Over the weekend, Action/Adventure released a hard hitting message with the music video for “Barricades”. The song clocks in at :59 seconds and they don’t waste any of them. From the song’s first line, “would you listen, if we looked any different?”, they pull the audience in to do just that.
Based in Chicago, Action/Adventure isn’t what you think of ‘visually’ when you think of pop punk. And that’s exactly their point. Even though the band has more than proven themselves in the scene — with incredible lyrics and riffs to make any pop punk kid get up and dance — they haven’t always gotten the respect they deserve. Comprised of four BIPOC, the band has had to endure some serious microaggressions throughout the years, some of which are poignantly displayed in the new music video for “Barricades”. The video is a simple minute long performance in a dim room, and features each member of the band holding up signs of some of the things that have been said to them throughout their careers.
Designed by @meswnd, the signs feature phrases like:
“YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE YOU SOUND”
“YOU SOUND SOOO WHITE”
“YOU’RE NOT BLACK ENOUGH.”
The video ends with frontman Blake Evaristo holding the last sign, that says simply, “WOULD YOU LISTEN?”
The fact that some try to excuse sayings like these as “compliments” shows that it’s well past time we learn what they really are: A way to undercut and undermine someone simply for how they look.
The true spirit of punk is freedom from societal expectations and Action/Adventure do a great job of reminding us of that in the “Barricades” song & video.
Watch the video below:
