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David Rovics
US political singer songwriter David Rovics is due back in town soon, on his third trip in as many years. In 2008, he was the touring partner of musical soul mate and fellow socialist Alistair Hulett. In the short time in between, Rovics has gathered enough of a following to tour in his own right and, like many others, has also had to deal with the unexpected passing of Hulett from cancer earlier this year.
"I didn't spend much more than a couple months with Ally altogether during the course of the past few years," recalls Rovics, "and I only first met him, I don't know, less than a decade ago anyway. But the time we spent together was intense and memorable. Now that he's gone, the memories get even stronger, along with the knowledge that there won't be any new ones to be made in the future."
Rovics' material has always been upfront and unequivocal, and his worldview can probably be easily gleaned after listening to just a song or two. Earlier songs such as Who Would Jesus Bomb? and I'm A Better Anarchist Than You are still regularly performed, but new material is appearing all the time, and is generally available for free from his website. The most recent additions include pieces such as Sugihara, about a Japanese equivalent of Schindler in WW2 and the bittersweet Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler, about the displacement of communities due to the BP oil spill.
When asked for his word associations when one mentions that catastrophe, Rovics unsurprisingly doesn't hold back: "The destruction of an already struggling but vibrant, massive ecosystem, the loss of countless communities that have existed for centuries or more, the loss of so many jobs, the ways of life gone, the stench of the oil-drenched shorelines, the stench of the millions and millions of dead aquatic life, the desertification of the wetlands, the death of the Mississippi Delta..."
Of course, the recent attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla is another episode that shocked the world and set Rovics' mind to writing. He has composed a song about the event, which may be ready in time for his visit; the second gig of which is in support of upcoming flotillas.
"Just when we thought Israel couldn't possibly do something more offensive than the last thing they did, they go and do it. Israel is increasingly being seen as a pariah state by people in the world who didn't previously see it that way. There is a growing skepticism of the Israeli leadership around the world, and for good reason."
At the same time, it is important not to demonise those within that country who have no say in their leaders' actions. "Yes, some people write songs, articles or whatever that inappropriately demonise regular Israeli Jews unfairly or in a bigoted way, no doubt. I don't think it's hard to avoid doing that."
Naturally, the subject of Barack Obama's progress in the presidency is another matter close to Rovics' heart. He sees politics of any kind as corrupt by its nature and still wonders how Obama fits into that as a result.
"Is Obama trying to do something good within the confines of a very difficult situation, or is he just pretending to be doing that? I don't know. But as Obama himself said when asked whether Martin Luther King would have supported his campaign, he'd be organising to pressure me to do the right thing. That's what people need to do. Getting Obama elected was itself an example of that kind of organising but in order to work, that's going to have to represent the beginning of a bigger movement."
Hopefully by now it's clear that the man has a lot to say and is unafraid to say it. Musically, Rovics fits comfortably in the American acoustic protest singer genre, but has his own distinctive place within that. He is also averse to set lists as such, so the songs he presents at each of his three gigs will depend largely on whim, and perhaps on polite requests!
Lest it be thought the shows will be nothing but browbeating, I should mention that he also has a CD of children's songs to draw from, plus material such as Life Is Beautiful, to show that there are always positives to life as well. So, to conclude, what are some of the things that make it all worthwhile for David Rovics?
"Watching little children figure things out, music, love, affection, hot tubs, marijuana, mass social upheaval..."
David Rovics plays the SA Folk Centre, Thebarton on July 29, St Luke's Hall, Whitmore Square July 30 and the Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale on July 31.
Michael Hunter
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