Truth, justice, & rock 'n' roll
STILL RAGING | Tour lets guitarist be more than just a cog in the Machine
Social activism and music are not separate entities for Tom Morello. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist long has been an advocate of weaving his convictions into his vocation. With Rage and his solo folk moniker, the Nightwatchman, he's done just that. And now on his current tour, he and his fellow musicians are taking it a step further.
Each date on the seven-city Justice Tour also has included a day of activism. Today, Morello and other performers sharing the stage will spend time on the job with a worker from the Service Employees International Union. On Thursday, the tour concludes with an afternoon May Day rally in Federal Plaza and an all-ages evening concert at the Park West.
(Thomas Delany Jr./Sun-Times)
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Park West, 322 W. Armitage
Tickets: $10
Phone: (312) 559-1212
Morello also will perform at a May Day Rally at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn
"On the Justice Tour, we're not waiting for change," Morello said. "We're helping to create it one day, one show at a time by highlighting some very important organizations that are fighting for change on the ground level every day."
The Chicago show features Morello as the Nightwatchman, plus Ben Harper, Perry Farrell, Boots Riley of the Coup, Shooter Jennings, Ike Reilly and Wayne Kramer. All the artists donate their time, and proceeds from the show go into the Justice Fund, which will be divided between a group of charities.
Finding the performers wasn't hard, Morello says.
"I basically go through my Blackberry and start calling," he said, laughing. Many of the musicians have participated in the Hotel Cafe shows Morello hosts in Los Angeles, which feature interesting combinations and collaborations that go far into the night.
"The idea was to try and do that on a national scale," Morello, 43, said. "The goal is to create a model of touring that seamlessly integrates charity work and activism with the best show you've ever seen."
MC5 co-founder Kramer, whose activism goes back to the '60s, shares a similar world view with Morello.
"As musicians, we like to think we have some leverage to get people to pay attention to what's happening in their neighborhood," Kramer said. "To help them see that change happens from the bottom up, not the top down."
But Morello is quick to add that there was no "ideological litmus test" required of the performers.
"I don't know how Shooter Jennings is going to vote in the upcoming elections," Morello said. "But I do know that whenever I asked him to play a show for any charitable cause, he's the first one there. It's something that brings out the best in people."
The other organizations partnered with the Justice Tour are People Assisting the Homeless, Road Recovery, Sweet Home New Orleans, Just Economics, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Healthcare-Now.
SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America, with 1.9 million members working in four areas: hospital systems, long-term care, building services and public services.
"We are proud to work with Tom on a way to raise issues about social and economic justice," said Tom Balanoff, president of SEIU Illinois State Council. "The tour is a great way to shine light on important issues."
Harvard-educated Morello grew up in Libertyville, where he got his first lessons in activism from his mother, a free speech advocate. He is a co-founder and driving force behind Axis of Justice, an organization that connects fans interested in using their intellect, creativity and power to change the world.
"It's people whose names don't show up in history books who are doing the important work that can make this a more sane world," Morello said.
While Morello is looking forward to playing Lollapalooza in August in Chicago and some European festivals with Rage, he says his main focus continues to be his solo work as the Nightwatchman. He recently finished work on a new album to be released later this year.
But Rage fans need not worry that the Thursday concert will simply be quiet and folk-oriented. Even though he'll begin the show with an acoustic set, Morello says about midway through, his electric guitar will make an appearance.
"I'm not the least bit afraid to give all the people who've been playing their 'Guitar Hero III' their money's worth," he said. "I think the best show so far is going to be the one in Chicago. It's going to seriously rock."
