OntheWilderSide

Update: Also, an awesome story with several photos (including Joan Baez) at Time Out New York: here.

KW writes: NY Press has an excellent and detailed post-event story about the July 27th Reverend Billy Talen for Mayor fundraiser. The article includes political commentary and musical reviews. Interestingly, NY Press tagged the story as “theater” and “religion/faith”, as well as the expected tags.

I learned from the NY Press story that the surprise guest of the evening was former New Paltz Mayor Jason West.

A pull quote: “The alternative arrangement of a traditional song brought the benefit to a close with an alternative, yet tradition-preserving candidate. ”

(excerpt from) NY Press
A Night With Reverend Billy

…A volunteer collected signatures for Reverend Billy’s candidacy (he needs 20,000 to be on the ballot)…

With his high pompadour and guerilla theatre tactics, it’s tempting to dismiss Reverend Billy as an entertainer with a few good points, but the Green Party’s widespread support suggests there might be something more to his foray into politics. Earlier, he spoke about his “500 Neighborhoods” initiative to revitalize New York’s communities against the threat of gentrification and “that demon monoculture.”…The “Saints” listed on his home page are community organizers, preservationists, writers and artists…

Joan Baez and her band were worth the wait though! She was introduced by Jason West, the first elected Green Party mayor of New York state, who is notorious for marrying 25 same-sex couples and facing prosecution for it. Baez came on in a silver brocade jacket. She said she would sing for us, “cause you’re working very hard, and organizing, and sacrificing, and that’s what this song is about”—a lovely version of the classic “Joe Hill.”…” The benefit concluded with Rev. Billy bringing everyone back onstage to join together in “We Shall Overcome”—which began soberly, but after a verse, exploded into an upbeat rally song, driven by John Doyle’s guitar. The alternative arrangement of a traditional song brought the benefit to a close with an alternative, yet tradition-preserving candidate.

Filed under: 3rd party, elections, green, Green Party, media, New York State Politics, News, progressive politics, third party Tagged: | Green Party, jason west, joan baez, Mayor, NYC, Reverend Billy