Identity is tricky. It can be a source of comfort, belonging, necessary political activism, art, equilibrium in an amorphous ocean of endless existential dread. But it can be a claustrophobic bargain, one that comes with unforeseen borders and expectations, or a Schrodinger’s Cat-like effect where an idea can look good but the moment you try it on it ceases to fit right. Well Worriers isn’t having it anymore.
“The smallest things have become / “which side are you on?”” sings Lauren Denitzio in a disaffected growl in the first few lines of “They/Them/Theirs”. “What if I don’t want something that applies to me? / what if there’s no better word than not saying anything?” According to Denitzio, who has said they don’t identify as a woman but don’t specifically identify as non-binary either, it’s a song about not wanting to check a box, and the desire to not get questioned about it. Language is powerful and although “They/Them/Theirs” is a song that’s more about process than about knowing all the answers, it uses the band’s increasing visibility to raise visibility for non-binary pronouns. All in all, that’s pretty punk.
“They/Them/Theirs” will be on the Laura Jane Grace-produced Imaginary Life, out August 7 on Don Giovanni.
Worriers tour dates (with Caves):
May
28 — Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn
29 — Pittsburgh, PA @ City Grows
30 — Cincinnati, OH @ Tacocracy
31 — Bloomington IN @ Kroger Castle
June
01 — Chicago, IL @ Live Wire
02 — Grand Rapids, MI @ The New Church
03 — Milwaukee, WI @ Cocoon Room
04 — Minneapolis, MN @ Hexagon
05 — Minot, ND @ Pangea House
06 — Bozeman, MT @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge
07 — Missoula, MT @ Ole Beck VFW
09 — Seattle, WA @ Narwhal
10 — Portland, OR @ Twilight Cafe
11 — San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
12 — Pomona, CA @ VLHS
13 — San Diego, CA @ Tower Bar
14 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell
15 — Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space
16 — Las Cruces, NM @ Haphazard Hall
18 — Austin, TX @ Mohawk (inside)
19 — Houston, TX @ WONKY POWER
20 — New Orleans, LA @ Sisters in Christ Records (Gasa Gasa)
21 — Pensacola, FL @ Sluggo’s
22 — Gainesville, FL @ The Atlantic
23 — Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
24 — Durham, NC @ Pinhook
25 — Richmond, VA @ Gallery5
26 — Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom (iDobi Festival w/o Caves)
27 — Baltimore, MD @ TBA
28 — Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
29 — New Brunswick, NJ @ The West
