Musicians aid and inspire election choices

Freddy Deknatel Asst. A&E Editor

With Bruce Springsteen and Conor Oberst rocking the stage, the young and riled crowd at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center on Oct. 1st had even more reason to vote George Bush out of office on Nov. 2nd. Not to talk deferentially of John Kerry’s charisma and compelling Hermes style, but it helps when an apparently stiff, patriarchal candidate can enlist the likes of The Boss and indie-rock’s emo idol to help in his campaign.

Well, actually, to clarify, the concert on Oct. 1 in Philadelphia, featuring Springsteen and the E Street Band, Bright Eyes, R.E.M., and John Fogerty, was not a Kerry-Edwards campaign event, per se. It was the opening night of the Vote for Change Tour, organized by MoveOn PAC and America Coming Together (ACT), some of the famous 527 groups that, though not officially linked to the Democrats, are still certainly partisan. Kind of like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, only hip and not so factually unfounded.

Musicians have been singing and speaking out all year leading up to Election Day. Many have performed with independent tours like Vote for Change or through Punk Voter and their Rock Against Bush Tour (founded and run by NOFX bassist Fat Mike). Others have played at actual campaign events, the candidate standing to the side of the stage while they sing their democratic hearts out. Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, and Michelle Branch all played at various Kerry events throughout the summer in Boston, whether to celebrate the announcement of John Edwards as the Vice President candidate or Kerry’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention. It’s fair to say that this new wave of political musicianship is partisan; of all the noted artists behind Bush or Kerry, the only Bush-backers whose names ring with familiarity are Toby Keith and Ted Nugent. This discrepancy may not matter come November, of course. All the rock stars in the world may not tip the election, but that prospect does nothing to dampen the hopes and energy of those involved with Vote for Change.

In an MTV interview, Eli Pariser of MoveOn PAC spoke of the cause, trying to evoke, as so many people are, the direness of the times and the need for Sixties-era passion. "This is an emergency,” he said, “and rock and roll, the music of rebellion, can help lead the way."

Dave Matthews spelled out the significance of the tour in its name alone through this statement: "A vote for change is a vote for a stronger, safer, healthier America. A vote for Bush is a vote for a divided, unstable, paranoid America. It is our duty to this beautiful land to let our voices be heard. That's the reason for the tour. That's why I'm doing it."

Of course, skepticism reigns in wondering what place musicians, or other highly–paid celebrities, have in telling the public for whom to vote. Why should we listen? Ellen Malcolm of ACT thinks it prudent to notice musicians for their influence and standing in national, especially young, eyes. In an interview with MTV, Malcolm said, “I think a lot of voters would think that Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews understand a lot more about what's going on in their lives than politicians do. There are a lot of people turned off from the political system, and they think that the artists have a passion and an interest in regular folks that comes through in their music."

The Bush-Cheney campaign obviously thinks otherwise, and in The Washington Post last summer, campaign spokesman Terry Holt was quoted as saying, “All the showbiz in the world isn’t going to get John Kerry elected.” Holt also attacked MoveOn: "Well, MoveOn is a group organized around the mission to defeat George Bush and they do so with some controversial and out-of-bounds name-calling."

The political wheel keeps turning, though now the three-piece suits aren’t the only ones doing the pushing. Famous, fawned-over classic rock stars and indie rock heroes are behind it too. American politics enters the new, hip century.

The Vote for Change Tour touched down in 34 cities in nine swing states in 11 days. Musicians performed in separate groups at varying venues. In addition to those mentioned earlier, Pearl Jam played with Death Cab For Cutie, Dave Matthews Band jammed with Jurassic 5 and My Morning Jacke,; Jackson Browne strummed his guitar with Bonnie Raitt and Keb' Mo', the notoriously anti-Bush Dixie Chicks ("Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas") performed with James Taylor, and John Mellencamp shared a stage with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.