21st Century

A few months ago after one too many busy news days I wondered why more music makers of all stripes weren't calling out this administration for the shit storm of lies they have made de rigeur. Where were the Live Aids, the We Are the Worlds? Were those just arena-sized moments from a time when it was easier to capture them?
When I was a kid it seemed like all the big musicians were political by nature, and not shy about it. And it inspired me. It's what made me want to be a songwriter. Now for better or worse I want to do my microscopic part, so I’ve made a video for an older song of mine called 21st Century with my amigo Matt Leutwyler and Anton Laines directing and the incredible Richard Henkels shooting.

I started it back when George W. Bush was in office. Back then it was W. who was blowing our minds with how shittya. President could be, but then Donald Trump found his way into the presidency and said, “George, hold my beer.”

The song orinally came out on a record called French Exit that I released in 2013, but now I’m floating it back up into the atmosphere. I’m sure there are those who will shoot it down, but hopefully there are others who will see it from where they are and it will encourage and inspire them. That’s what I make music for; so it will connect with you and inspire you. That’s what music did for me as a kid and that’s why I do it now still.

America lost John Lewis this year. I wasn’t familiar with his story that way I should have been. But I read a graphic novel my daughter was reading called March, and it blew me away. I highly recommend it. I followed him on twitter and I heard him talking about good trouble all the time. And that’s what we need right now. Some good trouble. So here’s mine.