(Some great writing on music and politics from our former DNC member and longtime friend of BOR, David Holmes. - promoted by David Mauro)
What convention? No. This is not a lost, late post from Denver. I am at the Americana Music Association festival in Nashville, TN and just as embroiled in politics as I ever was in Denver a couple weeks ago.
I was reminded of my purpose here as I sat in the headquarters hotel of the convention when right past me walked someone I have known for the last 10 years - from politics. While I was quite surprised when I saw Glenn Smith at this festival, I instantly knew why he was here.
I had read his July piece on Firedoglake and knew that he and I were on the same wavelink on this issue: Waiting for a Train: Progressives and Country Music
I first remember pondering the issue of music in politics while reading Cornell West's Democracy Matters. Mr. West's thoughts about the role of music in American culture and politics voiced ideas that I had felt deep within my own view of politics and community for years.
I will write more about my thoughts on that in the future and some projects I am working on involving music and politics, but for now, I recommend Glenn's first post from his time here at this festival in Nashville: God Bless Americana: Singing Political Victory
And I'll leave you for now with an experience I had last night that confirmed why both Glenn and I are here at this festival.
As I sat in the audience at an incredible music performance chronicled here, I had a conversation with the burley, camo-shorts-wearing guy who sat next to me on the pews of the Ryman Auditorium. He had driven an hour from his home in rural Tennessee with his two sons to make this their first concert.
At times, my neighbor would hoot and holler as favorite songs from his past were played by these legends and at other times I saw him wipe tears from his eyes as he explained that a certain song had been his high school song.
I said to him, "This music obviously means a lot to you and you chose this to be your sons' first concert. Is there something you hope they take away from this?"
He said, "Yeah. I hope they understand roots and that there is something bigger than what is hip right now. I want them to understand where their music came from, at least."
Music sits at a place in our culture where politics and community and emotion and dreams all meet - it shapes ideas and reflects them. There are important things that are happening at this festival in Nashville; things that just may have an impact on progressive politics for a long time to come...
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