We Are the Union

We Are the Union is an American ska punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan formed in 2005. The band is now based out of Michigan, California and Florida. The band has had numerous lineup changes since its inception, with vocalist/guitarist Reade Wolcott and bassist Brandon Benson as the only remaining original members. As of 2022, their live lineup often features guest horn players and touring members.

We Are the Union
2021 promotional photo of We Are The Union.
2021 promotional photo of We Are The Union.
Background information
OriginAnn Arbor, Michigan, United States[1]
Genres
Years active
Labels
Members
  • Reade Wolcott
  • Brandon Benson
  • Ricky Weber
  • Jeremy Hunter
  • Emily Williams
Past members
  • Brent Friedman
  • Matt Belanger
  • Tony Weinbender
  • Jim Margle
  • John Ryan, Jr.
  • Trey Cook
  • Daniel Ray
  • David Lackey
  • Charlie Held
  • Ben Wixson
  • Noah Fenton
  • Ryan Collins
Websitewearetheunion.net

History

Early years and hiatus (2005–2013)

The band formed in August 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan[1] due to members being "unhappy with the current state of ska music."[6] Their debut album, Who We Are, was released in 2007.[9]

Who We Are would be followed by albums Great Leaps Forward in 2010[10] and You Can't Hide the Sun in 2012.[11] In 2013, We Are the Union announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus,[12] stating: "We've decided to take a hiatus from active status. […] We were a band. Maybe someday we will be again. We've had some amazing times, and we truly appreciate those of you who've contributed to our existence. We've never been a supercool hype band or uberpunx beardy band, so we thank each and every one of you who listened to our music over the years."[8]

Return, Self Care, and Ordinary Life (2015–present)

The band returned from hiatus in 2015,[13] with Jer Hunter of the YouTube channel Ska Tune Network joining the band on trombone.[14] They released their fourth studio album, Self Care, in 2018. Following this album release, the band appeared on Audiotree,[15] and released new singles in 2020.[16]

In April 2021, We Are The Union announced a new album, Ordinary Life, to be released on June 4, 2021 via Bad Time Records.[17] Along with the album announcement, lead vocalist Reade Wolcott came out as a trans woman, with much of the album exploring topics surrounding her transition.[18]

In The Summer of Ska 2022, We Are the Union became the "Official Band of Pride". In November 2022, it was announced that drummer Brent Friedman would be leaving the group.[19]

Influences and musical style

We Are the Union cites Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Slapstick, Less Than Jake, and This Is A Standoff as influences.[6] More recently, they have been influenced by indie pop and pop music.[20]

Band members

Current members

Former members
  • Brent Friedman[1] – drums (2015-2022)
  • Jim Margle[3][24] – drums
  • Charlie Held – drums
  • Matt Belanger[3][25] – trombone
  • Trey Cook – drums
  • John Ryan Jr. – saxophone
  • David Lackey – trombone
  • Barney – trombone
  • Daniel Ray – trombone
  • Ryan Collins – guitar
  • Noah Fenton- guitar
  • Ben Wixson – guitar
  • Denni Skagalera – tenor saxophone (touring member)

Discography

Adapted from Bandcamp, Spotify, Tumblr and YouTube[26][27][28][29][30][31]

Studio albums

Extended plays
  • The Grow Up Or Shut Up EP (2006, out of print)[29][41]
  • The Gun Show Must Go On (2009, digital only)[5][29]
  • Graveyard Grins (2011, digital only)[29]
  • You Can't B-Side The Sun (2014)[42]
  • Keep It Down (2015)[43]

As lead artist
Year Title Album
2015 "Call In Dead"[44]
Keep It Down
2018 "What's Wrong With Me?"[45]
Self Care
"A Better Home"[46]
2020 "Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad"[47] Non-album single
"Your Way, Your Time"[48]
"You're Dead / Vampire Ska" (Norma Tanega/Horny Toad cover)[49]
"I'm Working Retail For Christmas"[50]
2021 "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Punk Rock Stars"[51]
"Rasputin" (Boney M. cover)[52]
"Morbid Obsessions"[53]
Ordinary Life
"Boys Will Be Girls"
"Make It Easy"
"Sound System" (Operation Ivy cover; ft. Eve 6) Non-album single
2022 "OHMYGOD" (Eichlers cover)
"Yr Always Alone (On Christmas)"
Year Title Album
2021 "Set It All On Fire"[54]
(Louser featuring We Are the Union)		 Non-album single
"2 OF US"[55]

(Eichlers featuring We Are the Union)

Demos
  • The Grow Up Or Shut Up EP (2006, out of print)[29][41]

Live albums
Title Album details
We Are The Union on Audiotree Live[56]
  • Released: 2019
  • Label: Self-released, Audiotree
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Music videos
Year Song Director Ref
2008 "This is My Life (And It's Ending One Minute At A Time)" Tyler Capehart [57]
2012 "We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat" Tyler Capehart,

Joelle Andrés

 [58]
2015 "Call In Dead" (lyric video) We Are the Union [44]
2018 "A Better Home" (lyric video) [59]
"Dust on the Hourglass" (acoustic in-studio) [60]
"What's Wrong With Me?" (lyric video) [61]
2020 "Your Way, Your Time" Chris Graue [62]
"Pre-Expatriate" [63]
"You're Dead / Vampire Ska" [64]
"I'm Working Retail For Christmas"
2021 "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Punk Rock Stars"
"Rasputin"
"Morbid Obsessions"
"Boys Will Be Girls"
"Make It Easy"
"Sound System"
2022 "OHMYGOD" Reade Wolcott
"Surfing on the Waves of Caffeination" Chris Graue
"December" Rae Mystic
"Yr Always Alone (On Christmas)"

Compilation appearances
  • Fall Sampler 2012 (2012, Paper and Plastick Records)
    • Features the track "Dead End" from You Can't Hide The Sun[65]
  • 2013 Summer Sampler (2013, Paper and Plastick Records)
    • Features the track "Dust on the Hourglass" also from You Can't Hide The Sun[66]

References
  1. "We Are the Union -- Audiotree". Retrieved 26 January 2021 – via Audiotree.
  2. "Wannabe Reviews We Are The Union's 'Self Care' - Glide Magazine". Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Glide Magazine. In the latest Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle offers his illustrated commentary on Self Care, the punk and ska band We Are The Union, in his signature six-panel comic strip form.
  3. Mandell, Xan (Nov 5, 2014). "Interviews: Reed Michael Wolcott (We Are The Union)". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  4. "We Are the Union - You Can't Hide The Sun". Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via punknews.org.
  5. "We Are the Union - The Gun Show Must Go On". Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via punknews.org.
  6. "We Are The Union : 1 of 8". Retrieved December 17, 2020 – via Tumblr. Unhappy with the current state of ska music, We Are The Union decided to stick out their own necks and tried to change things for the better in the summer of 2005. Getting a paycheck is not on their agenda. Instead of following typical ska punk conventions, WATU takes a harder-nosed approach to the genre. With influences ranging from Philadelphia/New Jersey favorites Lifetime and Kid Dynamite, and bands like Slapstick and This Is A Standoff, they rage with the best of them while still retaining a heightened sense of melody. Their love for fast music, horns and their incredibly short attention spans are a simple explanation for why WATU sound the way they do.
  7. "We Are The Union Interview". Event occurs at 3:15. Retrieved December 29, 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. "Break-ups: We Are the Union (2005-2013)" – via punknews.org.
  9. "We Are the Union "Who We Are" Vinyl Re-Issue". Bad Time Records. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  10. Schultz, Brian (17 May 2010). "We Are the Union - Great Leaps Forward". Alt Press. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  11. "Album Premiere: We Are the Union, "You Can't Hide the Sun"". Alt Press. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. Mandell, Xan. "Interviews: Reed Michael Wolcott (We Are the Union)". Punk News. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. Chiasson, Alex (2 May 2015). "We Are the Union Premiere Two New Songs, Announce "Keep It Down" EP". Boston Ska (dot) net. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. Hudson, Nick. "Gainesville musician runs successful "Skatune Network" YouTube channel". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  15. "We Are the Union -- Audiotree". Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. Sacher, Andrew. "We Are the Union deliver super catchy ska-punk on new single "Your Way, Your Time"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  17. Sacher, Andrew. "We Are The Union announce 'Ordinary Life' LP – BV-exclusive vinyl pre-order & new song!". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  18. Stratis, Niko (23 April 2021). "Dysphoria Dies at MAGFest: We Are the Union's Reade Wolcott Comes Out As Trans". SPIN. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  19. We Are The Union [@wearetheunion] (Nov 28, 2022). "brent's last shows are this weekend in pomona and phoenix. come give him the sendoff he deserves! we're sad to see him go, but thankful he'll still be a big part of the team behind the scenes. who are we gonna see?? #ska #punk #wearetheunion #skapunkdaily #antiflag" – via Instagram.
  20. "20 NEW SKA Releases in 2020". Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
  24. "We Are The Union Recording Update - Drums". Jim Margle. Retrieved December 29, 2020 – via YouTube.
  25. "THE SUICIDE MACHINES - "Hey Ska (f/ Matt from WE ARE THE UNION)" Live at THE FEST 9 10/29/10". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  26. "Music | We Are The Union". Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Bandcamp.
  27. "Video | We Are The Union". Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Bandcamp.
  28. "We Are The Union, Spotify" – via Spotify.
  29. "Releases | We Are The Union". Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Tumblr.
  30. "We Are The Union - YouTube". Retrieved Jan 29, 2020 – via YouTube.
  31. "We Are The Union - Topic - YouTube". Retrieved Jan 29, 2020 – via YouTube.
  32. "Who We Are | We Are The Union" – via Bandcamp.
  33. "We Are The Union - Who We Are (Full Album)". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  34. "We Are The Union – Who We Are (Full + Bonus Track)". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  35. "We Are The Union | WMUC's Entirely Smooth". Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via entirelysmooth.wordpress.com. I absolutely love WATU, and you'll find that out very quickly by either listening to the show or poking around this site. Just a great combination of ska, punk and hardcore, these guys have a huge potential to break out soon. Great Leaps is also a phenomenal record that should be picked up by any fan of ska or punk
  36. "Great Leaps Forward | We Are The Union" – via Bandcamp.
  37. "You Can't Hide the Sun". Spotify. 16 October 2012.
  38. "You Can't Hide the Sun, by We Are the Union".
  39. "Self Care - album by We Are The Union". October 2018 – via Spotify.
  40. "Self Care | We Are The Union" – via Bandcamp.
  41. "We Are The Union - Grow Up Or Shut Up". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube. Off their first EP "Grow Up or Shut Up."
  42. "You Can't B-Side The Sun | We Are The Union". Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Bandcamp.
  43. "Keep It Down by We Are The Union on Spotify". 15 May 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Spotify.
  44. "We Are The Union - Call In Dead (Lyric Video)". Retrieved January 15, 2021 – via YouTube.
  45. "Spotify - What's Wrong With Me?". 10 September 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Spotify.
  46. "Spotify - A Better Home". 20 August 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Spotify.
  47. "Spotify - Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad". 20 April 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Spotify.
  48. "Spotify - Your Way, Your Time". 25 September 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Spotify.
  49. "You're Dead / Vampire Ska - song by We Are The Union". Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Spotify.
  50. "I'm Working Retail For Christmas - song by We Are The Union". 27 November 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Spotify.
  51. "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Punk Rock Stars - song by We Are The Union". 5 February 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021 – via Spotify.
  52. "Rasputin - song by We Are The Union". 19 March 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via Spotify.
  53. Morbid Obsessions, 23 April 2021, retrieved 2021-04-25
  54. "Set It All On Fire - song by Louser". 9 February 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021 – via Spotify.
  55. 2 OF US, 2021-11-03, retrieved 2022-03-30
  56. "We Are the Union on Audiotree Live". Spotify. 18 September 2019.
  57. "We Are The Union "This Is My Life" Apocalypse Productions". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  58. "We Are The Union "We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat" Apocalypse Productions". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  59. "We Are The Union - A Better Home (Lyric Video)". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  60. "We Are The Union - Dust on the Hourglass (Acoustic In-Studio)". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  61. "We Are The Union - What's Wrong With Me? (Lyric Video)". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  62. "We Are The Union - "Your Way, Your Time" (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  63. "We Are The Union - "Pre-Expatriate" (Official Video)". Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
  64. "We Are the Union release "You're Dead / Vampire Ska video | Punknews.org" – via Punknews.org.
  65. "Spotify - Dead End". 10 October 2013 – via Spotify.
  66. "Spotify - Dust of the Hourglass". 9 October 2013 – via Spotify.
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