Epic, bold, sassy, straight up Punk Rock belted out to bite back!
Since returning to music after a 25 year hiatus, Cindy Lawson is back with a vengeance on her recent third record, ‘¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!‘ A four-song response to the violent siege of Minnesota in the winter of 2026, this EP is a fiery, feminist jolt of truth forged in the fire of Punk rock and boots-on-the-ground protest.
Cindy Lawson began her rock and roll career in Minneapolis in 1985 with the all-female rock band, The Clams. Over the years, she played in several bands in Minneapolis and New York City, but then took a break starting in the late ’90s. After garnering rave reviews and international radio play with 2022’s ‘New Tricks‘ and 2023’s ‘Don’t Come Crying to Me‘ (including national radio support from Little Steven’s Underground Garage Sirius XM and local radio station 89.3 The Current), Cindy has plenty more to say, and she doesn’t hold back!
Delivering her fierce political convictions through a hard-driving, classic punk framework heavily inspired by the activist rock energy of The Clash, singer and guitarist Cindy Lawson is joined by Jerry Lefkowitz on guitar, Pony Hixon Smith / Dave Randall on bass, and Mark Devaraj on drums to give additional musical punch to ‘¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!‘.
Opening with lead single ‘The Reckoning‘, Cindy sets out her stall with driving garage-rock riffs and biting lyrics. A warning to those corrupted by power; “Karma’s a bitch and so am I!” and “I’ve got a wicked case of schadenfreude” make it clear – if you do bad things to people, you can expect bad things to happen to you – the bigots and bullies will pay for what they do:
‘Burn‘ continues the tirade, and with the MN Resistance Choir on backing vocals, its catchy “Don’t believe the lies” chorus is a rallying call to end oppression. Cindy quotes George Orwell during the bridge, as “Minnesota fights fascism” and rejects the hate stirred up by the abhorrent creature in the White House.
No, it’s not about the 1987 British black comedy film, but ‘Eat The Rich‘ does explore the gluttonous excesses of the wealthy, which are frankly obscene when children are starving in their own country. It’s another slab of on-the-nose Rock’n’Roll delivered in Cindy‘s trademark Joan Jett-meets-Ronnie Spector style!
‘Howard Zinn Died For Your Sins‘ anchors the EP’s anti-authoritarian message, referencing the legendary activist and historian Howard Zinn. In 2001, WWII veteran Zinn wrote “I suggest that the history of bombing—and no one has bombed more than this nation—is a history of endless atrocities, all calmly explained by deceptive and deadly language like ‘accident’, ‘military target’, and ‘collateral damage’.” Lawson expands upon this theme with a blast of fuzzed-up 70s style rock, and lyrics including “I hear you talking and it’s ALL BULLSHIT” as she scorns the excuses given by ‘the authorities’ to terrorise and murder ordinary citizens in Minneapolis, and the lies told by the government which directly contradict the eyewitness accounts of those who were actually there. She asks the killers directly; “How do you sleep at night?”
Cindy doesn’t just sing about urgent issues – she is on the board of the MN Music Resistance which raises money for people who really need help – like when ICE attacked the Twin Cities – providing resources for immigrants. Cindy is also donating all the money from her EP release show to the Legal Defense Fund.
So, get along to the ‘¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!‘ EP release show on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Cloudland Theater, Minneapolis, with synth pop punks Toilet Rats and groovy rave ups Mad Mojo Jett – TICKETS
The EP as a whole is a powerful counter to the billionaire-fed media garbage that seeks to downplay government atrocities. ‘¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!‘ defies the behaviour and rhetoric of the fascist regime in four timely, catch-as-hell tracks which prove that Punk protest songs are still essential!
Out on Rum Bar Records on 2nd October on Digital Download, CD, and vibrant red vinyl, order your copy HERE
Main Photo Credit: MADALYN ROWELL
1. The Reckoning
2. Burn
3. Eat The Rich
4. Howard Zinn Died for Your Sins
Follow Cindy Lawson on Her Socials:
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