Love Orient Hate Racism. It’s been an important statement to make over the years.
We formed the band in 2009 and two years later played the first Love Orient Hate Racism gig to a packed upstairs room at the Birkbeck Tavern with Corporal Machine & The Bombers and Graham Larkbey. Two years on from that, we took the show – again supported by the indefatigable Larkbey – to the Supporters Club.
We need to do it again.
In the meantime the visibility of Love Orient Hate Racism has grown and grown. Stickers, t-shirts, hoodies; it’s been a pleasure to see people wearing LOHR gear home and away. I started wearing a LOHR t-shirt to every home game a few seasons ago and commissioned the hoodie to make it easier to keep the message visible when the weather gets colder.
Same with the scarf, really. I designed it because I want one. Hopefully, you do too. You can get yours here.
In Eleanor’s vineyard, Tommy’s on his knees, pretending to pray He holds his bible upside down and wonders what Charlie would say His god washed Islamophobic endeavour gains new followers every day But he’s a coked up criminal grifter who’s going away
And they sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest
You can’t write everybody off, some folk are just taken in The difference between influenced and influencers is written on the tin But when the fascists are at the door be sure to not let them in And he’s a coked up criminal grifter who should be in the bin
And they sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest
Now Jesus of Nazareth was many things But nationalism won’t win you your angel wings Your patriotic cross is just so much toss So you can Oh Tommy Tommy off
When they sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ They sing ‘Oh, Tommy, Tommy’ and we sing ‘Fuck off’ Sometimes you just got to get it off your chest
There’s a particular breed of British protest music that refuses to die quietly, despite every attempt by algorithms and streaming platforms to suffocate it with playlists and bite-sized consumption. Steve White & The Protest Family’s Evidence-Based Punk Rock belongs to this stubborn lineage, standing defiantly at the crossroads where Billy Bragg’s righteous fury meets the Manic Street Preachers’ conceptual ambition.
What ultimately elevates Evidence-Based Punk Rock above mere agitprop is its refusal to wallow in despair. The press release’s declaration that “things might be grim, but better world is possible” isn’t just marketing copy—it’s the album’s beating heart. In an era where cynicism masquerades as sophistication, there’s something genuinely punk about maintaining hope while clear-eyed about the obstacles.
Steve White & The Protest Family’s latest LP, ‘Evidence-Based Punk Rock,’ is an album that needs to be heard by the masses. It’s rich with subgenres, political commentary, and conversations that we need to address not just as individuals but as a collective. At the end of the day, Punk was created to shock the system, and this Album did a job well done.
We’ve played a few Under The Influence shows over the years. In the 15th anniversary edition of the podcast, Nathan and Dillon discuss the early days, the future and a nice piece about us. You can catch up with it here.
Steve White & The Protest Family 