It would be remiss of us to ignore the role that the indie music world has been having (or attempting to have rather) on the US political world. We can't walk into a venue anymore without Rock The Vote asking us a dozen times if we're registered. We can't watch a show without at least one diatribe from the musicians on stage about getting involved. Shows for Concerts For Kerry have involved artists like Tenacious D, Ted Leo, Moby, David Cross, etc. The Pernice Brothers played benefit shows in their hometown of Boston to coincide with the DNC Convention. Springsteen, REM and Bright Eyes have all taken the stage for Vote For Change. As Springsteen told the AP, "We're trying to put forward a group of progressive ideals and change the administration in the White House. That's the success or failure, very clear cut and very simple."

So what yer saying? Damn you are jaded aren't you? Well with just over two months left until the election, expect all these things to increase. Tomorrow, New York is hosting a show for MoveOn PAC's 10 Weeks featuring Moby, Perry Farrell and The Roots at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The Vote For Change tour has split into mini tours that will be assaulting the country from all angles with the likes of Death Cab, The Dixie Chicks, My Morning Jacket and more. Punk Voter and Rock Against Bush are putting on shows with quite a few punk bands that I don't know (this doesn't mean they're kids who just tuned up in their garage but more likely I know nothing about the current state of punk music.) Yo La Tengo are even setting out on their new US tour, "Tour of Swing States to Try and Help John Kerry Get Elected." Yes, that really is what they're calling it... I also thought they had more imagination than that.