The Locust was formed by Justin Pearson, Bobby Bray, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor. After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at their current four-piece lineup in 2001, consisting of Pearson, Bray, Gabe Serbian, and Joey Karam. Originally a powerviolence band with a strong tendency towards synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. On the band's unique sound and live presentations, singer/bassist Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." Their music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."
The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas. Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live. The Locust boycotts Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues. This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas as well as another tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows. The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to political commentary and critiques of religion.
Hot Tubs Full of Brand New Fuel
The Locust Lyrics
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It's easy to replace in the name of progress
Wink wink, nudge nudge.
Obsolete fuel, so lobbyists pull an alternate mule.
Insubordinate antique engines, spark superfluous discharges.
Gaia is wounded, corny and spoon-fed.
Groupthink banter resonates everywhere.
Taxidermy, guilt-ridden professions
Squeezing out all the answers
Do you want it sugar-coated?
Drunk cars in Brazil didn't have to foot the bill.
The complaintiff states, "not enough rug for mistakes".
But it's okay, the EPA is a stepping stone
Before the end of Rome.
It's easy to replace in the name of progress.
Wink wink, nudge nudge.
The Locust's song "Hot Tubs Full of Brand New Fuel" is a satirical take on the theme of progress and development at the cost of natural resources and the environment. The lyrics point out that while it may seem easy to replace outdated resources in the name of progress, they fail to consider the impact and consequences of their actions. The song highlights the corruption and greed of lobbyists and their disregard for the environment. The obsolete fuel and antique engines spark unnecessary discharges that cause harm to the environment, and despite this, groupthink banter resonates everywhere.
The lyrics also critique the guilt-ridden professions that squeeze out all the answers and sugar coat them to appease the public. The complaintiff in Brazil complains about mistakes and the lack of accountability in the industry. The song suggests that the EPA is merely a stepping stone to the inevitable downfall of civilization. The lyrics are sharp and deliver a profound message through the use of dark humor and satire.
Line by Line Meaning
It's easy to replace in the name of progress
Moving on from outdated methods is straightforward, as long as we justify it as being for the sake of progress. *wink* *wink*
It's easy to replace in the name of progress
Upgrading for the sake of progress is not a complex task, as long as it's done under the guise of forward-thinking. *nudge* *nudge*
Obsolete fuel, so lobbyists pull an alternate mule
Outdated forms of energy have been replaced with newer options, which are pushed by politicians' supporters.
Insubordinate antique engines, spark superfluous discharges
Older engines are no longer used due to their tendency to emit excess pollutants.
Gaia is wounded, corny and spoon-fed
The Earth is suffering due to our careless actions, yet our attempts to fix it can feel shallow and repetitive.
Groupthink banter resonates everywhere
Conversations about the environment are often dominated by the same talking points, without much critical thinking.
Taxidermy, guilt-ridden professions
Professions that harm the environment often struggle with guilt and anxiety about their impact.
Squeezing out all the answers
These professions attempt to find solutions for environmental issues while being limited by their harmful practices.
Do you want it sugar-coated?
Do you want to be lied to about the true impact of our actions on the environment?
Drunk cars in Brazil didn't have to foot the bill
In Brazil, drivers who committed environmental infractions often avoided repercussions for their actions.
The complaintiff states, "not enough rug for mistakes"
People are starting to demand accountability for damage done to the environment, and excuses are no longer enough.
But it's okay, the EPA is a stepping stone
Although the Environmental Protection Agency may have its flaws, it serves as a necessary starting point for environmental protection.
Before the end of Rome
It's important to address environmental issues before it's too late, using the collapse of Rome as a cautionary example.
It's easy to replace in the name of progress
Moving on from outdated methods is straightforward, as long as we justify it as being for the sake of progress. *wink* *wink*
Wink wink, nudge nudge.
Let's all just pretend the transition to clean energy is purely for progress, and look the other way about the deceit involved. *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*
Contributed by Austin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.