Gather was a hardcore band formed in 2004 from Northern California, who wer… Read Full Bio ↴Gather was a hardcore band formed in 2004 from Northern California, who were very outspoken about the vegan straight edge philosophy. In an interview from 2005 by Maximum Rock and Roll, band members state that the name was to emphasize the “gather” and eliminate the “hunter” in the term “hunter gatherer.”

"We decided to play the music in Gather because we wanted to capture the sound of some of our favorite bands from the 90’s, like Chokehold, Another Victim, and Culture,” said drummer Dustin Halls. They were passionate about spreading the message of animal liberation and also human liberation by speaking out against racism, government corruption, sexism and homophobia.

Gather wanted to take the straight-edge drug free movement within the hardcore punk scene a step further by advocating veganism and animal liberation, not to be confused with animal welfare. The band has a song called Escalate with the lyrics “If drugs are the reason everyone's so passive, use your sobriety to act!” They are for abolishing the industry, not improving the conditions as that would contradict the idea of liberation. “All forms of animal abuse disgust me because they all remind me of just how much humynity has removed itself from all other beings. Our whole culture is based upon anthropocentrism and so it’s too easy for us to exploit animals and justify it as being ‘beneficial.’” says Eva Genie in an interview from 2006.

They self-released their first demo and recorded it with Scott Crouse from Earth Crisis, an influential vegan straight-edge band from Syracuse, New York formed in 1981. They also made a ‘zine to accompany it. The members of Gather decided on the Total Liberation Tour in 2004 to release the demo as an E.P. on New Eden Records through the work of Eric Vanguard, then also released a split 7” (2005) with another vegan straight-edge band Seven Generations. Their songs on this split were also recorded with Scott Crouse. After this, they toured the West Coast.

One of the members, Allan, decided to obtain his master’s degree in education and a teaching credential, but the band decided to record a full-length album when he returned. They recorded their first full-length called Beyond the Ruins, released in 2006 by xCatalystx Records with Vic Dicara of the band 108. They toured the US in the summer of 2006 with Seven Generations and Kingdom (both vegan straight-edge bands), then again in Europe in the winter of 2006 but this time with the band To Kill. “Our last little tour was with xBishopx. We then played our infamous show at the Earth Crisis reunion, and played our amazing last shows before calling it quits,” said Dustin in a 2007 interview.

Members have gone on to form Power Alone.

Members:
Eva Genie (vocals)
Dustin Hall (drums)
Allan (guitar)
Randy (bass)

Discography:
Total Liberation EP (2004)
split 7” with Seven Generations (2005)
Beyond the Ruins LP (2006)

Escalate
Gather Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Straight Edge cannot be considered the final goal / but in order to achieve the things that count the most, we must use it as a tool. / There is more to it than simply being drug free / it's the clarity of mind to act most effectively against this system we're fighting / It's the first step, it's the key to unlock you from your apathy / but if you stop at that, you're just a waste to me / You've broken your addiction, but now you just sit / as stagnant as a passed out frat-boy - you're no threat! / I know plenty of Christian who don't drink / Do they deserve praise for being revolutionary? NO! / Do you really believe that Straight Edge alone is going to do shit? / If drugs are the reason everyone's so passive, use your sobriety to act! / Do you think it's just about health? / The how does it effect anyone but you? / Now that you're liberated, what are you going to do? / Merely Straight Edge - not enough! / Merely Straight Edge - step it up! / If you think that we have things in common just because we both wear X's on our hands, you're wrong! / We both may abstain from substances, but that is not enough to make a bond

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gather's song Escalate are a powerful call to action for those who choose to live a Straight Edge lifestyle. While being drug-free is an important part of this, the song argues that Straight Edge cannot be considered the ultimate goal in and of itself. Rather, it is a tool to achieve other things that we need to fight against systems that are harmful to us.

The lyrics suggest that being Straight Edge involves a clarity of mind that enables individuals to act most effectively against the system they are fighting against. It is the first step, the key to unlocking us from our apathy. However, the song argues that simply being drug-free is not enough. Those who choose to live a Straight Edge lifestyle need to use their sobriety to act against the system actively.

The lyrics criticize those who break their addiction to drugs but then become stagnant and apathetic, like passed out frat boys. The song suggests that simply being drug-free is not enough to make a bond between individuals who both abstain from substances. It calls on those who choose to live a Straight Edge lifestyle to step it up, to use their sobriety, and do something to make a change.

Overall, the song Escalate is an honest and powerful call to action for those who choose to live a Straight Edge lifestyle. It encourages individuals to use their sobriety as a tool to achieve greater things and fight against harmful systems actively.

Line by Line Meaning

Straight Edge cannot be considered the final goal
Simply being drug free is not enough and should not be considered the ultimate goal.

but in order to achieve the things that count the most, we must use it as a tool.
Straight Edge can be used as a tool to achieve the things that are truly important.

There is more to it than simply being drug free
Being Straight Edge encompasses more than just abstaining from drugs.

it's the clarity of mind to act most effectively against this system we're fighting
Being Straight Edge gives a clear mind to effectively fight against the system.

It's the first step, it's the key to unlock you from your apathy
Straight Edge is the first step towards overcoming apathy.

but if you stop at that, you're just a waste to me
If you stop at being Straight Edge and don't take further action, you're a waste of potential to me.

You've broken your addiction, but now you just sit
You've overcome your addiction, but now you're stagnant and not doing anything productive.

as stagnant as a passed out frat-boy - you're no threat!
Being stagnant after overcoming addiction makes you as much of a threat as a passed out frat-boy.

I know plenty of Christian who don't drink
Simply not drinking alone does not make one revolutionary, as there are many Christians who also don't drink.

Do they deserve praise for being revolutionary? NO!
Simply not drinking does not warrant revolutionary praise.

Do you really believe that Straight Edge alone is going to do shit?
Being Straight Edge alone will not make a significant impact without taking further action.

If drugs are the reason everyone's so passive, use your sobriety to act!
If drugs are the reason for passivity, use your sobriety as motivation to take action.

Do you think it's just about health?
Being Straight Edge is not just about personal health.

The how does it effect anyone but you?
How does being Straight Edge affect anyone other than yourself?

Now that you're liberated, what are you going to do?
Now that you've overcome your addiction, what actions will you take?

Merely Straight Edge - not enough!
Being only Straight Edge is not enough.

Merely Straight Edge - step it up!
Don't settle for being only Straight Edge, strive for more.

If you think that we have things in common just because we both wear X's on our hands, you're wrong!
Simply wearing X's on our hands does not mean we have anything in common.

We both may abstain from substances, but that is not enough to make a bond
Abstaining from substances alone is not enough to form a bond.

Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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