A wise man once said that a good song should make you want to tap your feet and get with your girl, while a great song should make you want to smash the state and set fire to the suburbs. Have Nots is interested in writing great songs. Formed out of the ashes of Stray Bullets and Chicago Typewriter (two Boston punk mainstays), Have Nots is far from your typical ska band. This Boston based foursome stands out in a sea of horns and checkered hats, playing aggressive, rabble-rousing punk rock music, with just enough reggae/ska influence to remain catchy and danceable.

Each Have Nots song is an open letter of indignation to the world. The subjects range broadly from the plights of the true Have Nots in our society (migrant workers, disabled veterans, prisoners held with neither charge nor evidence, can collectors scraping by off 5 cent deposits) to examinations of interpersonal relations. You know, love songs. It’s as much a part of life as hardship, and somehow, the two often go hand in hand.

While the dual singer/guitarists may sound like they want to jam a stick of dynamite down your throat (they do), Jon Cauztik and Matt Pruitt also want you to listen, and think, about what goes on in the world around you. The rhythm section of Jameson Hollis on bass and Steve Patton on the drums is really just there to make you dance to their solid ragga punk foundation...and dance you will. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.