I performed as a part of the Bitter Tears multimedia event last weekend at Shepard Fairey’s Studio No. 1 Subliminal Projects gallery and it was terrific. Author/filmmaker Antonino D’Ambrosio brought his own brand of agit-prop theater to Los Angeles with high energy style and panache. The gallery, located on Sunset Blvd. just a short distance from Dodger Stadium, was packed with hipsters, art fans, politicos and music aficionados. Something for everybody (sort of).
There was a screening of the film trailer for Antonino’s Joe Strummer film homage Let Fury Have the Hour. It looks like it’s complete and will come out in 2010. As the evening’s emcee, Antonino brought Shepard, revolutionary former Director of Amnesty International founder Jack Healey, and this reporter up to the front for some remarks on the intersection of art and activism. I had not met Jack before, so this was an exciting double honor for me. He generously offered to help Jail Guitar Doors with the benefit of his long and useful experience.
We all then joined together to make some music with Los Angeles’ own With a Bible and A Gun. They are a wonderful Johnny Cash-inspired band. I had performed with them recently at the Actor’s Gang Benefit with the incomparable DJ Thorndale (aka Jewell Rae Jeffers) on her “All Cake, No File” live prison cooking show. I thought there was a connection between Antonino’s book and their music, so we took up our instruments and accompanied the author as he read selections from his new book Bitter Tears. Antonino described the scene leading up to Cash’s album, telling the story behind the songs, and then we performed them.
We finished up with a rousing sing along of Bob Marley’s seminal “Redemption Song.”
Shepard kept the atmosphere fun, closing the night with music from his personal collection as an epilogue to a great time all around.
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Wayne and Ian McKaye talking to the conference about their musical inspirations among other subjects.
Erin McKeown, Senator Russ Feingold, Wayne Kramer, Martín Perna after a good meeting on music and social justice.
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Breaking Rocks film premier ends with a rocking performance of Jail Guitar Doors in London. On Thursday night Oct, 1, 2009.
Chris Singing at HMP Pentonville
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Live At Sing Sing 09
Front Row: Gilby Clarke, Dave Gibbs, Tom Morello, Boots Riley, Jerry Cantrell, Jason Lemiere 2nd Row: Daniella Clarke, Vaughn Martinian, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Matt Pinfield, Carl Restivo, Susan Silver, Don Was 3rd Row: Una Cote, Billy Bragg, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Malin, Jack Bookbinder, Eric Gardner, Margaret Saadi Kramer, Scott Schumaker, Anthony Nater 4th Row: Etty Lau Farrell, Perry Farrell, Officer O. Marchese, Peter Jenner, Wayne Kramer, Laurence Kern, Bobby Danelski, Kirsten Charlebois
"We done kicked them out"
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L to R Gilby Clarke, Jerry Cantrell, Carl Restivo, Don Was, Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Little Steven,
Iggy Pop & Evan Seinfeld
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Justice Tour 09
Tom Morello & Steve Earle giving out food in San Fransisco
Wayne giving out food in San Fransisco
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Justice Tour 08
Wayne, Perry, Tom & co in Chicago for the Service Employees International Union
Wayne and crew clean up Katrina debris in New Orleans
Tour group joins living wage movement in Charlotte
Justice Tour 08 group after New Orleans clean up
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