“I want to sleep beneath
Peaceful skies in my lover's bed
With a wide open country in my eyes
And these romantic dreams in my head.”
- Bruce Springsteen “No Surrender”

LIVE ACT (review by CJ aka Improv)

Vote For Change Finale MCI Center Washington D. C.  Oct. 11, 2004

John Mellencamp opened the show with “In My Time of Dying” and then delivered many of his own hits inspired by
Woody Guthrie and American idealism.  Mellencamp criticized the recent trend of citizens being called “traitors” for
questioning the government before playing his early MTV staple, “Pink Houses.” Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds followed
Mellencamp, outdoing what Eric Clapton did with his song, “Change the World.” Babyface played only this one song, but
it was quite moving.  Very appropriate for the gig in question.  He then introduced Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and
Keb ‘Mo.   They sang about the haves and the have nots as they opposed a sitting president who once referred to his
big $ donors as the ‘haves and the have mores.’  Then the trio performed the Buffalo Springfield classic, “For What It’s
Worth,” with obvious parallels between the Vietnam War it was written about and the war the artists are singing about
now.  The songs authors, Steven Stills and Neil Young, have participated in the Vote For Change effort as well.  Crosby
Still & Nash played many of the Vote For Change dates and Neil Young even made a surprise visit to the show.  Neil’s
Canadian and American citizens are the ones rolling this show out so Neil only stopped by to lend a little Canadian love
for a little change in the White House.  Raitt, Browne, and Keb ‘Mo continued with Little Steven’s song, “I Am a Patriot,”
which is featured on Michael Moore’s Music That Inspired Fahrenheit 9-11.  Jackson Browne said he would get ‘mad
props’ from his kid for introducing Jurassic 5.  Jurassic 5 got the audience chanting Jesse Jackson’s famous crowd
energizer, “I AM SOMEBODY.” Then they played “What’s Golden” and “Freedom” from their actist minded Power in
Numbers album. These songs sound like anthems anytime, but especially for what’s golden about American activism.  
Power in Numbers indeed.  In “Freedom” they called on the audience to “hold onto this feeling.” The rappers introduced
R.E.M. who started with their hit, “The One I Love.” Eddie Vedder joined in on “Begin the Begin” and the song seemed
as if it had been written for just this occasion, with change on the homefront in mind:  “The insurgency began and you
missed it / I looked for it and I found it.”  This is perfect for those who think regime change must start at home.  One of R.
E.M.’s biggest hits, “Losing My Religion” brought to mind the fundamentalism in religion that has brought such insecurity
to the world.  Bruce Springsteen joined the Georgia natives for “Man on the Moon.” Michael Stipe introduced Pearl Jam.  
Actor, activist, and director, Tim Robbins joined in with the band for a cover of X’s, “The New World.” On “Bush
Leaguer,” Eddie Vedder sings, “He was born on third/He thought he got a triple.”  As Vedder sang Bob Dylan’s
masterpiece, “Masters of War,” his cold stare left no doubt who was on his mind.  Vedder introduced James Taylor.  
Taylor was joined by the Dixie Chicks for some songs including “Sweet Baby James.” James Taylor told the crowd that in
interviews he was asked about advice for undecided voters.  Taylor said voters should pick ‘the smart one.’ Natalie
Maines joked that if she were to apologize for what her famous comments about Bush he would just called her a ‘flip
flopper.’ The Dixie Chicks played a more recent Bob Dylan tune, giving a country vibe to “Mississippi” from Dylan’s
album, Love & Theft (released on Sept. 11, 2001).  Maines introduced the Dave Matthews Band who began with “Don’t
Drink the Water” played hits including “Ants Marching” and “Too Much.” Matthews introduced Bruce Springsteen.  
Springsteen has had his songs co-opted by presidents who used the music on the campaign trail before, but he has
always took action against those who stole the idealism in his music for personal gain.  He had never endorsed a
candidate for president before.  This year Springsteen is for Kerry.  He played his 80’s anthem “Born in the USA,”
written about the men like Kerry who fought in Vietnam, with deep passion in DC as he joined with his fellow musicians to
call for a change in leadership.  They played, “No Surrender,” a song plays at Kerry rallies as the candidate comes to
take the stage and stump for firing George Bush.  Kerry actually has Springsteen’s permission to use the song.  Michael
Stipe joined the E Street crew for an energized reading of Patti Smith’s “Because the Night.” Playing after an evening of
great talent already having hit the stage, he and the E Street Band seemed bent on topping everyone with their best
performance ever.  They were into it.   Not so much going out with a bang as coming in with one.  Springsteen’s called
out to the so-called ‘undecided’ voters in America in a sermon that showed why he’s so popular, during “Mary’s Place,”
a song from his post 9-11 record, The Rising.  He called to those ‘fence sitters’ watching at home to get up from the
couch and touch the screen saying ‘Halliburton’ and let the healing begin.  He said he thought the choice was simple,
“you lie to go to war, you get fired.”  Springsteen spoke about Nov. 2nd and the issues that matter, then he launched
into “Born to Run.”  The concert ended with several artists joining together for Elvis Costello’
“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love & Understanding” before the whole crew sent the crowed home and hoped to
inspire America with a collective rendition of another Patti Smith song, “The People Have the Power,” which Smith and
other had performed together at a Ralph Nader rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  

More info on Vote For Change is available here:
www.moveonpac.org/vfc