GROWN. Arms Aloft delivers the classic Midwest emo-indie music they do so well, and with a maturity that can only come from years lived. (Photo by Kayla Boyer)

While a divisive political and cultural climate can tear some groups apart, that’s not the case  for one of the longest-running and most respected Chippewa Valley bands.

Arms Aloft has blessed the Eau Claire music scene with tasty jams since 2007, releasing two full-length albums and two EPs. The foursome dropped their third EP, Red Lanterns – a 10-minute reflection on where we are as a country in 2024 – on Nov. 5: Election Day. 

This record sounds like it was written by adults in their thirties and not by the punks we were in our twenties. There has been a gradual evolution of our sound over the past 15-plus years that we're really proud of. –Seth Gile

“The EP is explicitly political but through a personal lens,” said vocalist and guitarist Seth Gile. “It’s fairly left-leaning in terms of politics, but at the end of the day it’s classic Midwest-emo-indie-depression music. A lot of people are experiencing a feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness right now. Everything has been moving so fast and out of our control, so it feels like you can only give up or get angry. It’s hard to know what to do with that energy, so we decided to manifest it into music.”

The group is composed of Gile, Alex Bammel, Lauren Anderson, and Jack Gribble. The four members call three states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California) home, but that doesn’t stop them from getting together and performing around the country after nearly two decades as a band. Overall, the music on Red Lanterns is slower-paced than their previous punkier output, but that is an intentional reflection of where the band is in their career.

Cover art by Kayla Boyer

“This record sounds like it was written by adults in their 30s and not by the punks we were in our 20s,” Gile said. “There has been a gradual evolution of our sound over the past 15-plus years that we’re really proud of. We’re making the type of music we want to be in this stage of our lives and we feel blessed just to be able to come together and make music in the capacity that we do.”

Following the release of their most recent album, what’s next for Arms Aloft is simple: Take show opportunities when they present themselves and keep enjoying the music they make.

Red Lanterns by Arms Aloft is available now on all streaming services. Learn more about the music group at armsaloft.bandcamp.com.