Photo by Caitlin McCann

Brandon Hagen of Vundabar

Allston Pudding: When did you first find out about Bernie Sanders and how?

Brandon Hagen:  I guess I just had been hearing his name around, playing music in the Northeast most of the people tend to lean to the left. I think that just running in that in that circle you hear about him a lot. I watched some of his speeches, that’s how I became I acquainted. And because of the benefits, yada-yada. He’s a dude though, he’s a hunk

What parts of his campaign resonate with you personally?

BH: His stance on student loans and free education, and using European countries for a model for what should be provided, really resonated with me. The time we spent over in Europe touring there, people over there want to talk about national identity a lot. There’s this whole stigma about what it means to be an American. Countries like France and Belgium get so much provided by the government, just like free healthcare. The right industries are subsidized, the music and art industry has huge government backing, which would just never happen in the U.S. I remember being like wow it would be nice if the government did more for it’s people. That, and the student loan thing, just because it screwed up a lot of my friends’ lives. Our generation, that’s like our thing. It kind of locks you down, and if you’re an artist you kind of need the freedom to have inconsistent income and do your thing, which student loans kind of fucks up.

AP: How can artists stay involved in the political process?

BH: I think it’s definitely important for artists to be vocal, isn’t that the point? You literally are putting yourself up on the stage to do something. We’ve donated some money a couple times and will post about him. We’re gonna play a Feel the Bern benefit show in Baltimore, and I’d like to do one in Boston too. A friend of ours is organizing one of those meetings to watch the debates at his place, so we’re trying to stay involved.

Don’t forget to register to vote & to look out for local Bernie Sanders benefit shows like the one at Deep Thoughts in Jamaica Plain, Friday 1/8!