Our Work, Our Lives, Our Music - IWW Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent

A few of my favorite things collide on this flaming collaboration between Maddie Ruthless, Vic Ruggiero, and Jack Wright.  From the musicians:

"The IWW was, at one point, the world's largest and most radical union. In a time of institutionalized racism, members of the IWW organized side by side in solidarity with workers from many different ethnicities and backgrounds. They developed, and in some cases implemented, ideas of workplace democracy, wage slavery abolition, and the four hour work day. They developed the platform for what today we take for granted as workers' legal rights.
One way the IWW rallied together their wobbly members (a nick name for IWW union members) was to sing songs based on famous tunes of the day. Famous working class poets and authors, such as Joe Hill (who served as a legendary pen name as well as an actual figure), wrote new words inspiring revolutionary direct democracy, solidarity, and satire against the scabs, bulls, and scissorbills. For a small dictionary of IWW lingo visit here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wobbly_lingo.

As Reggae musicians, Vic and Maddie and Jack recognize the songs of the IWW as sisters of reggae music in their use of clever and powerful VERSION. By that we mean there are clear parallels between the wobblies and reggae artists. They both reinterpreted popular songs to make them applicable to the popular class.

We are asking only for a donation if you feel able to give one as we are union-less, and yet working, musicians."

Enjoy, share widely, and support these workers.  Though the IWW is a storied organization with a rich history, the union is very much alive and continues to do all the things mentioned in the bit above.  You don't have to work in a certain job or industry, carry around a contract or card, or be recognized by a state government to be part of a union.  Check out the IWW and learn more about making this world a little bit better place.

Our Work, Our Lives, Our Music - Pistolera's Eres Tú

Call it pride of place, but I adore my neighborhood.  It's not really about this particular location though, because this spot has some of the same things you'd see in any post-industrial city (it is special having four large city parks and a beautiful riverfront all within blocks of home to be fair).

For me, it's really a pride of people, as they're what make this place unique - what it was, is, and will be.  As I see it, to live in and be a part of this Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood is to continue building upon a truly global community - a community of myriad peoples, customs, and voices that have mingled over the years to create a rich, vibrant chorus.

I can't help but visualize the people of this neighborhood chorus when I listen to the group Pistolera.  I see my great grandfather Andrzej coming home from a long day at the Pillsbury A Mill many decades ago, taking off his dusty boots and grabbing my great grandmother Aniela, dancing in circles to an oberek in their small home - just a few blocks from where my family is now.  I think of our neighbor Luis, and the constant cumbias emanating from the garage while he wrenches on that old minivan or chases the kids around the backyard.  I envision my daughter, years from now, practicing her trumpet in preparation for that all-important first band concert.  Her parents retreat to the backyard in order to (avoid the din and) watch the setting sun envelop the buildings of the nearby rail yard with a blood-orange glow.

Yeah, I might be overly romantic about my neighborhood.  But I'm certain you share a similar love of your spot and you've got a soundtrack to match.  Maybe we can swap tracks and stories sometime soon.  Until then, enjoy Pistolera's Eres Tú!

Props to K-dog for introducing me to Pistolera and to the one JAS for the inspiration.

Our Work, Our Lives, Our Music - Guante's Harry Potter (Big Cats! Remix w/ Chantz)

What music keeps you going when you're at work, or when kicking a ball around the alley behind your building?  Musical tastes represent a small thread in the tapestry that is one's self and with that, MCC introduces the Our Work, Our Lives, Our Music posts.

Wherever I am - at the job or at play - it doesn't get much better than Guante.

Aside from the fact that his work is fresh, Guante strives to be an active participant in the movements that he writes and raps about - and I respect that in an artist.  Here in the Twin Cities, he's been quick to share his talents in support of labor organizations like the IWW and One Day in July festival.

Now keep up - Obama's supposedly been in the news a lot lately...Obama's support of the Claret and Blue is a topic of discussion...the Irons are, according to my wife, mentioned in one of the Harry Potter novels...it seems fitting then to open this series with Guante's Harry Potter (Big Cats! Remix w/ Chantz):

http://guanteandbigcats.bandcamp.com/track/harry-potter-big-cats-remix-w-chantz

Please go here to find out more about Guante and how to support his work - it's spectacular stuff.