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Special Interest’s strongest skill is the way they merge the party with the political. New song “(Herman’s) House” is packed full of sleazy guitar riffs, grinding bass, and the kind of piano normally reserved for a house rave. Beneath the thrills of a life-affirming punk rock song, however, lies the story of Herman Wallace, a Black revolutionary held in solitary confinement for decades while imprisoned at Louisiana State Penitentiary. While serving time, Wallace became close with artist Jackie Sumell and the pair would share letters back and forth. Sumell asked Wallace what kind of a home a man who spends his life in darkness dreams of. The answers resulted in a project known as The House That Herman Built.

Special Interest are a band who exist to demolish conservative systems and to show the most oppressed and marginalized in society that a brighter future can be a reality. This same dream is present in every part of The House That Herman Built. To their credit, Special Interest don’t spend their time on “(Herman’s) House” looking back and telling a story. Instead, they take the spirit of the man, and the exhibition, and carry the baton forward. There’s liberation to be found in numbers and by bringing people together through the groove of a song so undeniable it might just start them on the path to revolution.