Cockburn shares music, politics

Bruce Cockburn treated his audience to a trip down memory lane with a few curves in it for spice. Cockburn, a musician who stands up for his political beliefs through his music, came to play in Bloomington for a crowd of loyal fans Monday night. Meandering on the Buskirk-Chumley stage, Cockburn played for more than two-and-a-half hours to an enthusiastic community of fans.\nStanding all in black except for the white hair atop his head, Cockburn picked up his guitar and his face lit with a smile. The crowd grew silent, and as he began the first cords of "Lovers in a Dangerous Time," members of the audience recognized it and began to clap and yell encouragement. The audience suddenly was joined by a feeling of common humanity that would last throughout the night. \n"He creates almost a hypnotic effect," said John Hutchinson, a fan from Brown County. \nCockburn's in-your-face lyrics about his political views on controversial issues melded ironically with the mellow tones of his voice. Having produced more than 27 albums in his 33 years as a performing artist, his unique style has gained him a faithful following. Cockburn made his first record in 1969 and has since been awarded both the Tenco Award for Lifetime Achievement in Italy and a place in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Many fans have followed his career since its inception in 1970. \n"Our son has been listening to Bruce Cockburn since he was born," said Debra Hutchinson.\nHutchinson's son, Patrick, in his late 20s, was also present at the concert. \nThe Bloomington political community was also represented by Mayor Mark Kruzan and City Council President Chris Gaal. Yet, most of the audience consisted of couples over the age of 30 swaying in their chairs to the music. \nThough both Cockburn and his audience have aged since his first album, the enthusiasm for hands moving across a guitar in a blur and lyrics touching the soul has not waned. He played a collection of both older and newer songs. Mark Beebe, a Bloomington resident, felt Cockburn's presence was stronger then ever. \n"He's one of the few people I think has gotten better as he has gotten older," said Beebe. \nOther audience members felt his lyrics were just as important today as they were in the 70s. \n"He writes music that people should hear and isn't afraid to say things that need to be said," said John Hutchinson. \nCockburn has traveled to areas of conflict throughout the world bringing back a collection of songs about his experiences. He attempts to take the audience to the place and leave them with the same feelings he had. He played "Postcards from Cambodia," a song about his trip to Cambodia in 1999 and his reaction to the remains of the killing fields.\n"His sounds are like snapshots from his travels that he weaves together to produce a song," said Julian Dadds,an audience member. \nCockburn also expressed his strong feelings about the current war in Iraq and current administration. Having just returned from a humanitarian tour of Iraq, Cockburn addressed the situation with a few comments and humor.\n"Somewhere in Texas, there's a village missing an idiot," read a bumper sticker prominently displayed on Cockburn's soundboard.\nBesides his flair for lyrics, Cockburn's guitar solos won him two standing ovations from the audience. Both a ukulele and an accordion accompanied the piano and guitar, completing his two-person musical ensemble. Though the accordion did drown out the singing in a few songs, overall the music set the mood for the meaning behind the words.