NYT/Reuters: Rocker Springsteen Takes Political Tone on Tour

[DeepModem Mom]

Rocker Springsteen Takes Political Tone on Tour
By REUTERS
Published: May 28, 2006

MANSFIELD, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Branching off from his rock'n' roll roots, Bruce Springsteen kicked off his summer U.S. tour on Saturday with songs made famous by folk musician and activist Pete Seeger and strong political overtones.

Backed by a raucous 18-piece band, Springsteen played folk tunes including `"We Shall Overcome,'' an anthem of the U.S. civil rights movement and `"Bring Them Home,'' an anti-war song dating to the Vietnam War era.

During a break between songs, he offered harsh words for the administration of President George W. Bush and its handling of last year's devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, which killed more than 1,500 people in Louisiana alone.

"I've never seen anything like it in any American city,'' Springsteen said of the flooding and destruction. Referring to Bush, whom he called "President Bystander'' in a performance in New Orleans last month, Springsteen added, "He managed to gut the only agency, through political cronyism, that could help people at a time like this.''

Many of the fans at an arena in Mansfield, about 30 miles south of Boston, said they were happy to hear his thoughts on politics, although they were not sure if he had changed many minds....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-leisure-springsteen.html

[gratuitous]

1. Horrors! Politics in popular music!

Well, I'm sure the 101st Fighting Keyboarders will spring into action to Dixie Chick and Kanye West the Boss.

Or don't they take on white men?

[calimary]

3. ROFL! The "101st Fighting Keyboarders"! That's all the action some

of 'em have ever seen, anyway - firing furious volleys from safe at home via their laptops.

Love it!

Maybe they just don't want to take on somebody like Springsteen - because he's a strong, gutsy, prominent white guy. The Dixie Chicks and Kanye may be perceived by these jackals as easier targets.

Well, yes. Popular music. It's about time we had some. About time. We need our protest soundtrack, just as we had during the '60's and early '70's. That phenomenon solidifies and turns up the volume for the movement. It's about frickin' time!

PS - gratuitous, I just LOVE the way you express yourself...

:toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Good one, gratuitous! nt

[calimary]

2. Go Bruce! Thanks for posting this.

We need him out there. We need all people of prominence and credibility out there, telling the truth, on the larger pulpits with the larger bullhorns that they enjoy because they're famous. It's their civic duty. It's public service. It's part of what they can do to pay back their communities and their fans for support - by helping to keep them informed and helping to keep their eyes wide open. It's a shame that such a job falls to celebrities (and to a lesser extent, the rest of us private citizens) but SOMEBODY has to step up, and our media would still rather nap or lick boots.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

5. God Bless The Boss!!

Some pictures I took in New Orleans. Enjoy!

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Thanks, OCD!

[skooooo]

7. Tom Joad speaks!

[MiniMandaRuth]

8. tour dates

June 3 Phoenix, AZ Glendale Arena
June 5 Los Angeles, CA Greek Amphitheatre
June 6 San Francisco, CA Concord Pavilion
June 10 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
June 11 St. Paul, MN Xcel Arena
June 13 Chicago, IL First MidWest Bank
June 14 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
June 16 Cleveland, OH Blossom Amphitheatre
June 17 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Center
June 19 Saratoga, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 20 Philadelphia, PA Camden Tweeter Waterfront Amphitheater
June 22 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
June 24 Holmdel, NJ PNC Amphitheatre
June 25 Holmdel, NJ PNC Amphitheatre

dang no PNW.

[Up2Late]

9. Springsteen taking a "Political Tone???" Who would have thunk it?

I wonder if this writer understands that "Born in the U.S.A." IS an ANTI-War song?