Showing posts with label Cindy Lawson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cindy Lawson. Show all posts

Sunday, October 04, 2026

Cindy Lawson - ¡Long Live the Resistance!


¡Long Live the Resistance!, the new EP from Cindy Lawson, is exactly what the title promises: a collection of raging, defiant songs that push back against an authoritarianism state and billionaire class that oppress with unchecked power. Out on Rum Bar Records, the EP is available on CD and limited edition 10" vinyl. 

Lawson (The Clams), a legendary figure in the later '80s Twin Cities music scene, has had quite the career renaissance in the 2020s. Her fantastic EPs New Tricks and Don't Come Crying To Me were standout indie/garage rock releases in 2022 and 2023. Last year's single "The Reckoning" was exactly the anthem my discouraged heart needed — a furious assertion that evil individuals will ultimately have to square up with unforgiving karma. It was a noticeable shift in style for Lawson, and it was a thrill to hear her and her band find inspiration and energy in raw, impassioned old school punk rock. The song returns as the lead track on the new EP — followed by three new songs inspired by ICE's takeover of Minneapolis. 

What is a proper response when the powers-that-be brutalize communities, trample all over fundamental human rights, and murder their own citizens? You push back any way you can. Not only has Cindy Lawson taken street-level action in her own community, she has also used her platform as a musician to inspire resistance. Again, she and her band (Jerry Lefkowitz on guitar, Pony Hixon Smith on bass, and Mark Devaraj on drums) utilize fierce, fiery punk rock as their vessel for social protest. I swear Lawson has been drinking from the fountain of youth. She sounds so focused, energized, and full of conviction. When it comes to righteous indignation, there's no denying she wears it well. "Burn," "Eat the Rich," and "Howard Zinn Died for Your Sins" hold nothing back. They are pissed-off, uncompromising, and fearless. They take the fight to the bullies. They speak truth to power. And as I always say about protest music, the key is that these would be powerhouse songs even if the lyrics weren't political. Lawson is such a force of nature on these tracks, and her band matches her energy at every turn. So it's not that the music is bigger than the message; it's that the music amplifies the message. If you're out there in the fight, this is your soundtrack. These are your rallying cries. 

¡Long Live the Resistance! does not shy away from being exactly what it aims to be. Cindy Lawson is not here to negotiate a consensus or implore people to "agree to disagree" with her. She doesn't give a flying fuck if you don't like her politics. She's here to speak her truth and stand up for what she believes in. She's here to speak for everyone who's angry and appalled about injustice in America. And it hits all the harder because this is personal for her. There's a great tradition of punk rock as protest music, and Cindy Lawson is keeping the fire burning at this present and crucial moment.

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Saturday, October 18, 2025

Cindy Lawson - "The Reckoning"


The great Cindy Lawson is bringing the heat! Back with her first new release since 2023's Don't Come Crying To Me EP, the Minneapolis rock legend makes her Hygh Tension Records debut with the powerful single "The Reckoning." Backed by her usual band (Jerry Lefkowitz on guitar, Dave Randall on bass, and Mark Devaraj on drums), Lawson is in full old school punk rock mode on this storming track. This is a song with a message, and it comes through loud and clear. "This song is for anyone who's been burned, betrayed, and silenced,” says Lawson. "It's that universal satisfaction when someone evil finally gets taken down. And for me, it's not just about them—it's about reclaiming the part of myself they tried to destroy." One gets the sense that this song is very personal for Lawson, and she sings the hell out of it. Her voice has never sounded better, and the passion she puts into this track will just about give you chills. When she screams, "Karma's a bitch, but so am I!", I can imagine a million formerly silenced voices erupting in deafening exultation. At a moment in the world where it feels like evil is winning, this song is an urgent ray of hope. Sooner or later, the reckoning comes.

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Thursday, November 23, 2023

Cindy Lawson - Don't Come Crying To Me


Cindy Lawson is without a doubt a legend in the Minneapolis music scene. Yet it would be hard to deny that she's making by far the best music of her life today — nearly four decades into her recording career. Out on Rum Bar Records, Don't Come Crying To Me is Lawson's second solo EP in two years and an absolute gem of a pop record. Again working with producer Steve Price and a super-talented cast of Twin Cities–based musicians (guitarist Jerry Lefkowitz, bassist Dave Randall, drummer Mark Devaraj), Lawson has turned out an all-killer, no-filler collection of songs inspired by '60s pop, garage rock, and a myriad of other influences. Right off the bat, her voice grabs you. She's one of the finest singers in today's independent music scene, but she's also a terrific writer of melodies and a formidable lyricist. Any of these six tracks could have been the "hit," but certainly the title track was no-brainer choice for the EP's lead single. It's an absolutely ripping garage rocker with timely lyrics about the inevitable consequences of dishonesty. Paired with the scorching-hot "Screamin' White Jezus," it kicks off the EP with a bang. "Go Find Another Heart to Break" finds Lawson seamlessly blending her classic '60s pop sensibilities with Matt Pahl's stellar saxophone. "I'll Be Around" pairs powerful vocals and lyrics with an irresistible rhythm & blues inspired beat. "What if She Followed Him to Nashville" is gorgeous country-pop that has me reflecting on the way our lives are defined by our choices (Jon Duncan from Trailer Trash guest stars on piano and takes the song to a whole other level). Bringing the EP to a delightful conclusion, "I Don't Want You Anymore" is a super-fun kiss-off that channels classic girl group pop with a punk rock edge.  

It would not be accurate to call Cindy Lawson a "late bloomer." Instead she's more like a fine wine, inspiring all of us who refuse to accept that our best years are behind us. She and Price have the perfect artist/producer relationship and have now collaborated on two flawless collections of rocking pop songs. Credit Miss Georgia Peach for hearing New Tricks last year and knowing that Malibu Lou would want to put it out. As they say, the rest is history. And now people all over the world have had the good fortune to enjoy Lawson's music. My only criticism of Don't Come Crying To Me is that it leaves me wanting more. But let's be real: that's not actually a criticism! Any time I'm sad the EP is over, I can just listen to it again. And I have a feeling that more new music from Cindy Lawson is forthcoming. If you want to hear a fantastic singer with fantastic songs backed by a fantastic band, you too will feel blessed to have Don't Come Crying To Me leave you wanting more.

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