The Rock of the Revolution

I'm so blessed.

Last night, I got off from work at the steak house at 10p, after another evening of gently prodding Republicans to change their minds while gorging and giving me money. I called up Henry, who'd recently gotten back from Italy, where he was participating in an epic protest against coal power with GreenPeace - I had yet to see him since his return.

Henry happened to be at a Tom Morello show that was just about to start. Of course he had an extra ticket, and I called him just between sets when he could hear the phone ring.

I popped in a cab, and scored a driver who reminded me of the story of how Henry Ford changed the economics of this country when he paid workers enough to afford the cars they were making. The micro-economics lesson was a perfect introduction to the revolutionary rock that took place in the historic Fillmore Auditorium last night, where Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, and countless musical legends have shaken the rafters.

Tom Morrello was amazing, not only because of the incredible range in the set from acoustic guitar and voice solo - leaving the microphone at one point to allow his voice to project across the room - to bringing Boots Riley of The Coup on to do an epic rap during "This Land is Your Land". That's right, they remade the old Woodie Guthrie classic that I used to sing as a child. Now it rocks, and the whole place sang along.

Tom Morrello is touring as The Night Watchman, and his music is filled with inspiration, but not that cheesy, wet hope that goes down like day-old dip - this is the style of music that drives the Irish to drink. The intense, driving beats that he is known for are ever present, even behind the deliciously rough and soulful downtempo moments.

The truly amazing portion of the evening for me was the chance to participate in a crowd full of people who were ignited to revolt, who were told to remember that no matter who gets elected, we will still need to fight. The Watchman does not want those of us who care about social and environmental justice, worker's and civil rights, or freedom to let up, ever.

This country was built on racism, on the backs of people that came here (many against their will) and who started at the bottom and worked for everything they have, The Watchman reminds us. If this racist country that sees only colors and not people is able to elect the first partially-black president, we have made history. The fight to get into that office is a narrow funnel, Tom said, and it is important to remember that we cannot become complacent.

We must always fight for what we believe, and fight to make this world closer to what we know it should be. That's the rock of the revolution.