At the end of the day, Bernie Sanders and crust punks have a lot in common. They feel the same way about capitalist and corporate greed, they want equality for underrepresented minorities, and they boldly stand by moral opinions even when it makes them unpopular. Bernie’s presidential campaign has been put together entirely from the small donations of supporters, which is more DIY than any major politician has gone in a very long time.
For many of the hardworking musicians here in Boston, Bernie Sanders is a bit of a political hero. He represents a radical move away from big business involvement in the political process, and many of his social stances resonate with liberal hearts. His wife, Jane O’Meara Sanders, is also a bit of a hero for the musical underground, having once started a DIY venue in Vermont. All around, this makes Bernie Sanders campaign seem a worthy cause for the art-loving, music-making, equality enthusiasts in these Boston bands. In that spirit, we talked to a few local artists who support Bernie about their support and how his platform resonates with them.
When you are done flipping through what bands have to say about Bern, go ahead and register to vote! Do it soon – in Massachusetts, you must register a month before the election, and the presidential primary is in March. Registration can be filled out online. If you’re a student or away from home, maybe consider filling out an absentee ballot. Don’t forget that if you want to vote for Mr. Sanders, you must be registered as a Democrat.
If you are feeling very inspired by the music and the politics, consider going to a Bernie Benefit show. They happen all the time – there is one this Friday at Deep Thoughts in JP featuring W00DY, Soft Eyes, Animal Hospital, Epicureans, and more!
(Please note that all political opinions are those of the individuals interviewed, not necessarily of their respective projects as a whole or of the Allston Pudding Team. AKA politics are divisive, but everyone can get along and engage in music and democracy!)