1. S… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists with the name Silent Majority.
1. Silent Majority formed on long island in the mid-90's and became one of the most influential hardcore bands from the area. Tom currently sings for Capital. Many people consider them to be the best hardcore band originating from Long Island of their time
Silent Majority started 1990, as something of a joke band called Splastic Action. The band was started by Tommy Corrigan on vocals, Rich Jacovina on guitar, Jim Mallin on bass and I believe Tommy's brother Steve on drums. I'm pretty sure Ryan Heyner joined a bit later. Rumor has it that the band started right after the band got their instruments for Christmas - so there was probably a good deal of interesting practices in those formative days. While Silent Majority came to be known as a band that had a strong lyrical focus, Splastic Action was a bit more amusing in their approach with songs about the classy Long Island motel "The Pines" that boasted choice lyrics like "screwing it, doing it at the Pines!" More to come on that later.
Eventually the band did take a far more serious approach and changed their name to Silent Majority and really became the embodiment in many ways of a Long Island Hardcore Sound: melodic yet abrasive with vocals that provided melodies that would stick in your head. The band would play regularly at all of the cornerstones of LI hardcore in the early 90's like the Angle, the Pipeline and Right Track Inn. Jim Mallin left early on and was replaced by Paul Brinkman. This lineup would release a live split recorded from a WUSB show with Time Alone and a 4 song demo in 1993, along with their first 7" on Reservoir records called "This Island Earth." I'm not sure if Paul left to join Clockwise, or if he was in the band concurrently. Steve Corrigan left after "This Island Earth" was released and they replaced him with Ben VanDyke who remained their drummer through the rest of the band's existence. The bass slot is not quite as easy to recollect as it seemed like there was a revolving door there. I believe Paul was with the band until 1996 for the next release, the "Distant Second" 7" that was also released on Reservoir, but I know that Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw was filling in often after that.
The first time I heard Silent Majority was when "Distant Second" was released. My friend Colin, who was the other guitarist in our band Six of One asked me if I had heard Silent Majority. I had seen the name quite a bit on flyers, but hadn't actually seen the band. He was like "You. Need. To." and gave me the 7". I was blown away. While I loved the song "Recognize" for the obvious hardcore, finger pointing, pile-on gusto, there was a real complex post hardcore sound with songs like "wellness" and "km". At this point I started going to see Silent Majority pretty regularly at shows at PWAC, Deja 1 and Dr. Shay's.
The following year would bring the album that most people would say defined the band. 1997's "Life of a Spectator" was the band's first full length and was released on Wreck-Age/Exit Records. Musically and lyrically it showed the band at the peak of their powers. "To Tame the L Word" and "Cross Crowded Rooms" make excellent bookends for the album, and many of the songs challenge the listener with dynamic rhythms and powerful sing-alongs. I always felt that lyrics can go one of two ways - either be really subtle and let the listener do the interpreting, or get right in their face. Tommy Corrigan does the latter, and it works well in this context. I remember seeing them perform "Spoken Words" and "Tip Your Bartender" before the album coming out just thinking that there was something really compelling to Tom's delivery and the message from the songs. With that being said, the diatribe in "Popular Opinion" is a bit of a blemish on an otherwise perfect album and in my opinion, is an instance when subtlety may have been called for. The only criticism that I've found to be repeatedly levied against the band would be towards Tommy's character. It can't be easy to deal with people misrepresenting you - but I do remember seeing Tom wearing a Tommy Hilfiger shirt which had the logo changed to read "Tommy Corrigan" instead. Depending on your relationship with the guy, it was either kind of funny or kind of funny that he would wear that. I don't know, my name isn't synchronous with any designer brands where I could imagine mocking up something like that - although if I could score a shirt from those "Schneider National" moving trucks I would be wearing that every day, no lie. Let's get back to the focus: the music. The band was hugely influential (see local bands All Grown Up, or bands like Polar Bear Club), integral to the long island hardcore scene, and largely responsible for shows at the PWAC and I don't think that contribution can or should be minimized.
In 1998 they followed "Life of a Spectator" with "Based on a True Story" a compilation of their 7"s which had went out of print, as well as the song "Expectations" from the "516 - A Long Island Hardcore Compilation" and "Soft Six" from the Welcome to New York, Now Go Home" comp.
Happy Hour
Silent Majority Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
are you aware
you're slowly killing my father
when he comes in there
hey mister bartender
just in case you're not sure
you're tearing my family to shreds
with every scotch you pour
the only source of cheer
mister bartender
won't you lend me your ear
never met you don't know who you are
do you ever think about the men that live in your bar
"drinking up Sundays spending them alone"
there is no home
there is no home
"just a place where everyone knows your name"
it's such a shame
it's such a shame
bartender remember this face
The lyrics to Silent Majority's Happy Hour touch on the effects of alcoholism on families, as well as the role that bartenders play in this dynamic. The singer of the song addresses the bartender directly, questioning if they are aware of the harm they are causing by continuing to serve alcohol to a regular customer, the singer's father. The lyrics suggest that the father's addiction to alcohol is tearing the family apart, and that the bartender is contributing to this destructive cycle.
The chorus of the song expresses a sense of sadness and hopelessness, as the singer muses on the bleak reality of spending Sundays alone, with no true sense of home or belonging. The line "just a place where everyone knows your name" is a nod to the popular TV show Cheers, which portrayed a bar as a haven for lonely people seeking connection and community. However, in the context of the song, this sense of familiarity and comfort is tinged with a sense of tragedy and loss.
Overall, the lyrics to Happy Hour offer a poignant commentary on the devastating effects of alcoholism, as well as the complex relationship between bartenders and their customers. The song encourages listeners to think critically about the role that alcohol plays in our lives and communities, and to consider the ways in which we can support those who may be struggling with addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
hey mister bartender
Addressing the bartender to get their attention.
are you aware
Asking if the bartender knows what they are doing.
you're slowly killing my father
The excessive alcohol consumption is leading to the destruction of a life.
when he comes in there
Referring to the father's frequent visits to the bar.
just in case you're not sure
Making sure the bartender understands the harmful consequences of their actions.
you're tearing my family to shreds
The father's addiction is leading to the unraveling of their family.
with every scotch you pour
The father's drink of choice and the source of his troubles.
you've become the shoulder to cry on
The only form of emotional support in the father's life.
the only source of cheer
The bar is the only place where the father can find happiness.
mister bartender
Addressing the bartender again.
won't you lend me your ear
Asking the bartender to listen and understand the situation.
never met you don't know who you are
Acknowledging the stranger status of the bartender in the family's life.
do you ever think about the men that live in your bar
Asking the bartender to consider the regulars and their lives outside of the bar.
"drinking up Sundays spending them alone"
Referring to the lonely and isolated lives of the bar's regulars.
there is no home
The bar is a substitute for home and family for the regulars.
just a place where everyone knows your name
The only place where the regulars feel seen and acknowledged.
it's such a shame
Expressing sadness and frustration about the state of these men's lives.
bartender remember this face
Asking the bartender to remember and reflect on the impact they are having on this family and others.
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Benj Gleeksman
That dance part at 1:53...