Blab Music
Harry Speros 10-Song Rock Opera Revisits 9/11 on 25th Anniversary
When the city that never sleeps was forever altered on September 11, 2001, the shock reverberated through every corner of New York, including its songwriting halls. In the weeks that followed, New York‑born songwriter Harry Spero began to lay down the first notes of what would become his 10‑song rock opera September. The work, originally issued through Razor+Tie Music and now re‑released by Concord, arrives on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, offering a fresh lens on a moment that reshaped a nation.
Spero, a prolific composer with more than 1,000 songs to his name, has long been rooted in the city’s musical community. He said the events of 9/11 “had a profound impact on me and changed my life forever.” As an artist, a patriotic American and proud New Yorker, he felt compelled to channel those emotions into song. The album is a concept piece that follows a trajectory from immediate grief to questions of identity, purpose and a future that lingered long after the day.
The centerpiece, “Union Square,” recalls the spontaneous memorial that formed in Manhattan’s Union Square Park after the attacks. The track paints a sonic picture of photographs and messages honoring the missing and the deceased, and of New Yorkers gathering for vigils and support. The closing song, “This Life We Choose,” turns the reflection toward the present, exploring the search for meaning and fulfillment even decades after the tragedy.
September is not a solo endeavor. In addition to Spero’s own vocals, the album features a rotating cast of singers. Shannon Conley, known for her Broadway work in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Scott Ross, who appeared in Rock of Ages, bring distinct voices that help convey the album’s larger narrative.
When the album first appeared around the 10th anniversary of 9/11, it received radio and television exposure nationwide. The music video for “Union Square” was shown at Citi Field ahead of the New York Mets’ 9/11 commemorative game, a moment that linked the music to a broader public remembrance. Since then, the distribution rights have shifted from Razor+Tie Music to Concord, expanding the album’s reach.
Today, September is available on iHeartRadio and other major streaming platforms. Spero hopes the re‑release will serve both as a remembrance of those lost and as a reflection on how 9/11 continues to shape the lives of those who experienced it.
The album’s renewed attention comes at a time when the nation is marking 25 years since the attacks. While no new touring or festival appearances have been announced, the re‑issue underscores the enduring cultural significance of 9/11 in the music world. Spero’s work illustrates how artists process collective trauma through long‑form storytelling, and it provides a sonic document of a pivotal moment in American history.
In summary, Harry Spero’s September re‑emerges as a 10‑song rock opera that revisits the 9/11 attacks on its 25th anniversary. Distributed by Concord and available on major streaming services, the album continues to offer a musical meditation on grief, remembrance and the search for meaning in the decades that followed.
Spero, a prolific composer with more than 1,000 songs to his name, has long been rooted in the city’s musical community. He said the events of 9/11 “had a profound impact on me and changed my life forever.” As an artist, a patriotic American and proud New Yorker, he felt compelled to channel those emotions into song. The album is a concept piece that follows a trajectory from immediate grief to questions of identity, purpose and a future that lingered long after the day.
The centerpiece, “Union Square,” recalls the spontaneous memorial that formed in Manhattan’s Union Square Park after the attacks. The track paints a sonic picture of photographs and messages honoring the missing and the deceased, and of New Yorkers gathering for vigils and support. The closing song, “This Life We Choose,” turns the reflection toward the present, exploring the search for meaning and fulfillment even decades after the tragedy.
September is not a solo endeavor. In addition to Spero’s own vocals, the album features a rotating cast of singers. Shannon Conley, known for her Broadway work in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Scott Ross, who appeared in Rock of Ages, bring distinct voices that help convey the album’s larger narrative.
When the album first appeared around the 10th anniversary of 9/11, it received radio and television exposure nationwide. The music video for “Union Square” was shown at Citi Field ahead of the New York Mets’ 9/11 commemorative game, a moment that linked the music to a broader public remembrance. Since then, the distribution rights have shifted from Razor+Tie Music to Concord, expanding the album’s reach.
Today, September is available on iHeartRadio and other major streaming platforms. Spero hopes the re‑release will serve both as a remembrance of those lost and as a reflection on how 9/11 continues to shape the lives of those who experienced it.
The album’s renewed attention comes at a time when the nation is marking 25 years since the attacks. While no new touring or festival appearances have been announced, the re‑issue underscores the enduring cultural significance of 9/11 in the music world. Spero’s work illustrates how artists process collective trauma through long‑form storytelling, and it provides a sonic document of a pivotal moment in American history.
In summary, Harry Spero’s September re‑emerges as a 10‑song rock opera that revisits the 9/11 attacks on its 25th anniversary. Distributed by Concord and available on major streaming services, the album continues to offer a musical meditation on grief, remembrance and the search for meaning in the decades that followed.
