Okee dokee folks… “Art is fucking political. Always has been, always will be.” I looked for a source to attribute this to but there doesn’t seem to be a definitive person who said it. Doesn’t matter. I studied Art History as part of my art degrees and understand the truth behind this statement. Anyone who thinks the contrary doesn’t understand art or the artist at all. Art is expression, and protest/socially conscious music is a way to communicate issues and engage as well as unify people about important matters. I have watched recent videos of demonstrators singing protest songs, new and old. As you may be able to tell, I am very passionate about this subject and I intend to keep listing these types of songs here until sanity returns to this country.
Most have already heard the new Bruce Springsteen song, “Streets Of Minneapolis” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w) by now. I was thrilled that Springsteen wrote, recorded, and released this song so quickly. “Oh, our Minneapolis, I hear your voice, Singing through the bloody mist, We’ll take our stand for this land, And the stranger in our midst.” Some have complained that, “The Boss got political.” Have they never listened to his music before? This song can be compared to Neil Young’s, “Ohio” for the speed of writing, recording and release. Young, as well as Crosby, Stills and Nash, have run into blow back from fans as well about political material over the years. CSNY have always been political artists. More musicians seem to be jumping on the protest bandwagon, hopefully for the right reasons! I have been collecting songs related to the current state of this country and have come across lots! Here is what I have amassed this month. Follow the QR code or motifri.com/protestsongs2026 for live links to each:
Curtis Lovejoy — “F Is For” www.facebook.com/reel/772015405947064
Katie Dahl – ”A Song for Minnesota” katiedahl.bandcamp.com/track/a-song-for-minnesota
Devon Sproule – “Gargle My…” www.facebook.com/reel/1954653128787987
Curtis Brand – “A Murder In Minnesota” youtube.com/watch?v=UGdU_DA2mi4
Neutral Nation- “People’s Lives” facebook.com/reel/1583621439396277
Big Merla-“The Mantrum Jig” (sent by Beth Barron) www.facebook.com/reel/1196386395954257
Billy Bragg-“City Of Heroes” www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKOW2ZikGW8
Samara Jade – ”Turn A Blind Eye” www.facebook.com/reel/1221998632741450
Eric “Red” Schwartz — “Asshole’s Day” www.facebook.com/reel/2172011930312115
The Third Mind – “Reap What You Sow” www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y6MU4lSjrM
Emily Elbert — ”Country Blues For The You-Know-Whos” www.facebook.com/reel/1420099229475010
Barnaby Jones — “Kill The President” www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8jdzfHvCI8
Ethan Gontar — Irish Folk Version of Bruce’s “Streets Of Minneapolis” (sent in by Ed McGuirl) www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4o0Y4wH7FY
HummusVacuum – “G-U-I-L-L-O-T-I-N-E” www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNHCkuGrAl4
Earth to Eve — “Toy Soldier” www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3JdRcf1gio&t=1s
Marsh Family – “Piece of Denmark” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSDIkpwlqsA
Neighborhood Kids — “Kids In The Cages” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg0-q8-Wy_o
Malört & Savior – On The Day It Finally Happens www.youtube.com/watch?v=41NOMETNp3U
Tribe None – ”Counting Mississippis” www.youtube.com/watch?v=41NOMETNp3U (sent in by Frederick Lewis DeAngelis)
Ron Gallo — “Ice, Ice Baby” www.facebook.com/reel/1585008299589077
Lon E Plynton — “Hard Come” www.youtube.com/watch?v=45avMy6GY5I (sent in by Lon)
Cathy Fink — “The President’s for Sale” www.facebook.com/reel/1962818541285846
Sandly Pliskin — “Hands Off!” www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIvlrgfVAnI
and last but not least, Carsie Blanton – ”Allegedly” www.facebook.com/reel/1685673545745375 (You will want to follow her. She is a brilliant songwriter and performer!)
Please support these artists, they are doing good things with their music!
There are a couple of locals in this list but we need more great local protest music! Hopefully the songs above will inspire local songwriters. If you have a song, please send a public link of the music, and a copy of the lyrics to: RISongwriters@yahoo.com
One person who was a social conscious warrior was Pete Seeger. The 2nd annual Pete Seeger Tribute Show will happen at The Greenwich Odeum on Sunday, April 26, at 7pm. For more, hammer over to: greenwichodeum.com. Also coming up at the Odeum: Adam Ezra, George Harrison Tribute, John Scofield, Throwing Muses, Lita Ford, Max Weinberg, The Lords of 52nd Street, and so many more. You can’t go wrong with a show at The Odeum!
About a dozen years ago I was fortunate to have a long chat with and attend a talk by a man whom I greatly respect. His name is Henry Diltz. If that name is not familiar it should be. He photographed Woodstock, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, CSN, Neil Young, The Eagles, Joni, and the list goes on and on. Many of these photos were used for album covers. He was friends with most of the musicians he photographed, as Henry was in a band, The Modern Folk Quartet, and played with some of these musicians. His photographic images are iconic. Check out his website: henrydiltz.com and you will realize that you really do know his work. I spoke with Henry again recently and you can listen to that chat on my Roots Report Podcast. Henry Diltz will be bringing his Behind The Lens multi-media presentation and talk to The Narrows Center for the Arts on March 5. Also coming up at The Narrows: David Nail, The Tarbox Ramblers, Eilen Jewell, Patterson Hood & John Moreland, Sam Grisman, Bettye LaVette, ZZ Ward, Chuck Prophet, James McMurty, Shelby Means and many, many more! For more, focus on narrowscenter.org.
In my humble opinion, one of the smartest and funniest comedians out there is Marc Maron. He has produced many stand up specials, been in TV shows (“GLOW,” “The Marc Maron Show”) films (most recently Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere), and hosted the WTF Podcast for many years. Marc Maron will be bringing his “self-revelation and cultural analysis” style comedy to The Uptown Theatre on March 28 as part of the Little Rhody Laugh Riot (lilrhodylaughriot.com) The Little Rhody Laugh Riot happens from March 26 – 29 and features sets by comedians such as: John Mulaney, Mark Normand, Chelsea Handler, Andrew Santino, Jay Pharoah, Jessica Kirson, Kristen Key, and others at PPAC, Vets, The Uptown, Comedy Connection, and various locations. Also coming to the Uptown Theatre: Deer Tick, Mary Beth Barone, Killer Queen, Get The Led Out, Del McCoury, Tracy Morgan, Maria Bamford, Joe Jackson and many more. Get down to uptownpvd.com for more.
That’s it for now. You can listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening.