Legendary Billy Bragg is performed yesterday at Amoeba with MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, but sadly, I will not be able to make it, since they are playing at noon! What a strange idea, only convenient for people out of work.
But it is important to mention this event anyway because Bragg and Kramer are the founders of Jail Guitar Doors, USA, a non-profit organization providing musical instruments and opportunities to help rehabilitate prisoners. The duo will also perform at the Ford Theater the following day, September 6th to benefit their organization. Of course, ‘Jail Guitar Door’ is also a song recorded by the Clash in 1977, which opens with the lines ‘Let me tell you ‘bout Wayne and his deals of cocaine’, a straightforward reference to Kramer’s imprisonment.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows about Billy Bragg and his constant involvement with many grassroots and political movements. He is actually in the news for another reason: he just won the Outstanding Contribution prize at AIM Independent Music Awards in England, but far from thanking people, he used the occasion to criticize big labels, as he declared:
‘Indie labels are more important than ever. The merging of the major labels means there’s a narrowing of choice for the consumer, and that’s reflected in mainstream music.’
‘It’s easier to release a record yourself now, but it’s hard to be involved in the business side and be an artist at the same time. Johnny Marr says that one reason The Smiths broke up is because he was having to manage the band, and he was only 25. Independent labels work with you, but you’re just a tin of beans on a shelf if you’re on a major record label.’
He also performed an updated version of his song ‘Waiting for the great leap forward’ openly criticizing the X Factor! And he continued with this amazing and empowering statement: ‘The curse of the topical songwriter is that people think me writing songs should sort things out. They can’t. It’s proof that only the audience can change the world, not singer-songwriters. We do an important job, because we bring people together and make them think they’re not the only person who gives a shit about issues. If these issues come around again, I’ll keep saying what I can to confront them.’
That’s why I can only regret not seeing him this week.