Athens, Georgia Rockers Team Up to Protect Their City
Prompted by a proposed Wal-Mart in the heart of Athens, Georgia, Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood teamed up with John Bell and Todd Nance of Widespread Panic, Mike Mills of R.E.M., and many more Athens-based musicians to protect the small businesses of their town. Their shared interest in keeping Wal-Mart out and supporting small businesses led the musicians to unite and create a powerful protest song: After It’s Gone.
The college town outside of Atlanta is home to the University of Georgia, as well as a small business district that thrives on the patronage of students, alumni and locals. The music video ...
New App Brings Iconic Music Photography to Your iPad
Legendary photographer Danny Clinch has worked with some of the biggest names in music over the last few decades. Phish, Tupac, Bob Dylan, Radiohead and Johnny Cash have all been on the other side of Clinch’s lens, and his work has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine numerous times. Now you can view some of his best work on your iPad with the new “Discovery Inn” app in the iTunes store.
While anyone can look at Clinch’s work for free with a simple Google Image search, the “Discovery Inn” app allows you to hear narration for every ...
Education Issue Update: The GOP and Education
It's been proven over and over: education gets the attention of voters. As the Republican primaries proceed, it's worth taking a good, hard look at the candidates' stances. This is one area where they have some real differences.
First up, longtime watchers of education policy will remember Rick Santorum as the senator who proposed the Santorum Amendment back in 2001, an attempt to require the teaching of creationism in schools while questioning the validity of the theory of evolution. He still strongly supports this movement.
Mitt Romney has laid out an education policy position that stresses standardized testing and school choice, although he has not taken a position on vouchers (a system where families would ...
Interview: Amanda Palmer Rages Against Wall Street
Music and musicians have been at the heart of the Occupy movement. And while there may not be a single anthem that defines the cause; a notable, and badass artist who has used her voice to stand with the 99% is Amanda Palmer. The founding member of the Dresden Dolls has been performing impromptu ‘ninja gigs' all over the country including Oakland, Vancouver, New York, and in her hometown of Boston. Amanda uses social media outlets like Twitter (@amandapalmer) and her blog to share her travels and ultimately bring new faces to the movement. We got a chance to catch ...
“Liberal Massachusetts” Reacts to Goalie Snubbing Obama
The HeadCount blog is a forum for our community where we welcome all opinions and perspectives. The following does not necessarily represent the views of the HeadCount organization. We welcome anyone with an opposing viewpoint to become a contributor to our blog. Please email editor@headcount.org for more information.
In hockey, a “Goalie Controversy” usually refers to differing opinions of who should be a starter. This week it took on new meaning when the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins visited President Obama at the White House, and starting goaltender Tim Thomas - the only American player on the Bruins with his name on the trophy - ...
Live From TRI: A First-Hand Account
HeadCount Board of Directors member Bob Weir performed at his TRIStudios last night, which was Webcast live. Bob was kind enough to invite some HeadCount volunteers to attend. Here is one volunteer's account.
It was great to see Bobby in his newly finished TRI Studios in Marin last night. TRI Studios is a perfect setting for a band to rehearse, record and broadcast. Given it is Bobby's place, it was only fitting that Ratdog do a broadcast there.
There was lots of love in the room between the band members and the small group of friends and invitees in attendance. It's an ...
Can you Gamble on Elections? You Betchya
What if I told you there was a way you could get rich off this upcoming election season. No, I'm not talking about selling "Anybody But Romney" T-Shirts at the Republican National Convention. I'm talking about gambling. You can put your money where your mouth is by betting on candidates through a little known gambling system called a "political prediction market."
So what is a political prediction market exactly? Well, its sort of a cross between a stock market and sports betting. People buy “shares” of a particular candidate and they either make or lose money depending on whether or not ...
In the midst of the GOP Primaries, lots of hot issues come up. But, you know I’m always listening to what they’re saying about the beloved Gulf region. After all, what could possibly be more politically polarizing than that dirty ‘ol black gold? Talk of digging, drilling and piping oil has been a constant in the Republican primary debates. Let's dig a little deeper.
Mitt Romney is not afraid of aggressive domestic energy exploration. He plans to expand domestic exploration and drilling in areas where it has been previously approved. Former GOP candidate, Rick Perry went as far as saying that drilling for more oil is the key to America's economic future. Both Romney and Perry ...
Turning Sh*t Into Gold
Have you ever wondered what happens when you flush your toilet? In Kenya? If you live in one of Kenya’s urban slums then your toilet does not flush. Your toilet could be a plastic bag known as a flying toilet or a bucket whose untreated contents are later emptied directly into your environment. During rainy periods residents - particularly women and children - become susceptible to deadly waterborne illnesses like typhoid and cholera.
So now that you're completely grossed out, I hope you find this idea refreshing... What if each flush meant money for small businesses and fertilizer acceptable for use in agriculture?
A team of recent MIT ...
Personal Liberty Issue Update: Freedom, the Constitution and the Candidates
Personal liberty, freedom, and the Constitution are at the core of the Republican presidential candidates’ talking points. With the 2012 primaries in full swing, talk of protecting your liberties and constitutional freedoms are all over the airwaves. So what exactly does freedom and liberty mean to the GOP Presidential candidates? Here’s a quick look…
Avowed libertarian Ron Paul breaks with the rest of the field in opposing the Patriot Act, a bill designed to combat terrorism, that some feel goes too far, infringing on privacy and other liberties. Challenging America’s role as "World Policeman", Paul claims that 75% of Americans are calling for the ...
Best HeadCount Experience: My best HeadCount experience was actually the Lotus and STS9 show a few weeks ago. I met a lot of cool people and had numerous people register and pledge. I feel like I made HeadCount's presence known at the concert.
What's your Issue? My current issue is about people who think the political system is entirely flawed, and give up on the system rather than fighting to change it. They dismiss the current problems as unfix-able, and spend more time complaining about the judicial and political system than helping it get better.
Why do you like volunteering for HeadCount? I like volunteering for HeadCount because I can show people through example that I can have a fun time and enjoy the concert just like the rest of them, while also making a difference in the community and engaging individuals in topics that might not necessarily pertain to the show or concert at all. If people applied this ideology to their everyday lives, I believe the world would be a different place.
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, skateboarding, writing, debating, and having philosophical and spiritual conversations with new and random people.
Nathaniel helped the Boston team have a great night at STS9/Lotus.
"Why We Fight," some of the more thought provoking musical writings posted to Pitchfork at the moment, discusses genre-mixing this week. Part of the prolonged point that author Nitsuh Abebe makes in support of exploring other types of music is that genres encourage development within other genres, and, in fact, keep them in balance.
One of the reasons this intense article is so interesting? These stories that are so focused on maintaining an open mind to music and art is remarkably applicable to politics. Abebe mentions multi-genre collaborations as a not-so surprising result of curiosity and accessibility - how, "People have talked for years about the music world becoming more fragmented, full of more and smaller boxes... So what could be strange about musicians reaching from one box to another, or hanging around between them?"
If this cross-pollination can be recognized, criticized, yet still capitalized on in the music industry (which has its fare share of backward problems...), why is it still so important for candidates to stick to one box in their platform? Why has the long tail been an important epiphany in every consumer product industry except for politics? In the essay, Abebe asserts:
I'm in favor of open sandboxes, no matter how much cringing is involved. And one big reason why is just this: Different sandboxes have different ways of talking and thinking about things.
Perhaps this is why art is so addictive. These collaborations provide a safe space for idea exchange. At the end of their conversations, the art is something neither musician could have started to explore on their own. That’s the dream in terms of the future of politics. And yeah, if we could have made a speech this past Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial, it might have gone something like that.
On Friday August 27th HeadCount teamed up with Calexico, Charlie Levy and Stateside Presents for a voter rally at the Marquee Theater. Attendees got into the show for free by filling out a HeadCount Pledge to Vote. Our newest Team Leader Sasha Patel led a team that brought in 1,052 pledges! Thats an all time single-show HeadCount record! Calexico and the other performers also made several announcements from the stage urging people to register to vote and stressed the importance of voting. It was a special evening for everyone involved.
Arcade Fire's newest album "The Suburbs" is a burst of energy and emotion that stirs up the nostalgia and memory of growing up in small towns, or any town really. On their video for the single "We Used to Wait" they take it a step further. Partnering with director Chris Milk they use Google Street View to create a personal experience for every person that watches it.
Go to The Wilderness Downtown and type in the address of where you grew up. Unfortunately if your home was too remote the experience won't be as cool. (It worked for me.) Also, you'll need Google Chrome or Safari for it to work. Don't be afraid of all those windows popping up, they are part of the experience.
This is a pretty slick marketing scheme for Google, and with their recent net neutrality issues it might be bad timing for Arcade Fire (or good timing for Google). But for now, lets give the artists the creative benefit of the doubt, because in the end, this video is doing something that nobody has done before.
August 30th, 2010
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Whitney Drechsler
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One Comment
Sunday marked the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. With this historic date, comes a flood (sorry, couldn't resist) of retrospectives, tributes and, of course, horrific tales. Two divergent stories are emerging - one of hope and one of frustration. New Orleans' bustling arts community not only endures, but has driven the city's slow recovery. Meanwhile, difficulties with rebuilding, bureaucracy and corruption persist.
Dear New Orleans, a 31-track benefit album created to raise funds for Gulf Coast-related charities, quickly rose to the #1 spot on Amazon's MP3 charts. It features tracks by My Morning Jacket, Bonerama, Steve Earle and OK Go. The title comes from "Dear America," a touching open letter published in the Times-Picayune newspaper shortly after the levees broke. If you order the album directly it comes with three bonus tracks.
Much of the five-year anniversary media coverage involved musicians reflecting on the storm. Many feel that music will continue to be the saving grace of the region. In one article, Dr. John, Irma Thomas and other influential musicians say music truly saved New Orleans in Katrina's aftermath. Hot 8 Brass Band tuba player, Benny Pete, notes how music "showed us the value and power of our culture." In this article in Offbeat, Louisiana's music and cultural magazine, local musicians talk about where they were before the storm and where they are now.
The entertainment industry is abuzz about the anniversary and celebs are continuing their effort to save the Gulf and raise awareness of the help that is still needed. Spike Lee returned to the Gulf to screen his newest project documenting the story of communities still in shambles. The new joint airing on HBO, "If God Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise," covers both the lack of action to restore the Gulf and the recent BP oil disaster. The Hip Hop Caucus organized a march and rally to commemorate those who died in the storm and call for a comprehensive recovery plan.
Not doing anything tonight? Catch the one night showing of The Big Uneasy, a film by comedian, activist and New Orleans resident Harry Shearerdocumenting the government's failed response to Katrina. Check the listings to find a showing near you.
Behind this all, are some very real challenges andborderline atrocities facing the ongoing recovery efforts. The Small Business Administration, the same federal agency charged with helping businesses recover from the oil spill, has been engaging in discriminatory lending practices according to an Associated Press investigation. The report revealed that 55% of all loan applicants were denied while cushy country and yacht clubs were loaned millions to re-build (often bigger and better than before). Businesses in low income areas were denied without even having their materials reviewed. Racial disparity was commonplace, with white communities receiving more approvals than black neighborhoods with the same median income, according to the story. An SBA whistleblower leaked that "if you were of a certain income, we funded you first."
Meanwhile, a state agency created to help families rebuild their homes is sitting on almost $800 million in funds, while New Orleans residents say they can't get anyone on the phone to follow up on their claims - some of which date back a year. The funds have sat around for so long that they've outlived the state agency that initially ran the program. On top of that, a Federal Judge ruled last week that the agency was also using racially discriminatory practices.
New Orleans Musicians Clinic, a healthcare clinic that treats musicians and artists of the city, is one of 25 nonprofit health clinics and organizations whose federal funds are on the chopping block. Check out this story of a paralyzed musician who lost all his possessions in Katrina, but credits the clinic with helping him stay an active member of the arts community.
It can be disheartening to read about New Orleans and the Gulf, but the good news is that you really can make a difference. Whether you order the Dear New Orleans album, write a letter to Congress or sign this petition, everyone can be a part of the region's recovery.
What is your best HeadCount experience? Going on tour with Ben Harper in 2010!
What's your Issue? Public Education Funding and Regulating the Pharmaceutical Industry.
Why do you volunteer for HeadCount? I am a strong believer in "if you don't vote, you can't complain!" and I want to be proactive about positively changing the direction of my country. And also because I love live music and all the amazing people I get to meet.
Liz is one of the best Team Leaders in the country. She took on several festivals this year including Mountain Jam, Nateva and All Good which were all a huge success and she kicks ass in Boston a regular basis.
Check out the Disco Biscuits' rendition of the opening scene from Reservoir Dogs. It's a clever way to promote the band's "Big Time Baby" end of summer run and the band's first "short film." Released 2 days ago, it's already passed 5,000 views and at that pace is likely to top the "Barbers Back" video they put out after guitarist John Gutwillig returned after injuring his hand.
Aaron Magner does an impressive Mr. Pink, especially during the tipping debate, but HeadCount co-founder Marc Brownstein takes the cake with a solid Lawrence Tierney vocal impression (probably because that's pretty much how he talks).
Name: Joseph Moncada Location: Chicago, IL Work: Landscaper Favorite HeadCount Band: The Disco Biscuits and Furthur Best HC Experience: It is hard for me to pick one experience because I have had several great experiences with HeadCount this past year, since I can only choose one , I enjoyed being able to hear Furthur do their soundcheck. That was such a great experience because it was at a nice theatre What's Your Issue? Gulf Coast Recovery Why do you like volunteering for HeadCount? I like volunteering for HeadCount because I feel that it helps out in the community and we help people's voices be heard that normally wouldn't be Hobbies: Seeing live muisic and Chicago sports
Joe has helped the Chicago team with several festivals including Wicker Park and Lollapalooza, bringing some of our biggest registration numbers of the year.
Songstress Björk has been busy as an Icelandic elf this year--in addition to working on her own new album (expected out early next year), she has guest-starred on projects by the Dirty Projectors, Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons), and Icelandic singer-songwriter Ólöf Arnalds.
Her most unusual cameo, however, might be on the Finnish children's stop-motion animation film The Moomins and the Comet Chase. Björk wrote the title track for the film, which hits theaters this month. For a hint of how awesome it is check out the music video.
The Comet Song will be released on iTunes September 6th, and all proceeds will benefit UNICEF Pakistan. The recent floods have affected more than 17 million people in Pakistan, with 800,000 stranded in areas accessible now only by helicopter, and yet another monsoon is threatening even more damage--yet, support from the international community has been seriously lagging.
You are sure to have heard this before, but New Orleans has changed since Katrina and the oil spill isn't helping much. Wandering around the French Quarter, there are fewer musicians and artists showcasing their talents and even fewer tourists admiring them. And yet, New Orleaneans continue to maintain that spirit that only a city who is used to being an underdog, used to fighting nature for their homes and used to taking a full week off from work every year for Mardi Gras can really have. Why do you think the Saints Superbowl win was such a milestone? The Saints spoke for most New Orleaneans when they implied they were still alive, fighting and important as ever. Five years after the hurricane, today, musicians from various genres got together, thanks to Air Traffic Control and Future of Music Coalition, to pay homage to a unique culture with a compilation of influential New Orleans grooves called Dear New Orleans.
In an article on the release by Rolling Stone, MC5's Wayne Kramer mentioned that, "Anyone that calls themselves a musician owes a debt to New Orleans." Jim James from My Morning Jacket said in Planet Green Discovery that, "New Orleans music is so deep in your blood you don't even know it's there until you hear that sound. " Dear New Orleans is that sound. It is easy to be a bit skeptical of anyone covering meaningful classics - many of us cringed at the thought of soundtracks from Across the Universe and I'm Not There - but there is a passion in this album that is palpable. From When the Levee Breaks by Nicole Atkins and Bonerama (#28/31 tracks!) to a live version of Carnival Time done by My Morning Jacket, it is easy to transplant yourself from a dimly lit cubicle in NYC to Bourbon Street (or even Lake Pontchartrain).
The album was released for sale today at dearneworleansmusic.org as well as all the other standard vehicles of digital music distribution (iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc). A free taste of the album is available at the above mentioned link, but remember, support of Dear New Orleans goes forth to support New Orleans based NPOs like Sweet Home New Orleans and Gulf Restoration Network. The album comes with a bonus booklet, with a letter to New Orleans - inspiration for the compilation title and taken from the "Dear America" letter written shortly after Katrina. This is the first bit of the letter. The rest is in the liner notes and worth a read.
Dear New Orleans,
You know how when something terrible happens to
an acquaintance, and words are inadequate, all you
can say is, “Sorry?” And you feel lame for saying it,
but hope that the word itself somehow is enough?
Name: Nathaniel Fisher
One of the reasons this intense article is so interesting? These stories that are so focused on maintaining an open mind to music and art is remarkably applicable to politics. Abebe mentions multi-genre collaborations as a not-so surprising result of curiosity and accessibility - how, "People have talked for years about the music world becoming more fragmented, full of more and smaller boxes... So what could be strange about musicians reaching from one box to another, or hanging around between them?"
Arcade Fire's newest album "The Suburbs" is a burst of energy and emotion that stirs up the nostalgia and memory of growing up in small towns, or any town really. On their video for the single "We Used to Wait" they take it a step further. Partnering with director 
Name: Liz O'Donnell
Name: Joseph Moncada
