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Welcome back to The Blue Note. First, let me say how excited and also overwhelmed I am by the response. So many of you replied to the first issue with comments, music suggestions, feedback and/or questions. I really appreciate the feedback. It helps me understand how to make this better in ways that you prefer. Again, thanks!
So, last week, I asked a question on Twitter:
That tweet got over 2,500 replies. What ensued, was an incredibly fun, lively conversation where we all got to share our favorite acts, find common ground with one another and learn about new artists. It brought back a lot of memories of different points in my life—as music so often does.
After the jump, we’ll go through some of my favorite moments but before that, two housekeeping notes.
First, keep sending over your song suggestions! There have been some great ones so far and I’m excite to work them into future issues. So send your favorite songs, thoughts, comments, suggestions, criticism, whatever to: jordan@bluenote.news!
Let’s kick it off with a question that was hinted at a couple graphs ago: What song/album reminds you of your favorite summer? What was happening that summer? I’ll give you my answer next issue, and include some of the best responses.
Second, just in case you aren’t subscribed, click the button below. This shows Substack there’s an interest in the newsletter (and upcoming podcast) and makes it easier for you join the conversation!
So, who IS your favorite artist/band that has a political/activism component in either their lyrics or advocacy on/off stage or in their personal life? It’s a tough question, for sure. Most people had several artists or bands in their replies, and the activism ranged from political themes in their lyrics to a group starting organizations to register voters to hosting town halls on tour and went all the way to political dissidence that led to a band’s arrest (I’m sure many of you already know who that is).
One of the most common answers that stood out was System Of A Down.
It’s hard to think of a band that played a more prominent role in shaping my outlook and early political understanding than SOAD, and the way their music has aged with time, it shows I’m hardly alone in thinking that. Their album “Toxicity” released a week before 9/11, and opened with an aggressive, unflinching condemnation of the prison industrial complex in the United States. 14-year-old Jordan was blown away. This was all new territory for me.
Speaking of the Bush Era:
For those unfamiliar, the Dixie Chicks were a hugely successful country act in the ‘90s, with album sales in the tens of millions, snagging a few Grammys along the way. They were one of the biggest—if not the biggest—acts in country music.
Then, in 2003—as the entire country was banging the war drum, demanding the US invade Iraq—they spoke up. At a show in London in March of that year lead singer Natalie Maines said this:
“We don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States [Bush] is from Texas.”
This was nine days before the US invasion of Iraq. A war that the US government—both Republicans & many Democrats—were bloodthirsty for. An invasion that ended up costing hundreds of thousands of innocent people their lives.
This was a big deal.
Politicians and media alike went into outrage mode. People questioned their “patriotism,” their allegiance to the country was questioned, they were ridiculed, mocked, insulted, harassed and threatened, requiring them to implement additional security measures at their shows.
But it was brave and something very few in their position would even consider doing. Criticizing the president—especially during war time—is borderline taboo.
Moreover, their comments were vehemently opposed in the country community. Remember, we’re talking about the song that birthed Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” ultra-patriotic 9/11 song. This was (and still is) a genre deeply hostile to anything other that blind loyalty to the government, and especially “the troops.” A criticism of the war was an attack on the military, and America itself.
The Dixie Chicks became the pariahs of country music.
Shows were cancelled, protests were held, boycotts led to decreased ticket sales, mass album destruction/disposal demonstrations were orchestrated, radio stations refused to play their songs, and even trailers for the 2007 documentary about the backlash and their blacklisting, “Shut Up & Sing” were rejected by television networks.
Here’s the trailer from the film:
And despite the campaign against them, they refused to compromise on their beliefs. In 2006, they released “Not Ready To Make Nice,” with an accompanying video featuring stark visuals alluding to their blacklisting:
One thing I do want to stress is that, due to the overwhelming number of responses, it’s hard to do each one justice in an overview. Almost every response had a band or artist worthy of their entire issue, so by no means is this intended to be an all-encompassing review of those mentioned.
That said, I lost track of how many people replied to my question with Ani DiFranco, and with good reason! DiFranco has a mile-long list of activism accomplishments.
DiFranco—who operates her own record label “Righteous Babe Records”—is known for “being outspoken on feminism, reproductive rights and LGBT visibility.”
Janelle Monáe also got a lot of love in the replies. Monáe—an award-winning musician and actress—often has her activism overlooked or disregarded. In 2015, NBC cut her performance on “Today” short “when she began to talk to the crowd about police brutality” She was instrumental in raising awareness about the Flint water crisis, and led a march demanding justice for Sandra Bland—the black woman who suddenly died while in Texas state trooper custody under mysterious circumstances—on what would have been her 30th birthday.
Another artist I’d be remiss if I omitted here is Taina Asili.
The Afro-Latin, reggae, and rock fusion artist, who just released her third album “Resiliencia” earlier this month, has been featured in Mic and Rolling Stone for both her two decades activism work—which includes criminal/prison, gender and climate justice work—and her music. She also performed for DisruptJ20, the anti-Trump inauguration action and the Women’s March.
Each song on her new album “is inspired by interviews she conducted with women of color in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada about their stories of resilience,” and Rolling Stone described her lyrics as emphasizing, “the interconnected struggles of feminist organizing, the fight for immigrant rights, Black Lives Matter and the Standing Rock protests.” More on Taina Asili in an upcoming issue!
One of the Krassenstein brothers suggested rapper Brother Ali, who incorporates social justice themes into his music and was even “an Occupy Homes MN rally in Minneapolis” helping families fight back against eviction.
Someone pointed out that Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits founded HeadCount, an organization that helps people register to vote at concerts and music festivals:
To which Marc himself replied:
So too does Maná, who have also served as UN ambassadors, allocating a portion of their ticket sales to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Tim Johnson pointed out that Billy Bragg recently invited the Twin Cities, MN chapter of Democratic Socialists of America to table at his concert:
Several people reminded me that Will Butler of Arcade Fire meets with activists, organizers and local politicians while on tour in after parties called “Disco Town Halls” to help spur action on a local level.
This one cracked me up, not only because PETA’s ad campaigns are so in-your-face, but because my first job out of college was at PETA. True story. Davey Havok of AFI did this ad for PETA in 2016—which is well after I left the organization.
Metal legends Lamb of God came up a lot, largely because of their anti-war/anti-military industrial complex lyrics.
And not only did people see it, someone even replied with a picture with Randy Blythe, Lamb of God’s lead singer at that very protest:
Of Mice & Men Frontman Aaron Pauley weighed in, speaking for many:
Did I mention a LOT of people said Rage Against the Machine?
Trivium bassist Paolo Gregoletto echoed the sentiments of many, suggesting the punk band from Manitoba that dozens of you replied with:
So many people said Run the Jewels I lost track.
And while there’s far too many more to include, although I wish I could, I must make note of Rebecca Wood’s reply.
You see, Rebecca is an activist herself. We met in 2017 during the healthcare fight in Congress. Her daughter, Charlie, suffers from complex medical issues due to being born three months premature. Charlie was a member of the “Little Lobbyists,” a group of young kids with complex medical needs (accompanied by their loving parents, of course) who not only meet with members of Congress to personalize the issues associated with Republican-proposed cuts to Medicaid—something they heavily rely on due to astronomical healthcare costs—but also help others.
I had the honor of featuring them in September 2017, when they collected medical supplies for kids with complex medical needs who were affected by Hurricane Harvey:
Rebecca’s reply about the activist band, to anyone who knows her, was a no-brainer: Dispatch.
Because for Rebecca, it’s personal.
“They have been some of my biggest activism support. Most of their songs are about political issues,” Rebecca told me.
The indie/roots band hailing from Boston have not only been sympathetic to the issues Charlie deals with, but have thoughtfully and deliberately gotten to know Rebecca and her family, frequently inviting them to shows to hang out.
Brynna Quillin, Rebecca Wood, Brad Corrigan of Dispatch, and Charlie.
Chad Urmston of Dispatch and Charlie.
They use their tour stops as opportunities to engage locally and drive fans to volunteer. In June, before their show at Wolf Trap outside of DC, they’re organizing a volunteer effort at Jammin Java in Vienna, Va. to benefit local charities. Additionally, they have individual 501c3s they operate that address human and civil rights issues like improving the quality of life in developing countries and addressing sexual harassment in the music industry.
“They are the nicest guys ever. They have treated Charlie like a princess since she was three. They have something like Alternative Spring Breaks where they take a handful of people with them on tour and do service along the way. Last spring they took Charlie (and me) she got to see them at Red Rocks during the stretch,” Rebecca told me.
When Rebecca and Charlie attend milestone shows (i.e. Charlie’s 10th show), the bandmates “announce it from stage, talk about her (and healthcare), present her with a drum stick, and set list.”
Here’s her setlist from her 10th show:
“It’s been really cool getting to know them because before Charlie got crazy into them... I had not idea who they were. So, while I love their activism... they’ve been some of my best supporters with what I do,” Rebecca said.
Here’s the band talking about Charlie from the stage at a September 2018 show:
That’s all for this week. How’d you like it? What’d I miss? Send your suggestions, comments, hate mail, etc to jordan@bluenote.news!
And don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already.
Thanks for reading!
-jordan