Miles Solay was a ballsy teen. So enamored was he with the politically-charged Rage Against the Machine that he snuck by a security guard at NBC Studios to catch the band soundchecking “Bulls on Parade” for that night’s performance on “Saturday Night Live”. Tom Morello, RATM and former Audioslave guitarist, was both amused and impressed by the young Solay. Although Rage was to have performed two songs that night, their set ended abruptly when the band attempted to hang inverted American flags from their amplifiers in protest of Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes, who was guest hosting the show. The band, along with Solay, were escorted out of the building.
But this is only the beginning of the story between Solay and Morello. The two men have remained friends since that night in 1996 and share a passion for activism. When Solay formed Outernational in 2004 with a few like-minded musicians, it was Morello who took them under his wing, acting as mentor for the band and producing their debut album Future Rock, set to drop sometime in 2009. Morello has gone so far as to endorse Outernational as the next Rage Against the Machine.
Outernational is a Brooklyn-based quintet whose current lineup consists of Solay on vocals; Leo Mintek on guitar and backing vocals; Jesse Blum on trumpet, organ, keyboards, harmonium, tin whistle, and glockenspiel; Etienne Bowler on drums; and Jesse Williams on bass and backing vocals. With adjectives like “revolutionary” and “visionary” being attached to them, Outernational is doing their part to help change the world on a global level through their “world music,” a fusion of punk, reggae, ska, and rock, with Latin and Middle Eastern rhythms and lyrics that reflect the band’s staunch political and social philosophies. They name among their influences bands like The Clash and, of course, Rage Against the Machine.
Outernational have played many benefits and anti-war rallies including that mega-protest, the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. They’ve shared a stage with The Pogues and more recently, with Chris Cornell, who chose them to open on the first leg of his Scream tour. When I had the opportunity to chat briefly with guitarist Leo Mintek, I asked him what Outernational hoped to accomplish through their music. He told me the goal was a world free of inequality, one without the borders that keep us separated from our common humanity. Outernational is intent on broadening our perceptions of who we are as human beings.
With their diverse sound and infectious energy, Outernational have people excited, have them on their feet, singing along, moshing and dancing to the band’s rebellious anthems--people of all ages and race, with different backgrounds and religious persuasions. Judging by their live show, such radical aspirations lose any sense of naivete.
Outernational is on the bill for this summer’s Warped Tour. You can also check out the band and sample some of their music by visiting www.myspace.com/outernational or www.outernational.net.
