We Are the Union

We Are the Union is an American ska punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 2005. The band is now based out of California. The band has had many lineup changes since its inception, with vocalist/guitarist Reade Wolcott and bassist Brandon Benson as the only remaining original members. As of 2022, their live lineup often features guest horn players and touring members.

We Are the Union
2021 promotional photo of We Are The Union.
Background information
Origin	Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States[1]
Genres	Ska punk[1] ska[2][3] pop punk[1][4][3][5]
Years active	2005–2013[6][4][3][7][8] 2015–present[3]
Labels	Youth Owned Self-released Paper + Plastick[3][5] WATU Audiotree Bad Time
Members	Reade Wolcott Brandon Benson Ricky Weber Devan Bentley
Past members	Jeremy Hunter Emily Williams Brent Friedman Matt Belanger Tony Weinbender Jim Margle John Ryan, Jr. Trey Cook Daniel Ray David Lackey Charlie Held Ben Wixson Noah Fenton Ryan Collins
Website	wearetheunion.net

History

Early years and hiatus (2005–2013)

The band formed in August 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan^[1] due to members being "unhappy with the current state of ska music."^[6] Their debut album, Who We Are, was released in 2007.^[9]

Who We Are would be followed by albums Great Leaps Forward in 2010^[10] and You Can't Hide the Sun in 2012.^[11] In 2013, We Are the Union announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus,^[12] stating: "We've decided to take a hiatus from active status. […] We were a band. Maybe someday we will be again. We've had some amazing times, and we truly appreciate those of you who've contributed to our existence. We've never been a supercool hype band or uberpunx beardy band, so we thank each and every one of you who listened to our music over the years."^[8]

Return, Self Care, and Ordinary Life (2015–present)

The band returned from hiatus in 2015,^[13] with Jer Hunter of the YouTube channel Skatune Network joining the band on trombone.^[14] They released their fourth studio album, Self Care, in 2018. Following this album release, the band appeared on Audiotree,^[15] and released new singles in 2020.^[16]

In April 2021, We Are The Union announced a new album, Ordinary Life, to be released on June 4, 2021, via Bad Time Records.^[17] Along with the album announcement, lead vocalist Reade Wolcott came out as a trans woman, with much of the album exploring topics surrounding her transition.^[18]

In November 2022, it was announced that drummer Brent Friedman would be leaving the group.^[19]

Influences and musical style

We Are the Union cites Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Slapstick, Less Than Jake, and This Is A Standoff as influences.^[6] More recently, they have been influenced by indie pop and pop music.^[20]

Band members

Current members

• Reade Wolcott^[17][18] – guitar, lead vocals (2005-2013, 2015-present)
• Brandon Benson^[3] – bass, backing vocals (2005-2013, 2015-present)
• Ricky Weber^[3] – lead guitar (2008-2013, 2015-present)
• Devan Bentley - drums (2022–present)

Former members

• Jer Hunter^[21][22][23] – trombone, backing vocals (2015-2024)^[14]
• Emily Williams – tenor saxophone (2022–2024)
• Brent Friedman^[1] – drums (2015-2022)
• Jim Margle^[3][24] – drums
• Charlie Held – drums
• Trey Cook – drums
• John Ryan Jr. – saxophone
• Denni Skagalera – saxophone
• Matt Belanger^[3][25] – trombone
• David Lackey – trombone
• Barney – trombone
• Daniel Ray – trombone
• Ryan Collins – guitar
• Noah Fenton- guitar
• Ben Wixson – guitar

Discography

Adapted from Bandcamp, Spotify, Tumblr and YouTube^{[26][27][28][29][30][31]}

Studio albums

• Who We Are (2007)^{[29][32][33][34]}
• Great Leaps Forward (2010)^[35][29][36]
• You Can't Hide The Sun (2012)^{[4][8][37][38]}
• Self Care (2018)^[2][39][40]
• Ordinary Life (2021)^[17]

Extended plays

• The Grow Up Or Shut Up EP (2006, out of print)^[29][41]
• The Gun Show Must Go On (2009, digital only)^[5][29]
• Graveyard Grins (2011, digital only)^[29]
• You Can't B-Side The Sun (2014)^[42]
• Keep It Down (2015)^[43]

Singles

As lead artist

Year	Title	Album
2015	"Call In Dead"[44]	Keep It Down
2018	"What's Wrong With Me?"[45]	Self Care
	"A Better Home"[46]
2020	"Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad"[47]	Non-album single
	"Your Way, Your Time"[48]
	"You're Dead / Vampire Ska" (Norma Tanega/Horny Toad cover)[49]
	"I'm Working Retail For Christmas"[50]
2021	"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Punk Rock Stars"[51]
	"Rasputin" (Boney M. cover)[52]
	"Morbid Obsessions"[53]	Ordinary Life
	"Boys Will Be Girls"
	"Make It Easy"
	"Sound System" (Operation Ivy cover; ft. Eve 6)	Non-album single
2022	"OHMYGOD" (Eichlers cover)
	"Yr Always Alone (On Christmas)"

As featured artist

Year	Title	Album
2021	"Set It All On Fire"[54] (Louser featuring We Are the Union)	Super Gwario Kart
	"2 OF US"[55] (Eichlers featuring We Are the Union)

Demos

• The Grow Up Or Shut Up EP (2006, out of print)^[29][41]

Live albums

Title	Album details
We Are The Union on Audiotree Live[56]	Released: 2019 Label: Self-released, Audiotree Format: Digital download, streaming

Music videos

Year	Song	Director	Ref
2008	"This is My Life (And It's Ending One Minute At A Time)"	Tyler Capehart	[57]
2012	"We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat"	Tyler Capehart, Joelle Andrés	[58]
2015	"Call In Dead" (lyric video)	We Are the Union	[44]
2018	"A Better Home" (lyric video)		[59]
	"Dust on the Hourglass" (acoustic in-studio)		[60]
	"What's Wrong With Me?" (lyric video)		[61]
2020	"Your Way, Your Time"	Chris Graue	[62]
	"Pre-Expatriate"		[63]
	"You're Dead / Vampire Ska"		[64]
	"I'm Working Retail For Christmas"
2021	"Fresh Fruit For Rotting Punk Rock Stars"
	"Rasputin"
	"Morbid Obsessions"
	"Boys Will Be Girls"
	"Make It Easy"
	"Sound System"
2022	"OHMYGOD"	Reade Wolcott
	"Surfing on the Waves of Caffeination"	Chris Graue
	"December"	Rae Mystic
	"Yr Always Alone (On Christmas)"

Compilation appearances

• Fall Sampler 2012 (2012, Paper and Plastick Records)
  • Features the track "Dead End" from You Can't Hide The Sun^[65]
• 2013 Summer Sampler (2013, Paper and Plastick Records)
  • Features the track "Dust on the Hourglass" also from You Can't Hide The Sun^[66]