Life is Just a Game, We're All Just the Same
My favorite things are Election politics and Music, and I probably pay as much attention to when they intersect as anyone. This month, I am planning a few months on the two.
They go together. Politics is Rock'n'Roll, as far as I can tell.
I mean, right now, we have a President who was a celebrity before he ever stepped into the office. Barack Obama, of course, could control a stage. Bill Clinton played sax on Arsenio. Back to as far as I can remember, there was Ronald Reagan, who hung out with The Rat Pack, and attracted people like Prince and Neil Young to support him.
Heck, Reagan seems like an obvious starting point, but before him, Jimmy Carter had Willie Nelson smoking weed on the White House roof, Gerald Ford hosted George Harrison, and it has to at least, go back to Kennedy's Camelot White House.
Politics is rock n roll. Especially, election politics. Why not? You are not in the office yet and actual having to govern. You will be the one to bring Good News to the people and usher in the New Era.
One of my favorite pictures of this election cycle is Beto O'Rourke getting out of a car, and it looks like something out of A Hard Days Night, ready to be greeted by throngs of fans.
Okay, that's probably not the right metaphor. No one is that excited for any politician, but it does have the urgency of any late 70s rock band worth their salt.
Our modern day Presidential candidate, mouth open in excitement, breathless from running onstage, necktie flapping in the wind could easily be confused for Eddie Money, Meat Loaf, or any member of the Knack.
Beto has an energy in this pic, not unlke Robin Zander running to take the stage at the end of the Dream Police video.
In modern politics, the politician is the rock star, and the rally is the concert, and when it gets real, the politician gets an opening act.
Which is why when I saw John Kerry in 2004, I got to see Hal Ketchum perform. Ketchum is an underrated country singer who was popular in that brief New Traditionalist era, and just recently developed Alzheimers', so his performing days are behind him. I am glad to have seen him when he did.
In 2012, I got to see freaking Bruce Springsteen, because Obama was a marquee name, not a midcarder like Kerry. Although, it was only four songs, I saw The Boss for free, playing a solo set, in what would normally be about a fifth row seat.
Of course, these were October and November General Election events. I doubt, anyone is voting because a musician tells them (even if it is Bruce Springsteen), but they are exciting events and get their crowd pumped.
Well, last election cycle, Bernie Sanders took it to the next level.
Bernie was always someone who pulled in youth and progressives. His list of supporters are like a who's who of musicians, artists and free thinkers.
In any case, in January 2016, Bernie brought Vampire Weekend to Iowa City, and there may not have been a bigger #voteyermusic event in history.
Not that music and politics weren't already married. Indeed, Hillary Clinton had already had Katy Perry show up at her rallies, but Sanders drew a crowd of 5000 with one of the hippest bands of the day.
If Bernie ever retires from politics, he definitely has a future as a Perry Farrell or Bill Graham figure.
The 2020 Election cycle hadn't a blockbuster musical moment until recently,, but then there were a few at once.
This time, it was Jack White, and of course, it was Bernie.
Detroit native White welcomed Bernie, and performed some of his hits and some Dylan. Rolling Stone reported:
White and his band opened with a mashup of his solo track “Corporation” and the White Stripes classic “Icky Thump” (seen in the video above), followed by a string of White Stripes songs — “Black Math,” “We’re Going to Be Friends” and “Seven Nation Army” — as well as another solo number, “Connected by Love.” White also performed a cover of Bob Dylan’s “License to Kill,” which he introduced with a thinly veiled allusion to President Donald Trump.
This being 2020, though, Bernie doesn't have a monopoly on Indie Rock like he used to.
As Dems got ready for the Liberty and Justice Celebration, Andrew Yang, who also has a youthful army of supporters, scored Rivers Cuomo from Weezer.
Yangapalooza opened the afternoon as a precursor to LJ19.
Yes, it probably was inevitable to call it Yangapalooza.
Spin reports:
Joined by Weezer bassist Scott Shriner and a drummer, Cuomo opened the rainy outdoor set with the Blue Album classic “Buddy Holly.” The songwriter also performed stripped-down acoustic renditions of his songs “Beverly Hills,” “Island in the Sun,” and “Undone – The Sweater Song,” as well as covers of TLC’s “No Scrubs,” A-ha’s “Take On Me,” and of course Toto’s “Africa,” all of which Weezer recorded for this year’s surprise Teal Album.
Spin, like Pitchfork who posted the whole set, like everyone else who reported on it, seems hesitant to call Cuomo's show an endorsement. Almost all media included some sort of statement that said the only thing Rivers had to say was "Yang Gang in the House".
Still, he showed up to perform. It's silly to split hairs, and it's also silly to assume Yang can't attract indie rock Gods.
The event was at the Brenton Skating Plaza, which doesn't sound like much, but is where many outside Summer concerts take place in Des Moines
Local news that reported on the Dinner indicated that the only politician to have a musician to play at rally for LJ 19 was Pete Buttigieg. I feel that is somewhat misleading since Yang had Cuomo the same day, but I suppose the fine print is that Pete's music led into the rally, while Yang's rally was much earlier in the afternoon.
I also thought the vague coverage of a "musician" was a disservice to Ben Harper, who was the musician in question, and a pretty awesome one at that.
From Billboard:
Iowa Starting Line said: Pete's crowd took up five sections of the arena, compared to two for everyone else.
NPR said Booker had a raucous response as he recounted going to a Des Moines church with his grandmother
Kamala was "soaring but focused", and won applause from supporters of other candidates, according to the Washington Post.
The Post also said Amy Klobuchar gave the best speech of her campaign.
Steve Bullock's "Give Him the Boot" line got the crowd chanting, according to USA Today.
Of course, what is interesting to me wasn't so much that the LJ Dinner was the success that the media said it was, but it really was a bit of a failure in some ways
Frontloaded with the leading candidates with a huge intermission. I was told by one attendee that two-thirds of the crowd were gone by 10:00. Remember, this is a weeknight, although, still a Friday, it makes for a long day. With so many candidates, a 7:00PM start makes much sense for workers, but plunges some candidates into the late hours.
It was supposed to be random selection, but felt like WWE pro wrestling style "Random", since Pete, Biden, Yang, Warren, and Harris occupied the first five slots.
Forced to wait after 10pm were Klobuchar, Booker, Delaney, and way past 11pm, jokingly calling himself "the keynote speaker", Steve Bullock.
Heck, just knowing the speaking order (and that way too long break), makes this little dB chart less cool, but still, here goes.
The weekend ended with a musical note as well.
In Minneapolis, Bernie Sanders scored the New Power Generation, Prince's backing band from 1990-2013, as he appeared with Rep. Ilhan Omar.
This comes less than a month after Donald Trump infamously used Purple Rain at his rally, much to the ire of the Prince Estate.
As far as I know, Bernie did not show up in Diamond and Pearls-era VMA Award gear.
The Minnesota Spokesman Reported reported in an article called "Sanders calls for Racial Unity"..
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights,” sang New Power Generation before the candidate appeared. The rally was a bit raucous, resembling more a revival than a political event, with Sanders doing the preaching, New Power Generation leading the singing, and the audience doing a bit of call and response.
I was never able to locate if the NPG actually performed their Prince songs, though i might suggest "My Name is Bernie (and I am Funky)", "Gett Off (Corporate Welfare)", and "(If I gave you) Diamonds and Pearls (would you also make sure the other 99% got some?")
OK, my jokes are bad, but please tell me they did "Money Don't Matter 2Night".
We are now less than 90 days until the Iowa Caucus, so stay tuned, and more #voteyermusic content here this month.
They go together. Politics is Rock'n'Roll, as far as I can tell.
I mean, right now, we have a President who was a celebrity before he ever stepped into the office. Barack Obama, of course, could control a stage. Bill Clinton played sax on Arsenio. Back to as far as I can remember, there was Ronald Reagan, who hung out with The Rat Pack, and attracted people like Prince and Neil Young to support him.
Heck, Reagan seems like an obvious starting point, but before him, Jimmy Carter had Willie Nelson smoking weed on the White House roof, Gerald Ford hosted George Harrison, and it has to at least, go back to Kennedy's Camelot White House.
Politics is rock n roll. Especially, election politics. Why not? You are not in the office yet and actual having to govern. You will be the one to bring Good News to the people and usher in the New Era.
One of my favorite pictures of this election cycle is Beto O'Rourke getting out of a car, and it looks like something out of A Hard Days Night, ready to be greeted by throngs of fans.
Okay, that's probably not the right metaphor. No one is that excited for any politician, but it does have the urgency of any late 70s rock band worth their salt.
Our modern day Presidential candidate, mouth open in excitement, breathless from running onstage, necktie flapping in the wind could easily be confused for Eddie Money, Meat Loaf, or any member of the Knack.
Beto has an energy in this pic, not unlke Robin Zander running to take the stage at the end of the Dream Police video.
In modern politics, the politician is the rock star, and the rally is the concert, and when it gets real, the politician gets an opening act.
Which is why when I saw John Kerry in 2004, I got to see Hal Ketchum perform. Ketchum is an underrated country singer who was popular in that brief New Traditionalist era, and just recently developed Alzheimers', so his performing days are behind him. I am glad to have seen him when he did.
In 2012, I got to see freaking Bruce Springsteen, because Obama was a marquee name, not a midcarder like Kerry. Although, it was only four songs, I saw The Boss for free, playing a solo set, in what would normally be about a fifth row seat.
Of course, these were October and November General Election events. I doubt, anyone is voting because a musician tells them (even if it is Bruce Springsteen), but they are exciting events and get their crowd pumped.
Well, last election cycle, Bernie Sanders took it to the next level.
Bernie was always someone who pulled in youth and progressives. His list of supporters are like a who's who of musicians, artists and free thinkers.
In any case, in January 2016, Bernie brought Vampire Weekend to Iowa City, and there may not have been a bigger #voteyermusic event in history.
Not that music and politics weren't already married. Indeed, Hillary Clinton had already had Katy Perry show up at her rallies, but Sanders drew a crowd of 5000 with one of the hippest bands of the day.
If Bernie ever retires from politics, he definitely has a future as a Perry Farrell or Bill Graham figure.
The 2020 Election cycle hadn't a blockbuster musical moment until recently,, but then there were a few at once.
This time, it was Jack White, and of course, it was Bernie.
Detroit native White welcomed Bernie, and performed some of his hits and some Dylan. Rolling Stone reported:
White and his band opened with a mashup of his solo track “Corporation” and the White Stripes classic “Icky Thump” (seen in the video above), followed by a string of White Stripes songs — “Black Math,” “We’re Going to Be Friends” and “Seven Nation Army” — as well as another solo number, “Connected by Love.” White also performed a cover of Bob Dylan’s “License to Kill,” which he introduced with a thinly veiled allusion to President Donald Trump.
This being 2020, though, Bernie doesn't have a monopoly on Indie Rock like he used to.
As Dems got ready for the Liberty and Justice Celebration, Andrew Yang, who also has a youthful army of supporters, scored Rivers Cuomo from Weezer.
Yangapalooza opened the afternoon as a precursor to LJ19.
Yes, it probably was inevitable to call it Yangapalooza.
Spin reports:
Joined by Weezer bassist Scott Shriner and a drummer, Cuomo opened the rainy outdoor set with the Blue Album classic “Buddy Holly.” The songwriter also performed stripped-down acoustic renditions of his songs “Beverly Hills,” “Island in the Sun,” and “Undone – The Sweater Song,” as well as covers of TLC’s “No Scrubs,” A-ha’s “Take On Me,” and of course Toto’s “Africa,” all of which Weezer recorded for this year’s surprise Teal Album.
Spin, like Pitchfork who posted the whole set, like everyone else who reported on it, seems hesitant to call Cuomo's show an endorsement. Almost all media included some sort of statement that said the only thing Rivers had to say was "Yang Gang in the House".
Still, he showed up to perform. It's silly to split hairs, and it's also silly to assume Yang can't attract indie rock Gods.
The event was at the Brenton Skating Plaza, which doesn't sound like much, but is where many outside Summer concerts take place in Des Moines
Local news that reported on the Dinner indicated that the only politician to have a musician to play at rally for LJ 19 was Pete Buttigieg. I feel that is somewhat misleading since Yang had Cuomo the same day, but I suppose the fine print is that Pete's music led into the rally, while Yang's rally was much earlier in the afternoon.
I also thought the vague coverage of a "musician" was a disservice to Ben Harper, who was the musician in question, and a pretty awesome one at that.
From Billboard:
Harper endorsed Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind.
During opening number "People Lead," he reworked his lyrics: "When Pete takes the lead," he emphasized about the presidential hopeful during the song's chorus. Harper also played "With My Own Two Hands" and "Call It What It Is" to the rally crowd.
I also think you could say Kamala had a musical intro, since she also brought the Drum and Drill Corps, The Isiserettes. I have mentioned them here before, but they performed for Obama in the past.
Now, although I am focused on music for the post, I would be somewhat remiss not to mention the actual Liberty Justice Dinner.
If you followed the press around it this week, it was very positive.
NPR said Booker had a raucous response as he recounted going to a Des Moines church with his grandmother
Kamala was "soaring but focused", and won applause from supporters of other candidates, according to the Washington Post.
The Post also said Amy Klobuchar gave the best speech of her campaign.
Steve Bullock's "Give Him the Boot" line got the crowd chanting, according to USA Today.
Of course, what is interesting to me wasn't so much that the LJ Dinner was the success that the media said it was, but it really was a bit of a failure in some ways
Frontloaded with the leading candidates with a huge intermission. I was told by one attendee that two-thirds of the crowd were gone by 10:00. Remember, this is a weeknight, although, still a Friday, it makes for a long day. With so many candidates, a 7:00PM start makes much sense for workers, but plunges some candidates into the late hours.
It was supposed to be random selection, but felt like WWE pro wrestling style "Random", since Pete, Biden, Yang, Warren, and Harris occupied the first five slots.
Forced to wait after 10pm were Klobuchar, Booker, Delaney, and way past 11pm, jokingly calling himself "the keynote speaker", Steve Bullock.
Heck, just knowing the speaking order (and that way too long break), makes this little dB chart less cool, but still, here goes.
The weekend ended with a musical note as well.
In Minneapolis, Bernie Sanders scored the New Power Generation, Prince's backing band from 1990-2013, as he appeared with Rep. Ilhan Omar.
This comes less than a month after Donald Trump infamously used Purple Rain at his rally, much to the ire of the Prince Estate.
As far as I know, Bernie did not show up in Diamond and Pearls-era VMA Award gear.
The Minnesota Spokesman Reported reported in an article called "Sanders calls for Racial Unity"..
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights,” sang New Power Generation before the candidate appeared. The rally was a bit raucous, resembling more a revival than a political event, with Sanders doing the preaching, New Power Generation leading the singing, and the audience doing a bit of call and response.
OK, my jokes are bad, but please tell me they did "Money Don't Matter 2Night".
We are now less than 90 days until the Iowa Caucus, so stay tuned, and more #voteyermusic content here this month.
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