THEPROFITS

The Profit$

1999-2005

Thanks for checking out The Profits web site. Our last show was on Saturday, July 23, 2005 at ABCNoRio in NYC with Citizen Fish. This project had a beautiful life but after six years together we do not plan on any future shows.

The Profits began in Boston in 1999, with friends Adam (guitar/vocals), Erika Ransom (guitar/vocals), Rich (drums) and Brian (bass) playing together in their Allston practice space, making music and seeing what would happen. Adam and Brian had been in August Spies, and Erika in the Baby Shakers. The Profits soon developed an angry, political, Boston hardcore meets 80s UK punk sound with male and female vocals.

The Profits lyrics dealt with a range of issues we found important and made us want to scream: from the blood and blind patriotism of war, to the strength of people who resist and make a positive change for the future. Our manifesto explains more of our attitude, and the lyrics speak for themselves.

The Profits released a full length CD, "Profit Over People" in 2000. The 7" "Dying for Dollars" in 2001, the 7" "Propaganda Machine" in 2002, and "US Atrocity" in March of 2004, as a protest against US involvement in Iraq and the Middle East. The Profits Discography was released in 2004. For more information and MP3s of our music, go here. You can still buy our music through Profane Existence and (outside the US) Active Distribution.

During our live shows, we combined punk music, politics, often a slide show behind the band, and having fun. We usually had books for sale on our table and often made our own fanzines with lyrics and information.

For me, the best moments happened when energy completely filled the room. Everyone was involved and excited, and the music flowed between the band and off the stage. I could scream what was in my mind and in my heart, and people danced how they felt or shouted and sang along. Together, the world seemed a bit brighter, if even for a minute. We were all punks, kids, freaks or outsiders, people who knew the system was fucked up, and music was a way to release our anger at the world, and know we weren't alone. Music was energy, passion and something we created as friends. Music was just part of who we were, trying to make sense of this place, creating something from nothing.

Soon after getting together, we decided to pack up the Profits van and go on the road, and played many shows along the east coast and New England, especially having good times and making friends in New York City, Baltimore, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Philly. Besides many weekend trips, we went on four US tours, twice to the west coast, and one tour in Europe. Overall, we played over 200 shows, from tiny basements all over the US, to Gilman Street in Berkeley, the notorious Burnt Ramen, the C.L.I.T. Festivals '04 and '05 in Minneapolis, the Punk Rock Olympics at CGBGs in NYC, many nice days at ABC NoRio, Mr. Roboto's in Pittsburgh, the Yard in Long Island, Kaffa House in D.C., Dixie Tavern in New Orleans, the Fireside Bowl in Chicago, Bernies' in Columbus OH, Pointless Fest in 2004, La Rivolta 2005 in Boston and lots more places in between. We met so many great people and bands who shared beers and good times with us, who set up shows and let us sleep on their floors.

In Boston, we played almost every venue in town, including the Middle East, the YWCA, Bill's Bar, VFW halls, the Polish American Club and the Cambridge Elk's Lodge..any place we could have a punk show...but the basement of Jacque's (a drag queen bar in the South End), basement house shows, and All Asia (a cafe in Cambridge were we set up all-ages shows) were some of the best times I remember.

On our 2004 European tour, we played many great places including the Kopi festival in Berlin, the Friesen in Bremen, the Lobusch in Hamburg, EKH in Vienna, OCCI in Amsterdam, Zorro in Liepzig, and shows in Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland and France. It was amazing and inspiring to be part of a punk and solidarity movement across so many borders.

THANKS so much to all of our friends and supporters over the years. Special thanx to all the Boston punks, the NYC crew, Minneapolis gang, Bill for releasing our first two records,all of the bands we played with, everyone who booked shows for us, the Bitch Crew, Profane Existence for distribution help, Active for our discography and European tour, Mary and Jeff for playing bass in 2002, Jim for playing drums for our last shows, and especially everyone who danced at the shows or came up to our table to talk to us afterwards. Thanks. You made it all worthwhile.

In Solidarity and Blazing Guitars,

Erika Ransom