By Art Menius
“The Revolution Starts Now: The Topical Song
Show,” my fourth radio show and first created entirely by me, debuts Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 4 PM EDT on WCOM-FM 103.5 in Carrboro, NC. The one hour program can be heard each Tuesday on WCOM, WCOMFM.org, and on Tune In Radio.
“The Revolution Starts Now: The Topical Song Show” will
explore the rich world of songs about historical and then current events. Not
necessarily political, topical songs can be as humorous as Justin Timberlake’s
“Mister Kennedy” from the Coen Brothers’ Inside
Llewyn Davis or even an instrumental like “The Eighth of January” about the
Battle of New Orleans. They can back centuries like many of the Child Ballads
or discuss contemporary events.
“The Revolution Starts Now: The Topical Song Show” will thus
span a dazzling number of music genres: folk, rock, calypso, singer-songwriter,
reggae, gospel, punk, Celtic, blues, jazz, AfroPop, and old-time string band,
even bluegrass and country. They contain multiple sub-genre such as Civil War
songs, assassination ballads, atomic bomb and flying saucer songs. Certain
songs and artists will receive especial attention, placing the musician and the
material in deeper historical context.
Just a few of the artists that will be heard on “The
Revolution Starts Now: The Topical Song Show” include: Phil Ochs, Nina Simone,
Blind Alfred Reed, the Clash, Natascha Atlas, Public Enemy, Tarika, Merle
Haggard, Pete Seeger, Bob Marley, Lord Invader, Anais Mitchell, Fairport
Convention, KRS-One, Gil Scott Heron, Black 47, Bob Dylan, Gang of Four, Cab
Calloway, Uncle Dave Macon, and Fela Kuti.
Underwriter: radicallocalism.com, providing tools for individuals and communities to shape public policy from the grassroots up. See also www.facebook.com/radicallocalism and @radicallocalist on Twitter.
