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Des Ark explains 3-yr hiatus from music ("I felt unsafe"), opening for Team Dresch

Des Ark
Des Ark at Bowery Ballroom in 2015 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Des Ark haven’t released an album since 2015’s Everything Dies and they haven’t played live in three years (we last caught them in NYC with Hop Along in 2015), and now we have learned that’s because main member Aimee Argote quit music for the past three years. She posted a lengthy statement explaining on her hiatus on Instagram, which reads in part: “I left music because I felt unsafe, exhausted, unsupported, poor as shit, and my body was super, SUPER fucking broken. I had no plan, no health insurance (w/ chronic health issues), no stability, and I knew I would never have consistency in my life or in my relationships if I was going to keep touring as much as it would take for me to make a [pretty shitty] living.” She also later added, “Being talented isn’t enough. It simply isn’t enough to keep me or others safe in an industry that tries to destroy women, POC, and queers at every turn.” You can read her full statement below.

Fortunately, Des Ark is coming out of retirement for at least one show: the North Carolina stop of queercore icons Team Dresch‘s comeback tour (who she played with back in the day too). “One place I do feel safe?” Aimee wrote. “A fuckin Team Dresch show, duh!!!” It’s the show on October 7 at Motorco Music Hall (tickets). Des Ark also tweeted that Ashley Arnwine (Pinkwash/Waxahatchee) and brothers Mike + Chris Taylor (pygmylush/Pg.99) will be in her band for the show.

Team Dresch’s tour also includes NJ’s Monty Hall on 10/1 (tickets) and NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on 10/2 (tickets). No openers for those shows announced yet. All dates are listed below.

No word if Des Ark will play more shows after this but let’s hope. UPDATE: Des Ark is opening all dates on Team Dresch’s tour, including the Jersey City and NYC shows.

Here’s Des Ark’s full statement:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9JcWMHkGT/

https://twitter.com/desark/status/1157281179227295744

Team Dresch — 2019 Tour Dates
9/29/2019 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
10/1/2019 Jersey City, NJ @ Monty Hall
10/2/2019 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
10/3/2019 Philly, PA @ Union Transfer w/ Screaming Females
10/4/2019 Somerville, MA @ ONCE Ballroom
10/5/2019 Easthampton, MA @ Flywheel
10/7/2019 Durham, NC @ Motorco w/ Des Ark