The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die have released their new single “Gram.” With its powerful commentary on the healthcare system and pharmaceutical industry, the track appears on TWIABP’s new album Always Foreign (due out on Epitaph this Friday).
According to TWIABP vocalist David Bello, “Gram” continues a narrative thread begun on the band’s 2015 sophomore album Harmlessness: the search for care in mental health, and the importance of seeking help in struggling with illness.
“‘Gram’ explores frustrations we’ve encountered with the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, lack of an accessible government-funded healthcare system, and the deep flaws associated with both elements,” says Bello, noting that several TWIABP members have recently lost their health insurance and been forced to seek care outside of standard treatment options. “We believe marijuana helps people and should be a legal and safe choice for those who may benefit from its use, particularly CBD-related applications.”
As Bello explains, “Gram” also gives a real-life glimpse into the damage of addiction. “Two of us are from WV, and most of us have lived in places where heroin and opiate addiction have been notoriously destructive to the communities and individuals we love,” he says. “The companies who make Oxy, Fentanyl, etc. do not care about human dignity. When economies crumble and safety nets are torn apart, the lower class suffers greatly. We wish only the best for those who have passed on in their attempts at self-care and offer our truest love to those who continue to struggle with the stigmas and side effects that come with the use of corporate and non-corporate pharmaceuticals.”
TWIABP TOUR DATES:
Sept 29 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
Oct 11 Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s
Oct 12 Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar
Oct 13 Chicago. IL – Subterranean
Oct 14 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Oct 15 St. Louis, MO – Firebird
Oct 17 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
Oct 18 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
Oct 19 Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
Oct 20 Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
Oct 21 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Oct 23 Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
Oct 24 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Oct 26 Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone Berkeley
Oct 27 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
Oct 28 San Diego, CA – The Irenic
Oct 29 Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge
Oct 31 Austin, TX – Sidewinder
Nov 01 Dallas, TX – Three Links
Nov 03 Orlando, FL – Backbooth
Nov 04 Jacksonville, FL – Nighthawks
Nov 05 Atlanta, GA – The Small Ball
Nov 07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Nov 08 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
Nov 09 Cambridge, MA – The Middle East
Nov 10 Hamden, CT – The Ballroom at The Outer Space
Nov 11 Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel