For The Record- 06. July. 2024

We came here to rock the microphone.

Welcome to another edition of For The Record, the weekly newsletter that brings the world of music news straight to your inbox. Part essay, part good old-fashioned link drop, For The Record is a benefit for paid supporters of On Repeat.

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Thanks!

KA~

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“You have to get your name on the list if you want to be let in,” the email said. “Let me know if you want to go. “

The email wasn't for a show or popular club. It was for a surprise (my term) rally for President Biden. As I type this, Air Force One is being prepped for departure at Andrews Air Force Base, and he’ll be here later this afternoon. The MSN airport shares the airfield with the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Seeing large cargo planes come/go yesterday (on the 4th) should’ve been a telltale sign.

This is, of course, an election year for us in the states, and America is in, well, a state. Madison is a blue city if ever there was one, and coming here today should serve as both a bit of comfort food after a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week for the administration and as a litmus test for the campaign. This city traditionally puts up big numbers for Dem candidates.

Last week was a catalyst for many conversations that have been muted in favor of keeping up appearances. Now, the country is at an inflection point. If crowds don’t show up/show pout for him here, it will say a lot about Biden’s viability going forward.

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Wisconsin has also found itself in the awkward position of a beta test market for many of the rightward shifts we’ve seen nationwide. Things like voter suppression and other tactics started here in America’s dairyland with the election of Scott Walker. Fuelled by conservative talk radio, Walker ran on what was objectively not the worst campaign— he framed himself as a simple guy who packed the same lunch every day, would fight for the little guy, etc.

Once elected, the mask came off, and things went sideways.

Badgers are a civic lot. We love a parade, a rally, and a protest.

First, it was students, then teachers, the farmers, then, well, everyone. Thousands of people took over the capitol—our house— to protest. The people crashed the party, and Walker—the purported man of the people— was reduced to coming & going to the capitol under armed guard in an underground tunnel.

We also are second to none when making clever protest signs.

Photo: Even in the worst of times, Badgers have great senses of humor.

In a lot of ways, we are still recovering from that vote and its aftershocks. This state is incredibly balkanized, and the roads still suck. Only now—as in literally today— have ballot drop-off boxes been restored, and only recently have you started to see some marked improvement of roads and tunnels, thanks to the infrastructure week finally being more than a slogan.

With the recent SCOTUS rulings and other developments, it's easy to get discouraged and disillusioned. But it’s critical to remember that every American has certain rights. Most of us can rattle them off by memory.

We also have responsibilities, too.

The irony that these events occurred in the week before the 4th of July holiday — where the very freedoms we’re celebrating are under the greatest attack of our lifetimes — is not lost on me. But here we are.

Two days ago, I wrote that everything wrong with America can be fixed by what’s right with America—and I meant every word. Our friend

Kevin McSpadden

put it even more eloquently.

Nihilism is a poison of life, tricking us into believing that we are wise to reality when, in practice, we have cut ourselves off from countless possibilities.

Nobody changed anything along the path of “nothing matters.” Everything matters, which is why America is freaking out all the time. But, hopefully, at this time next year, more of us will still believe we can do our part to make things better.

Why do I like America? I guess it’s because, despite it all, I’m a barbarian who is allowed to find a path towards something better.

Also, it’s freaking beautiful.

Everything matters, indeed.

Democracy is a participation sport. You have to show up.

The easy first step is contacting your elected representative and making clear what your wishes as a constituent are (redressing your grievances). The next is protest. We have a long tradition of that, too.¹

It’s a right you’re afforded (for now, anyway). You can assemble, take to the streets, and make your voice heard. And you can be loud enough to drown out establishment hacks when they decide the best course of action is to sing “God Bless America,” read poems, or hit you up for $6 via email.

Below is a playlist of my favorite protest songs. Music has always been involved in any uprising. It also heals and unites.

Optics are everything in politics, and I’m not sure if today will wind up being a parade, rally, or protest, but exclusivity seems like the wrong choice here. People on a guestlist shouldn't determine the course of a nation; the masses should.

I hope a bunch of people crash the party.

KA—

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The playlist and links to some great stories you might’ve missed this week are below the jump: