Musicians band together for Kerry campaign

[Khephra]

A week after signing on as John Kerry's national deputy political director, Lara Bergthold flew to New York to meet a key power broker. This supporter didn't just have deep pockets. Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner had John Mellencamp's phone number.

Tonight, Bergthold will be at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan as Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and a star-studded bill play the exclusive concert Wenner organized for Kerry. And this show is just a piece of what has been an unprecedented grass-roots fund-raising campaign. As Kerry tries to catch up with President Bush's money machine, he's getting help from a new breed of protest player.

These musicians don't just preach peace and love. They understand the importance of soft money, negative ads, and the almighty war chest.

"A lot of these musicians didn't participate in the past," says Nikki Columbus, a New York-based Democrat who in April helped found Concerts for Kerry, a coalition coordinating a half-dozen shows each week. "This time, even the most idealistic person understands that there's only so many people John Kerry can reach if he's traveling by bus. You need money to get out that message."

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/07/08/musicians_band_together_for_kerry_campaign/

[SoFlaJet]

1. anybody hear anything about

the draft Bruce concert in NYC to counter the GOP convention?
As for THIS musician I just toild my wife we gotta send Kerry 2o bucks-hey I'm a starving artist whaddayaspect?

[Khephra]

2. Not in about a week

The Pops concert started getting press instead of the Bruce one.

[Parche]

3. bands

We need Pink Floyd, Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel

[OSheaman]

4. I'd love to see some heavy metal . . .

. . . but realistically, the best thing to happen to us would be Bruce Springsteen. Now there's a _real man_.

[Khephra]

5. Ministry has said that they'd play for Kerry if asked

Somehow I doubt he'd ask though.

:evilgrin:

[HuckleB]

6. Pink Martini plays a benefit for Kerry at the Crystal Ballroom next week.

It doesn't get any better than that!

For more info: http://www.democracyfororegon.com/node/view/453