Already Dead vocalist Dan Cummings brings a raw folk-rock energy to a modern version of “Which Side Are You On?” while continuing his outspoken support for working-class causes.
Massachusetts songwriter and Already Dead frontman Dan Cummings has stepped into solo territory with the release of his updated version of the protest song “Which Side Are You On?”
Released earlier this year on most major streaming platforms, the track trades the loud hardcore attack of Already Dead for a stripped down folk-rock sound built around acoustic guitar, stomping percussion, and Cummings’ rough vocal delivery. The song was originally written in 1931 by labor activist Florence Reece and has remained connected to labor movements and protest music for decades.
Cummings has spent the last several years building a reputation in the New England punk scene through Already Dead, a band known for tackling themes involving workers’ rights, economic struggles, and social inequality. Outside of music, he also works as a union pipefitter welder and has performed at protests, labor events, and community gatherings across Massachusetts.
The new version of “Which Side Are You On?” updates the song’s lyrics to reflect current political and economic tensions. References to immigration, billionaires, labor exploitation, and social division are woven into the track while keeping the spirit of the original intact.
The recording process itself was fast and direct. While working on demos for the next Already Dead album, Cummings began playing the song at home and decided to record it properly. He teamed up with producer Doug Batchelder at The Den Studios in North Reading, Massachusetts, where the track was recorded and mixed in a single night. Additional guitar and drums from Doug and Teddy Batchelder helped give the song its steady pulse.
The release follows several politically charged Already Dead songs, including “Landlord” and “Bread and Roses,” both of which focused on modern working-class struggles.
While a new Already Dead album is still on the way, this solo release gives Cummings a more personal platform for his message. Even nearly a century after the song was first written, its themes still connect with modern labor and social movements.
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