Punk Feminist Icon Cindy Lawson Drops Fiery EP ‘¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!’

Lawson punches back with a roar on a four song ass kicker.

Feminist musician and activist Cindy Lawson is back with a vengeance. Marking her third record since returning to the music scene after a 25-year hiatus, Lawson drops her fiery new four-song EP, ¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!, today via Rum Bar Records.

Lawson delivers a visceral response to the violent siege of Minnesota in the winter of 2026 and the viral misogyny plaguing our society. Following international radio play and critical acclaim for her previous releases, 2022’s New Tricks and 2023’s Don’t Come Crying to Me, Lawson’s latest work delivers a jolt of truth forged in punk rock and boots-on-the-ground protest.

The record kicks off with “The Reckoning,” a track originally released in September 2025 on Hygh Tension/Virgin Records that serves up a wicked dose of schadenfreude. From there, the EP dives into “Burn,” taking direct aim at systemic misogyny and the Epstein class alongside the Minnesota resistance. The momentum builds into “Eat the Rich,” an anthem that demands listeners stand up, take action, and tax the billionaire class. Throughout the entire tracklist, ¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE! never lets up—and Lawson argues that neither should we.

The record is already drawing high praise from peers in the music community. “If ‘punch the fuck back’ is on your to-do list, then this is your soundtrack,” says Jacob Slichter, author and musician of the band Semisonic. “It’s a slamming new EP from the awesome Cindy Lawson and her band—four tracks that never let up. Turn it all the way up, and may the Lord have mercy on everyone in your way!”

Behind the Music and the Movement

The fierce production was tracked across Terrarium Studio (engineered by Jacques Wait) and Dream Hog Studio (produced by Steve Price) and Pat Moriarity’s album cover illustration is cathartic demonstrating pretty much how we all feel…it really deserves to be framed and hung on our walls.

Lawson’s lineup features a formidable band, including Jerry Lefkowitz (guitar, vocals), Pony Hixon Smith (bass, vocals), Dave Randall (bass), and Mark Devaraj (drums, vocals), with backup vocals provided by the MN Resistance Choir. The project even draws literary inspiration, utilizing additional material from George Orwell.

For Lawson, the music is inseparable from the movement. She serves on the board of Minnesota Music Resistance (MMR), an organization born out of collective frustration following the 2024 election. Founded by Paul Engebretson, MMR unites a community of local musicians, sound technicians, record store owners, writers, and fans to fight authoritarianism and protect human rights. When ICE targeted the Twin Cities, MMR actively mobilized to raise critical funds and resources for impacted immigrant families.

Release show to benefit the Legal Defense Fund.

If you’re in the Twin Cities don’t miss the ¡LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE! release show on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Cloudland Theater in Minneapolis. All proceeds from the show will directly benefit the Legal Defense Fund. If you can’t make the show go to MMR’s website for how you can help.

The night features a stellar local lineup, with support from synth-pop punks Toilet Rats and the groovy rave-ups of Mad Mojo Jett.

• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
• Venue: Cloudland Theater (3533 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406)
• Time: Doors open at 7:30 PM
• Admission: $12 in advance / $15 day of show
• Tickets: Available now through the official Cloudland Theater Website.

The Reckoning Music Video

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