Tag: Jtmp

Gio Andollo, who performs as Gio Safari, at Occupy Wall Street on Monday. (Marlon Bishop/WNYC)

Marlon Bishop on WNYC.org has a great post out on the role that music is playing in the Occupy Wall Street movement, from drums to guitars. The troubadours talk of how music gets people in the mood and motivates them to create social change. “It gets people motivated, it gets people spiritually in the mood, it keep us strong,” said one protester taking part in the drum circle.

Check out the post here.

Tom Morello, one of the top musical activists today, appeared at Occupy Los Angeles and sang music in a show of solidarity with the whole Occupy movement. Here is a video below of Tom leading the group in "This Land is Your Land" and speaking his mind about the Occupy movement:

*Caution: Audio is very loud.

Sound Strike, is a non-profit that was formed in the wake of the harsh anti-immigration SB 1070 is a nexus that brings together musicians to voice their disapproval of this legislation, and to urge them to join a boycott against the state, and not perform any shows in Arizona as a form of protest and free speech. Recently, they have announced efforts to launch new projects built on their early successes. They have announced they are launching podcasts, music, and more to put further heat on Arizona to repeal SB 1070.

More...

Hank Williams Jr. has been fired by ESPN for comparing President Obama to Hitler and saying "He is the enemy!" on Fox and Friends recently, and will no longer be the opening theme music for Monday Night Football. In a statement ESPN said, "We appreciate his contributions over the past years. The success of 'Monday Night Football' has always been about the games and that will continue." At first he was only suspended for one game, but the political fallout turned out to be too much for millions of Americans who voiced their anger at him making the comments, and ESPN responded to the outcry and let him go.

From Hank's website you couldn't tell he was fired, he sounded almost defiant and that he quit ESPN. He also spoke out claiming his first amendment rights were violated, saying in his usual "country boy" talk, "After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You [ESPN] stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It's been a great run."

Here is an ESPN video on the issue: 
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7067987