Concert
for
Equality
Legendary Lineup Takes on Activist Issue
MollyMisek
A
s indie rocker Conor Oberst crooned the main street and alleyways of Benson the soulful lyrics of his “Coyote Song” to catch performances of Cursive, Gillian into the microphone on July 31 in Welch, The Envy Corps, and at the end of downtown Benson, the crowd in front of him the night, the long-awaited Desaparecidos. A swayed to the slow beat of the politicallycomplementary lineup including The So-So charged Sailors and track. Lullaby for the “Loving Working Class you is easy, was featured I can do it at The Waiting in my sleep; Room, also in I dream of Benson. you so often, Proceeds it’s like you from the never leave,” tickets sold he sang in went to the his signature American shaky style, Civil Liberties allowing Union, which the song’s is organizing message a lawsuit resonate against an with the ordinance audience recently members. passed in Junior Fremont. Emily As Dressing for the Occasion. A concertgoer at the Fischer Fischer Concert for Equality displays his vews in a unique way. stood just explained, Photo coutesy of EmilyFischer. a few yards “If people in from Oberst, Fremont hire pondering the soulful lyrics. Her first concert or rent homes to illegal immigrants, they can experience was going well thus far – after be punished for helping people who aren’t performances by a couple of local bands, legal.” The ordinance bans any undocumented Flowers Forever and Vago, Oberst had gotten immigrants from living or working in the city. on stage and played a few of his better-known Many activists – Oberst and his concert songs before hitting the mark with “Coyote companions included – view the newlySong.” instituted law as racist, claiming that it “But you’re gone below the border with promotes inequality, racial bias and paranoia. a nightmare in between, so I’m sending the While at the Concert for Equality, coyote to bring you back to me.” audience members had the chance to further What was Oberst’s “mark?” inform themselves about the issue of Judging by the name of the festival, immigration. Concert for Equality, his aim was to make “They had different groups there things fair. Fair for whom, exactly? spreading awareness, asking people to make Immigrants, according to Oberst’s phone calls to the government saying that this website. As the official concert poster reads, had to change,” Fischer said. “All proceeds to benefit ACLU Nebraska’s By handing out pamphlets of information effort to repeal Fremont’s anti-immigrant and stickers saying “What happens in Arizona law.” stops in Arizona,” the performers and The outdoor show was organized advocates of the cause not only protested the by Oberst, the indie darling of Omaha’s new Fremont law but national decisions on All About Oberst Saddle Creek Records. Concert-goers filled immigration. The many faces of the main man
For many indie-rock fans, this was the most die-hard music fans would agree with show of the summer. It featured one of the McMahan. most legendary lineups of the year, not to Still, a few Marian attendees beg to differ. mention one of the most controversial issues “In the beginning, I didn’t support the in our nation’s history. anti-immigration law because it was legalizing As Emily Fischer stood listening to discrimination,” sophomore Morgan Harms Oberst sing his carefully-crafted lyrics, said. “Then after I went to the concert, I journalist Tim McMahan also lingered near thought more about the actual people and the the stage, watching the same artist perform humanity in the subject.” the same song. Harms, who initially went to the show However, a different thought was to catch performances by Bright Eyes and running through his mind. Desaparecidos, spoke about the defining Tim found himself wondering if most moment of the concert for her. A girl whose of the audience was just here to view these mother was recently deported to Mexico historic performances, not to join in any stepped up to the mic to tell her immigration particular revolt against immigration laws. story, as well as sing a folky ballad in Spanish. As McMahan, indie aficionado and “That’s when the whole thing really sank reporter for Omaha’s The Reader, put it, “I in. Everything I was supporting made a lot don’t think that a lot of people were there more sense to me,” Harms said, as sophomore because of the cause; they were there to see Kate Johnson nodded beside her. these bands.” “It tied me to the cause and made To the man with twenty years of it personal,” Johnson added. Harms and experience with the Omaha music scene under Johnson attended the concert together, and his belt, it seemed as though Fremont was both went home with a changed perspective an afterby the thought end of the in many night. of the Both audience girls members’ realized minds. what a “It large – and was such largely a rare ignored situation – issue to see immigrathese tion is bands among perform teenagers. when some “I of them think literally everyone hadn’t has the performed capacity in years,” to open McMahan their eyes said. How could Two Times the Indie. A poster of the lineup hangs and realize the immigration outside the entrance to the concert. A dual show played what’s issue possibly both outdoors and inside The Waiting Room. Photo cour- happening compete with the tesy of EmilyFischer. and not lineup? just live Judging by the roaring response of the with the mentality of ‘Oh, I’m young; I have crowd after Desaparecidos’s stint on stage, time,’” Harms said. Graphic by Molly Rakoczy Junior Kayleigh Lewandowski, who also Student: went to the show, realized the importance Listener: He attended St. Pius/ His musical influences are The St. Leo and Creighton of being educated about the issue of Cure, David Dondero, Neil Prep. Young,and Elliot Smith. immigration. The many faces of the main man “I don’t think nearly enough teens care Musician: Trendsetter: He began his musical career at age 13. He is a leader in the indie music enough about immigration politics in general Graphic by Molly Rakoczy His first band, Commander Venus, was scene in Omaha. established while he in highFischer school. Phorto courtesy ofwas Emily unless they are touched personally. It’s like He founded Saddle Creek Records. His first album was called “Water.” that with a lot of issues. Most of us are going He is a member of the bands Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, The Mystic Valley Attended St. to be voting in 2012, and it scares me to think Band, and the Monsters of Folk. Political Figure: He put on the Concert for Equality that a bunch of kids who don’t care could Pius X/St. Leo in partnership with the American possibly vote.” Civil Liberties Union. and Creighton Fischer, who left with a new mindset as well, agreed wholeheartedly. Musical infl uences Prep. “Once upon a time, all Americans were Put on the Concert for Equality in immigrants are The Cure, David Dondero, at sometime,” Fischer said. partnership with the American Civil “Teenagers have a great voice and the Neil Young,and Elliot Smith. power to make a difference. Just because we’re Liberties Union. young, we shouldn’t let that affect what we do.” So, was Tim McMahan wrong in asserting that the performances trumped the cause of the Concert for Equality? Or did he just have a different perspective on it? After all, a middle-aged music expert’s opinions are more molded than those of a teenager. Perhaps the Marian girls’ prior inexperience with immigration contributed to the sense of awareness they gained from the Began his musical career at age 13. concert, whereas McMahan attended the show primarily with a musical aspect in mind. And First band, Commander Venus, was esperhaps the other concert-goers who seemed tablished while he was in high school. jaded were simply already aware of the current Is a leader in the indie music Has been a member of Bright Eyes, issues surrounding immigration. scene in Omaha. Regardless of what any one person took Desaparecidos, The Mystic Valley Band from the Concert for Equality, its outcome Founded Saddle Creek Records. and Monsters of Folk. was positive, and its message came across: indie music and activism go hand in hand.
All About Oberst
All About Oberst
Listener:
Graphic by Molly Rakoczy
He put on the Concert for Equality in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Political Figure:
Band, and the Monsters of Folk.
He founded Saddle Creek Records.
Musician:
His musical influences are The Cure, David Dondero, Neil Young,and Elliot Smith.
He is a leader in the indie music scene in Omaha.
Trendsetter:
Musician:
He attended St. Pius/ St. Leo and Creighton Prep.
Student:
He began his musical career at age 13. His first band, Commander Venus, was established while he was in high school. His first album was called “Water.” He is a member of the bands Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, The Mystic Valley
His musical influences are The Cure, David Dondero, Neil Young,and Elliot Smith.
All About Oberst
The many faces of the main man
Listener:
Graphic by Molly Rakoczy
Graphic by Molly Rakoczy
The many faces of the main man
All About Oberst
Listener:
Musician:
His musical influences are The Cure, David Dondero, Neil Young,and Elliot Smith.
He began his musical career at age 13. His first band, Commander Venus, was established while he was in high school. His first album was called “Water.” He is a member of the bands Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, The Mystic Valley
Band, and the Monsters of Folk.
He began his musical career at age 13. His first band, Commander Venus, was established while he was in high school. His first album was called “Water.” He is a member of the bands Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, The Mystic Valley
Student:
The many faces of the main man
Student:
He attended St. Pius/ St. Leo and Creighton Prep.
Trendsetter:
Political Figure:
Band, and the Monsters of Folk.
He attended St. Pius/ St. Leo and Creighton Prep.
Trendsetter:
He is a leader in the indie music scene in Omaha.
He founded Saddle Creek Records.
Political Figure:
He put on the Concert for Equality in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union.
He is a leader in the indie music scene in Omaha.
Listener:
He founded Saddle Creek Records.
Political Figure:
He put on the Concert for Equality in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Student:
Musician:
Trendsetter:
12
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