I am writing from the dressing room, backstage at Cobo Hall in Detroit, tonight being the third night of the Vote For Change Tour, featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, REM (with me on keyboards etc.), and Bright Eyes, plus special guest John Fogerty (of CCR and beyond). An extremely diverse group of musicians, whose origins lie in the 60s (JF), 70s (BS), 80s (REM), and the 21st Century (BE). The Bright E lineup for these dates includes M. Ward on guitar, you may have seen the W. Coast tour that he and I did (along with Freedy Johnston) in 2002. He’s a superb musician and songwriter in his own time, and the BE lineup I must admit is even more solid than that which supported the Posies at Reading and Leeds in 2001.
The tone of the evening has been uplifting, exuberant, hopeful and fun. Bruce and Michael each say a few words in support of John Kerry specifically and in support of a change in the administration in general in the next election, and urge everyone to register and vote (and yes, I support these views wholeheartedly—the deadline for registration differs from state to state but generally it’s this week). I generally do not speak about politics, but, I have a number of reasons to endorse Sen. Kerry. I believe the current administration’s policies are too often one-dimensional and inflexible. I believe the invasion of Iraq was done with some good intentions but carried off in such a way as to create deep divisions between our allies and ourselves, and certainly without acknowledging all the possible outcomes, many of the worst of which have come to pass. And the massive spending increase and tax cuts combo is, I believe, ultimately hazardous. And so on. It’s in the papers.
I certainly don’t expect my readers and listeners to think like me, act like me, etc. I wouldn’t dislike someone who shares a completely different opinion, like many of my friends and family. My music is for everyone. It’s meant to cross boundaries and communicate across the many existing demarcations that subdivide social groups and push and pull us in different directions and thru various shifts in our identities.
This week: REM’s Around the Sun album will be released by Warner Bros. I can be heard on several of the tracks, playing various keyboards. It’s a lovely and gentle collection songs of hopes, questions, and dreams, relevant to living in these times, and in this country especially.
See you all on the tour! Check the tour page for REM’s dates near you.
Love
KS
Detroit MI