They are everywhere: on the television, on the street corners and on the phone trying to get young voters. Now, they are on tour.
With the presidential election less than two months away, MTV has gone so far as to interrupt their shows so P. Diddy can teach the kids about the importance of voting. The voting revolution in the music business does not stop there. The Vote for Change Tour has pulled some of the industry's biggest and most outspoken musicians together to trek through the battleground states using their musical talents to attract voters.
The tour is split into six separate legs, boasting names like R.E.M., Pearl Jam, James Taylor, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Harper, Jurassic 5, Bruce Springsteen, the Dixie Chicks and Dave Matthews Band.
Before the name (Vote for Change)
there was a hum amongst several bands expressing a disenfranchised view said Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie. After a series of e-mails were exchanged a tour came together in a very super-organic and not forced way.
Sponsored by MoveOn PAC and America Coming Together (ACT), the tour will rock states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina and Iowa. In 10 days the tour will cover 30 cities in nine states, doing approximately 40 concerts.
We feel a responsibility at this point
and not in a demanding or soap box sort of way
to raise awareness because this election is critical
Walla said.
On a smaller, more intimate scale, the Voter Revolution Tour will come to Athens tomorrow at the Front Room in Baker University Center. Emmett Williams, whose new album A Place to Stand was released on Tuesday, put together this tour to promote the album and raise voter awareness.
Instead of doing a strictly record tour
I wanted to get people involved in the political process in a completely non-partisan way
Williams said.
Williams said he decided the best place to get people active was on college campuses. He aimed for colleges and universities he could drive to between the dates of Sept. 7 and Oct. 2 from his home in New York City.
Thus far on tour, Williams said he averages 100 newly registered voters per show and 100 absentee voters. Williams hopes his contribution along with the other musicians out there voicing their political views will raise the percentage of voters between the ages of 18-24 from the last election.
I think the fact that artists are saying we are citizens too and our voice matters reflects a long history of political songwriting
Williams said.
Ohio will receive all of the touring packages Saturday, with performances in Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and two in Cleveland. Several of the shows have sold out, but Williams said it is rumored that by registering with MoveOn (http://www.moveon.org) it is still possible to get tickets.
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