![]() But those who say protest music itself is dead may not be paying very close attention. Somehow, mind-changing, mainstream protest songs don’t seem to have survived into the 21st century. “If it is a eulogy, it’s a eulogy for the idea of the mainstream protest song,” Lynskey says over the phone from London, “the undeniable mainstream protest song which soundtracks certain events and maybe even changes people’s minds.” It’s a long, slow fade that British author Dorian Lynskey tracks in his recent book “33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, From Billie Holiday to Green Day.” Chapter by chapter - 33 in all - Lynskey examines the work of Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, the Clash, Bruce Springsteen and others who made fire at the intersection of music and activism.īut in the tome’s epilogue, the author wonders if he’s actually written a eulogy for the protest song. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words changed history that afternoon, the songs surrounding it epitomized a decade of politically charged pop music that gave a soundtrack to the civil rights movement and rebuked the war in Vietnam.īut nearly a half-century later - with unpopular wars quietly raging overseas and end-times economic panic blaring at home - protest songs seem to have lost their power, potency and appeal. ![]() ![]() (Photo by National Archive/Newsmakers)Īfter that came Bob Dylan, Odetta, Peter, Paul and Mary, Marian Anderson, Josh White and the SNCC Freedom Singers, all raising their voices against racial injustice at the March on Washington. After hearing the tragic news, band member Charles Spearin contacted Brendan Canning, saying “I just want to play shows again”, before Canning, Drew, Spearin, and the rest of the collective, decided to record new material altogether.īelow, check out a gallery of photos from their Fillmore performance, as well as the show’s setlist.Folk singers Joan Baez and Bob Dylan perform during the March on Washington. Engle, timid at first, embraced her newfound limelight further into the set during “Stay Happy” and their title track, “Hug of Thunder.”īroken Social Scene is touring for the first time since their hiatus in 2011, supporting the release of their July release Hug of Thunder, a record inspired by the 2015 Paris attacks. She was joined by founding members Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, as well as long time member Charles Spearin, and multiple other horn players who seemed to pop up from backstage at a moment’s notice. It’s no surprise that Frightened Rabbit was chosen to support Broken Social Scene’s tour, given their mirrored ambient, yet, bold indie-rock.īroken Social Scene | photo by Natalie Piserchio for WXPN | The stage for Broken Social Scene’s set was shared with band members old and new, including vocalist Ariel Engle, who took over the position previously held by Leslie Feist, Emily Haines, and Amy Millan. The whole night had an uplifting, therapeutic and emotional flare, from multiple moments of crowd participation, including everyone screaming in unison as loudly as possible, to a cover of Tom Petty’s “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by Scottish Indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, the opening band on the Hug of Thunder tour. I have a beautiful son with my boyfriend and, I think you should marry me,” leading the crowd to erupt in cheer. Gripping the mic, she said, “This is a really big thing for me and I never thought I’d actually get to see these guys live. It wasn’t long after the song ended before Kevin Drew introduced Erica onto the stage, a fan he’d been singing with. “Let’s hug it out”, he says, mid-song, hugging fans and lending them the mic.Ī certain connectedness was established, and it said one thing: we’re all in this together. The band then delved into a deeply intimate and emotional version of “Lover’s Spit”, before Kevin Drew entered the audience, front and center. #Broken social scene protest song seriesBut, I believe in love, ladies and gentleman.”īroken Social Scene began the encore of their show at The Fillmore on Monday referencing the series of violent and tragic events that occurred on Sunday, October 1st, 2017 in Las Vegas, where nearly 500 concert goers were injured and almost 60 died due to a gunman open-firing into a crowd at Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. “I’m 41 years old, and I’ve gotten my ass kicked many times by my own heart. “I didn’t think coming into this tour I’d be talking about love,” he continues. But, we’ve gotta get together and we’ve gotta outshine it.” It’s not a great day,” speaks Kevin Drew, co-founder of Canadian baroque-pop experimental musical group Broken Social Scene. Broken Social Scene | photo by Natalie Piserchio for WXPN | “I believe in love, and that’s what we’ve always tried to do: Spread the love. ![]()
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