July 26, 2004
Rocking for Kerry

How's this for a kick-butt concert tour?


Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, R.E.M., Pearl Jam and a deep roster of other rock stars will unite for politically minded concerts this fall that will give voice to dissatisfaction with the Bush administration.

The all-star rock shows, which are expected to begin in October and target campaign swing states, are in the planning stage but were confirmed by half a dozen music industry sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

[...]

Organizers have been tight-lipped since discussions of the idea caught the ears of some of the stars in April. At the end of last week, the formal announcement was scheduled for Aug. 4 in New York.

Other artists expected to join the lineup include Earle, the Dave Matthews Band, the Dixie Chicks, Bright Eyes, Ani DiFranco, Death Cab for Cutie and International Noise Conspiracy. There also are reports that Bob Dylan and James Taylor may be part of the bill.

The shows reportedly will benefit several organizations, chief among them MoveOn.org, the advocacy group that champions a liberal agenda through Web-based grass-roots efforts.


Compare and contrast:

Rockers seem virtually unanimous in their anti-Bush stance, just as country music has seen a wave of passionate patriotism and support for the president, exemplified by the songs of Toby Keith.

Let's see. Springsteen et al, or Toby Keith? Decisions, decisions...

Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 26, 2004 to The making of the President | TrackBack
Comments

"Decisions, decisions..."

Snort!

Posted by: Linkmeister on July 26, 2004 3:54 PM

Grrr....

Rockers seem virtually unanimous in their anti-Bush stance, just as country music has seen a wave of passionate patriotism...."

Subtext: the rockers' anti-Bush stance is unpatriotic. (Not to mention they overlooked Steve Earle & the Dixie Chicks.)

How to we get the mainstream media to stop doing this?

Posted by: Mathwiz on July 26, 2004 5:24 PM

It's all kind of tired.

One wishes they would stick to their music.

I think I'll stick to my Texax alt-country indies, thanks. Texas roadhouses will put up with a little political crap from artists (left or right), but we fans really want to hear music, not talk. Bands that haven't "made it" yet seem to understand that it's about the music. And they'd better -- a rowdy Texas roadhouse is no place for standup political talk when the audience just wants some honky tonk music.

Why would anyone encourage the other idiots?

Posted by: keivn whited on July 27, 2004 8:51 AM

One of my friends said the Toby Kieth was a Democrate. Please tell me it ain't so.

Posted by: muggins on September 11, 2004 5:17 PM