The Psalters
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The Psalters are Christian worship band from America, who advocate a mix of liberation theology and Christian anarchism. Their name is derived from the travelling musicians who wrote and sang Psalms, prayers for the deliverence from the dire situation Christians and Jews were in during times of trouble. Whether, that was Ancient Egypt, Rome, Babylon or even Capitalism, the Psalters believe they are within that religious and political tradition that needs liberation. As Christians and anarchists, they believe their psalms are a prayer to God for deliverance from capitalism and the state.
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[edit] Manifesto and ideology
Their manifesto (on their website) clearly outlines their perspective on what the dynamics and effects of oppression are. They argue that oppressors are oppressed too, but they do not feel it because of their numbness, which is a result of their indifference to the suffering of others and their fear of an uprising. They cite the writings of Dr. Paul Brand about how he alleviated the suffering of the lepers he worked with. The Psalters turn the leper Dr Brand cites into a metaphor for how capitalist oppression can turn on those who control the means of production. So powerful people do not feel the pain and suffering they cause (even though they see it), echoing the famous rhetorical question of Karl Marx:
"How can the rulers be free if the poor are oppressed?"
And so they regard their music as a prayer for deliverance from capitalism, racism, sexism and totalitarianism. For the Psalters God is the only true authority, and they cite examples of how governments in capitalist societies oppress people.
They often work with peoples like the Kurds and people from other religions, especially refugees to challenge American assumptions about "enemies."
[edit] Influences
In continuing the nomadic psalter tradition, they cite a wide range of musical influences. Their music is clearly influenced by Sufi and gypsy music as well as punk rock. The blending of eastern folk music and modern western music lends to a unique sound that connects them to the past and present, and spatially it gives them a wide roaming range in their musical style.
The Psalters claim that their lifestyle, as they live on what others give to them, has been influenced by the bible, Jesus, Tolstoy, and French sociologist and theologian Jacques Ellul.
