Politics, issues & rock ’n’ roll

From artists like Bob Dylan in the ’60s and Rage Against the Machine in the ’90s all the way back to Beethoven (who wrote about Napoleon), musicians have used politics to raise awareness and voice their opinions. For both the artists and fans, political music, especially during an election season, provides an outlet to express concerns about where the country is heading. 

Musicians on the local scene are no exception.

Senior Mike Bushman, guitarist and vocalist for local band The Alarmists (Calm Down.), said most of his group’s songs address political and social issues.

“A song is something like-minded people can gather around and feel passionate about,” Bushman said, describing music as a way to inspire people to get interested in learning more.

The band plays songs protesting the conservative point of view on issues like discrimination against women and gay people, abortion and birth control, sex education and the puritanical governmental approach to sex, Bushman said.

Mike Vinopal, guitarist for local classic rock cover band Doppelganger, said he and his band mates play original music in other projects and his recent songs for his new solo album have political undercurrents because he feels the issues affect him personally.

“We want to let people know what’s going on through powerful, emotional music,” Vinopal said. “I’ve gotten to the point where I feel I have to say something in my music.”

Vinopal said he doesn’t think it’s a musician’s job to tell people how to behave, nor is that the role of a song. So many people are indifferent about politics today, he said, that he thinks it’s important to encourage people to think, rather than encourage them to think a certain way.

“Music is a great thing because it doesn’t have to be serious,” Vinopal said. “It can just be something fun that lifts your spirits and makes you feel good about the day.”
Last month’s INPIRG Get Out the Vote rally featured Doppelganger and local reggae group Coyaba.

Coyaba trumpet player Eric Evans said most of the group’s songs are politically oriented, like those that many current indie bands in Bloomington who are writing original music have been making.

He stipulated that Coyaba’s songs focus on social issues – mainly concerning the working class – more than specific parties or candidates. Evans said because the roots of reggae come from Jamaica, where there is no middle class, the hardships of the working class are intrinsic to the style’s content, which gives hope to the poor.
The band played at the registration rally to encourage involvement, rather than  to push their own agenda.

Before the tour was canceled Monday, indie punk bands Titus Andronicus and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists were scheduled perform at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for a special election-night concert.

Titus Andronicus guitarist and singer Patrick Stickles said he was looking forward to this historic election, when Americans will stand up and say they’ve had enough. Or, it could be a day when they stand up and ask for more from their government, he said.

The band members have already sent in their New Jersey absentee ballots, so even though they’re no longer performing, they won’t be worrying about casting their vote on election day.

Political music usually “gets the kids juiced up to party at a rock ‘n’ roll concert,” either because patrons are frustrated with the current political situation, or they’re celebrating victory, he said.

“We always have a great time in Bloomington. It’s a great rock ’n’ roll town; it’s full of youth and vitality,” Stickles said.

Ted Leo fan Kevin Jones said much of The Pharmacists’ music focuses on anti-war sentiments, like the folk music of the ’60s did. Nowadays, he said, punk has taken over that role as the primary genre for protest music.

“You gotta vote, whichever way you go,” Evans said. “You gotta get out and do something.”

Most of Bloomington’s indie musicians and their fans lean noticeably to the left, local musicians agreed. Many band members thought musicians were more likely to be liberal because of the creative nature of their profession.

But Stickles said he saw correlation, not causation, in the liberal/rock music relationship.

“The two may go hand-in-hand, but I don’t think one informs the other.”