AXIS|OF|LIVE

Seeing Billy Bragg is always an event.  You get songs – and, oh, so much more.  Bragg is not one to mumble “The name of this next one is…..” before each song.  Saturday during the Utne Reader day party at The Thirsty Nickel, we got lots of chat – commentary on everything from American football (“What WE have is football because you use your *feet* – YOUR football should be called *running, throwing, and standing around for 20 minutes during the adverts.*”) to the insidiousness of cynicism.  The remarks about cynicism prefaced the song, I Keep Faith, from Bragg’s soon-to-be released CD, Mr. Love and Justice (it’s already available in the UK.)  He told the audience that he wrote this song because - while singer-songwriters can’t change the world, they do have a platform to publicize issues - it’s the audience that can cause substantive change and he has faith in the listeners to do just that.  He also played a few more songs from the new album – Farm Boy (about a young American soldier in Iraq), Sing Their Souls Back Home, and O Freedom (about Guantanamo Bay.)  Bragg also discussed something he’s been passionate about during the last few years – artists’ rights.  He’s been a part of successfully managing to get many of the social networking sites to rewrite their contracts with prospective musicians so that artists maintain control over their work.  This discourse preceded rousing versions of Bragg’s 1986 song, There Is Power In A Union and 2002’s NPWA (No Power Without Accountability.) There were so many special moments during this gig.  Bragg performed an a cappella version of I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night, Woody Guthrie’s I Ain’t Got No Home In This World Anymore, and Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.  He was joined by the young, British singer-songwriter, Kate Nash (the two began performing together recently when they were both part of Australia’s Big Day Out festival) for the Shangri-Las’ hit, Give Him A Great Big Kiss.  Bragg played many times during the festival, including the Body of War showcase at Stubb’s along with Ben Harper, Serj Tankian, Tom Morello and others.  He also made stops at the SESAC Day Stage Café and radio station The Current’s live broadcasting stage, in addition to his official showcase at Cedar Street.  Bragg will be touring the US in June, promoting the new album and, as he did during his gig Saturday afternoon, I’m sure he’ll spend some time during those shows earnestly appealing to his audiences to make sure they vote in November!  Bragg may have been sharing his message of ‘emotional, sexual love and social justice’ for some 25 years now but that message is as relevant as ever.  See him if you get the chance; he’ll inspire you to go out and do some good!