It’s Boston music turning into action.

The tragedy in Haiti has inspired countless artists to donate funds and make appearances in support of the recovery effort. While countries, corporations, businesses, and individuals are contributing what they can to the nation in need, artists around Massachusetts and the world have been holding benefit shows for the sake of raising money.

I attended one of these shows at the Middle East in Cambridge on Wednesday called “Kem Pa Sote: A Party To Benefit The Future of Haiti.” The show featured local bands Aloud and The Lights Out with a few popular DJs from local club nights.

By the end of the night an okay crowd had showed up, mostly students and friends of the artists, but I wonder what the turnout would have been like had the night been more publicized (and not on a Wednesday). Also, booking the Middle East for anything is not cheap and if the space wasn’t donated, I wonder how much of the proceeds were actually able to go directly to Haiti relief.

While it’s easier than ever to donate to a worthy cause through the web or even text message, it can even be entertaining if there’s live music involved.

Venue age limits?

When I was under 21, I was quite upset with events happening in major cities across the country when government officials were trying to impose all-ages bans on music venues that either serve alcohol or have any kind of live music happening. It’s still a topic of debate in several American cities, and this would make it nearly impossible for anyone under the age of 21 to attend shows at most premier venues.

The bans are mostly in response to violence happening outside of night clubs. First off, the people committing these acts are all above the age of 21 and often were not even in attendance of the shows people were coming out of. Denying kids the right to attend a live music performance will not solve the issue of crime at all. That is the job of police, and in a greater sense, the job of society in general. Of course there are certain constraints for every venue and every city, but the main idea is that kids should be provided a place to go to see bands live. Period. And I am not just talking about 18+ all over, I’ve been to plenty of 18+ shows and they are no different than all-ages ones. Prohibiting underage people from going to these venues will not help solve anything, but instead it will deny youth the right to live music and will substantially and significantly cause tremendous financial harm the venues, promoters, and artists.

Now I am obviously mostly focused on the issues in Seattle and in Boston (considering I spend 5 months of the year in Seattle and 7 in Boston now), but it’s happening elsewhere too, including Washington D.C. And as if I need another reason to admire Ian Mackaye, he gave me one more in his recent speech testifying against the DC ban seen here.

Although it’s nice to avoid 14-year-old fangirls at some shows, I remember what it was like being underage and feeling like I had another home in crowds. Without a doubt, these experiences only helped keep me out of trouble growing up rather than getting into it.

If I want to meet older people and have a drink I’ll go to a bar, but music should be something that’s shared and experienced with everybody, regardless of age. If something is going on like this where you live, I encourage you to get involved and write letters to your city council, mayor, or whoever is making the decisions. I’m confident that if enough people continue to speak out, this legislation will be prevented from passing into permanent law.

Not just for liberals

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and MSNBC TV Host Joe Scarborough rock out at a Mike Huckabee rally in Iowa in early 2008.

While countless progressive organizations use music to promote more liberal causes, let’s not forget that Mike Huckabee surged in the polls after he started playing his bass and rocking out with his band in Iowa. Huckabee later went on to win the 2008 Iowa Caucuses.

These partisan and nonpartisan groups alike are hoping music will inspire young voters to get involved in America’s political process.

Unfortunately, I know several people who are still searching for a reason to care about who holds significant government positions.

These bands and political groups give my generation the information we need to make important choices. If connecting elections to rock music is what it takes to spur political excitement among my peers, I’m all for it.

Music for America (MfA) sponsors concerts, comedy shows and festivals throughout the nation to encourage music fans to incorporate political participation into their daily lifestyle.

MfA urges young people to get involved, whether that means volunteering for a campaign or simply chatting with friends about the issues and candidates.

It focuses on issues that affect music lovers and young voters, like file sharing and Federal Communications Commission restrictions. It also tackles employment and our future job prospects, health care, fighting for the public interest over corporate profits in the media, fighting the war on terror and the war on drugs, and finding new ways to preserve the environment.

MfA is helping my generation understand how much of our future is in the hands of politicians.

Another group trying to gear up my peers is Punkvoter, a politically progressive organization that recruits disenchanted voters through punk music. The political persuasion is apparent in the titles of its two records, “Rock Against Bush” Volumes 1 and 2.

Punkvoter’s music speaks to the failures of the Bush administration and why we, as young people, should care. Punkvoter.com compares the 537 votes Al Gore lost by in Florida to a small punk-rock concert. An average 1,000-person show would have been enough for a solid Gore win.

Yet another political group “made up of nonpolitical people” is No Vote Left Behind, which hails from Seattle and raises money for the Democratic National Committee by putting on shows.

Unlike Punkvoter, this group reports to the Federal Election Commission and therefore faces stricter guidelines.

Critics of groups like these say organizers are putting words into the mouths of delirious rock fans. I say they are promoting democracy and combining political involvement with issues music lovers care about.

These bands and organizations bring the election home. After an appalling voter turnout of 18- to 29-year-olds in 2000 — 38 percent! — I applaud people in the music community who are doing their best to excite young voters.

Punk Rock Politics

Anti-Flag – The Press Corpse (Official Music Video) – For more funny videos, click here

Although bands like Anti-Flag may be making fans believe something without really knowing about the issue that is being discussed, at least they are introducing the idea of government and news, so that these kids might later be encouraged to look up the issues that are so prominent in the music they listen to.  The goal of these artists is to help mobilize a generation of new young voters and activists, and the best possible way to create this wide-spread change would be to reach and present their message to as many people around the world as they possibly can.  

Anti-Flag is a punk band based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and all of their songs are politically-based and revolve around their opinions on current issues of our time.  Through their blatantly liberal-minded message, this band focuses primarily on opening up the ears of punk music fans to the perils of government.  While many political punk bands’ messages revolve around being frustrated with something, or against something, there are also various positive aspects to their music.  According to the Wall Street Journal, “For ten years, the Pittsburgh punk-rock band Anti-Flag has toiled on the fringes of the musical mainstream.  Independent record labels – not big-budget media companies – have carried the group’s politically charged message to fans.  The group has toured incessantly, traveling in a cramped van to less-than-cushy clubs.  All the while, Anti-Flag has encouraged its teenage fans to become involved in left-wing politics through songs like ‘Their System Doesn’t Work for You’.”