The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die Share New Song "Gram"

Today, The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die premiere 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).

Listen to “Gram” now: https://youtu.be/P-v1KfCKVj0

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.”

Along with Bello, the TWIABP lineup includes Joshua Cyr (bass, harp, synth, vocals), Tyler Bussey (guitar, banjo, synth, vocals), Dylan Balliett (guitar, vocals), Christopher Teti (guitar, synth, programming), Katie Dvorak (synth, vocals), and Steven K Buttery (percussion, vocals). Formed in Connecticut in 2009, TWIABP made their full-length debut with Whenever, If Ever (a 2013 release hailed as “revolutionary” by Pitchfork) and later delivered Harmlessness (praised as “bold and complex and dazzling” by Noisey and “grandiose and dramatic” by NPR).

The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die are now on tour, performing with a brass band on select dates. Check out the full tour dates below.

 

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