the column early. After being home from tour, I couldn’t wait to go somewhere again, even if it’s just for a short trip. Looking forward to escaping the US once again! I plan on seeing friends, bringing back distribution for my label, Propaganda Machine, and catching some good shows including DEZERTER, so I’ll let you know how it goes!

[Adam, you had a question?]”

“Hey Erika, did you notice you’ve only written two sentences in two months?”

“Hmm. Let’s see…if I stretch it far enough, Bush will be out of office or dead by the time I’m done. Maybe the war in Iraq will end too, and US troops go home, but I doubt it. Or, if enough people bother me, I’ll write about something else.

[Sound of people laughing…Gretchen, thanks for the beer, and what are you screaming?”]

“Have you given up on writing about politics? I mean, tour is cool, but it’s sort of avoiding the real issues, isn’t it?”

“Ah, well, as I said before, I think things are just very stagnant right now. It’s a re-run, but bloodier. I’ve written a lot about Bush and what’s going on, and nothing has changed. Don’t worry. I will unleash my rage soon, oh, very soon. Plus, isn’t everything political? Americans can learn a lot from what the DIY scene is doing in Europe. Now is a time to build upon what movements for change we have.

[Next question, yes, Mr. Sandberg, good to see you...]”

“What about Boston? You didn’t even mention it?”

“Ah, Boston is doing well. It’s getting cold. Regeneration, a DIY punk record and bookstore, just opened in Allston. It rocks!! Thanks to Sue and Ross for being so awesome. There is also an anarcha-feminist festival being planned by myself and other people in Boston for March 5 with great bands and other activities. So mark your calendars and start making plans to come! THE CLICHES are a new political band that people should support and check out with a fun ska and punk sound. They’re excited and sincere, and have things to say about what’s going on both locally and in the larger picture. Those things make me really happy about being here.

[Laurie, you look kind of pissed off, what’s your question?]”

“Anything else, I mean…the column WAS pretty short. What’s up with you?”

“Well, frankly, lots of things have been going on personally. Remember all that stuff I told you over coffee last week? But next month will be worth reading, I promise. You are too cool for reading this junk anyway!

[Last question, for tall guy with the funny haircut in the back of the room.]”

“So what’s the shameless promotion this month?”

“Write me letters, send me music and fanzines, especially women bent on destroying the state and smashing patriarchy! I could use the encouragement. I’m starting to spend too much time smoking cigarettes (which is stupid as hell), walking around aimlessly and thinking how everything is going to hell. Contact me at ransom@theprofits.org or through regular mail at Erika Ransom/ PO Box 391273/ Cambridge, MA 02139/ USA. And, once again, THE PROFIT$ ’99-’04 CD Discography is now out by and available from Active Distribution (www.activedistribution.org) and in the US by my label Propaganda Machine (www.theprofits.org).

[Ah, Lucho, didn’t see you there. Did you want to say something? Happy birthday by the way…]”

“Famous last words?”

“Love, solidarity and punk fucking rock. Cheers to all of you who struggle for change!

[let’s all finish this wine and dance ‘til dawn again…]”