Descendents vocalist Milo Aukerman debuts his politically focused ukulele project, RebUke, with a three-song single ’45…not a LP.’ The songs examine the current political state of the United States and the feeling of outrage and uncertainty that has intensified over the years.
“I’ve spent most of my punk rock life avoiding the temptation to write political songs; it always seemed like politics is the obvious go-to subject of punk and thus not of interest to me,” explains Aukerman. “Unfortunately, after the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, I find myself virtually unable to write songs about anything else.”
Originally written for the next Descendents record, Aukerman felt the tracks were too time-sensitive and needed to come out prior to the upcoming November 2020 election. Utilizing an array of ukuleles (a six-string “guitarlele,” a soprano uke, an electric uke, and a bass uke) paired with tabla drums and a cowbell, Aukerman set out to get these political screeds off his chest in a stripped-down format.
“If you believe, like me, that 45 is not a LP, we ALL need to VOTE to make that a reality,” encourages Aukerman. “Only then can we hope to see a return to sanity, a turning of the page. These songs are my personal attempts to turn the page on our national nightmare…if only I could will it through music.”
‘On You’
‘Hindsight 2020’
‘Royal Flush’