Local band hides its new single

They’re under that crusty newspaper laying on the corner of Forbes Avenue, on park… They’re under that crusty newspaper laying on the corner of Forbes Avenue, on park benches, and hanging out in the restrooms of local restaurants.

Soma Mestizo, Pittsburgh’s notorious world music/rock band, released a one-song CD called No War that can’t be bought in stores or even found at their shows. The only way you can get your hands on this hot political item is by finding it somewhere around the city.

Band member Christiane D. explains, “To just give it to our fans is like preaching to the choir. To hide them is for anyone, for those who want the war, for those who are sitting on the fence, for those who don’t.”

Spontaneity was the key ingredient in the song’s creation. During a Quiet Storm performance, band members Eric “Boo Boo” Mason and Richard “Skilah” Gartner, began to play a rhythm and Christiane D. jumped in with the lyrics. She went home that night determined to record the song. In haphazard fashion, the CD was born. The case declares that it is an “unrehearsedonetakeslappedtogetherrawdog musical protest.”

With lyrics such as, “The children will suffer from the things we do/blood will flow like rivers and stain each of our hands/no war no war,” the least this song and concept will do is make people ponder the effects of a war.

As Christiane D., who is also the recipient of a 2003 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship, says, “This song is appealing to our inner conscience. In the heat of hatred it is easy to dehumanize and say nuke ’em all, but is that what we really want to be responsible for?”

Feelings of powerlessness in the face of the war machine boosted the artistic process. The band wanted to make an impact artistically, breaking through what they feel are the silent screams of protest to finally be heard. The unique approach of allowing someone to literally stumble upon the message may be new enough to turn even the most obstinate heads.