European fans of The Nightwatchman - Tom will be appearing at the Woody Guthrie Centennial Celebration in Berlin, Germany at Festival Musik und Politik on February 26, 2012. Tom will be discussing song & social movements, and will be performing with Woody Sez and Wenzel & Band at the Kesselhaus. (http://www.kesselhaus-berlin.de/main.php)

http://all-noise.co.uk/2011/11/08/rage-against-the-machines-tom-morello-to-join-occupy-london-demo/  

Check out this awesome video from occupy Vancouver

The Nightwatchman took NYCC's Comic Con stage by storm with a rocking performance of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" in support of his new comic, Orchid, available now from Dark Horse!

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morello-at-occupy-wall-street-take-it-easy-but-take-it-20111013

An acoustic performance will take place at Liberty Plaza/Zuccotti Park tomorrow at 12 noon.

Check out this video from Occupy LA to get a glimpse of what to expect.

Tom will be appearing on Tavis Smiley TONIGHT. Check your local listings for more information.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time-19691231/tom-morello-19691231

New York Comic Con — the spectacle begins. Playing in support of ORCHID, his debut comic for Dark Horse, The Nightwatchman and The Freedom Fighter Orchestra will appear for a set at the IGN theater in the Javits Center. Check out the rest of the NYCC's article on Tom Morello's upcoming performance for more info on tickets and show times!

Check out some videos of Tom performing “Black Spartacus”, “Save the Hammer for the Man”, “Branding Iron”, “Ghost of Tom Joad” and “World Wide Rebel Songs” from his new album World Wide Rebel Songs at ExploreMusic.

http://exploremusic.com/video/tom-morello-at-exploremusic/

Download your free 8-page preview of "Orchid #1" via iTunes' Dark Horse Comics app or the Dark Horse digital store!

Pick up a copy of this October's Rolling Stone for a great feature on Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman!

The album can be downloaded on Amazon for $3.99 TODAY ONLY

CHECK IT OUT HERE

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Check it out here!!!

Check out the player below to watch all 3 clips!

More Videos Here

October 25, 2011 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA - TICKETS

October 21, 2011 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA - TICKETS

Great reviews of "World Wide Rebel Songs" are already pouring in from all over! See what critics are saying here:

USA Today: CD Review

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/story/2011-08-29/Listen-Up-Tom-Morello-David-Guetta-more/50181164/1

Rolling Stone: CD Review

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/world-wide-rebel-songs-20110830

Los Angeles Times: CD Review

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/08/album-review-the-nightwatchmans-world-wide-rebel-songs.html

ABC News Radio: Feature

http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2011/9/1/tom-morello-talks-about-world-wide-rebel-songs.html

Arizona Republic: Wash Post Feature Reprint

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2011/09/01/20110901tom-morello-interview.html

Cleveland Scene: Feature

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/union-jacked/Content?oid=2719917

Capital Times (Madison): Feature

http://host.madison.com/article_154c4bde-2a13-523a-9521-79def8728027.html

Illinois Entertainer: Cover Story

http://illinoisentertainer.com/2011/08/cover-story-tom-morello/

Capital Times: Feature with John Nichols

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/article_f1c9f665-8f6e-5204-8a0d-757efa95d60b.html

Toronto Sun: Feature

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/31/morello-electric-on-rebel-songs

AOL Spinner: Justice Tour/Album/Video/Comic Book News

http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/31/tom-morello-world-wide-rebel-songs/

Paste Magazine: CD Review

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/08/the-nightwatchman-worldwide-rebel-songs.html

Buffalo News: CD Review

http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/music/disc-reviews/article534651.ece

Cleveland Scene: CD Review

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/cd-review-tom-morello-the-nightwatchman/Content?oid=2719923

Calgary Herald: CD Review

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/hear+this/5326369/story.html

Arizona Republic: CD Review

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2011/08/29/20110829cd-releases-red-hot-chili-peppers-lil-wayne-lenny-kravitz.html?page=2

Portland Phoenix: CD Review

http://portland.thephoenix.com/music/125945-nightwatchman-world-wide-rebel-songs/

Aquarian Weekly: Feature

http://www.theaquarian.com/2011/09/01/interview-with-tom-morello-the-nightwatchman-%E2%80%A6and-redemption-for-all/

Consequence of Sound: CD Review

http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/08/album-review-the-nightwatchman-world-wide-rebel-songs/

Check out some videos of Tom performing “Black Spartacus”, “Save the Hammer for the Man”, “Branding Iron”, “Ghost of Tom Joad” and “World Wide Rebel Songs” from his new album World Wide Rebel Songs.

http://exploremusic.com/video/tom-morello-at-exploremusic/

Check out Tom's new video!

From 8/25-8/31 get the ‘Dear New Orleans’ benefit album for only $6 in observance of the 6th anniversary of Katrina: www.dearno.la. Tom Morello is honored to lend his voice in support of Dear New Orleans, an easy and effective way to support NOLA & the Gulf on the 6th anniversary. Proceeds from the compilation benefit Gulf Restoration Network (http://healthygulf.org/) and Sweet Home New Orleans (www.sweethomeneworleans.org). More info here.

Tom Morello & Tim McIlrath of Rise Against have joined forces for The Justice Tour. The tour will bring them to Madison, WI, Cleveland, OH and Flint, MI this September with all profits benefiting The Nation Institute. This month, Morello released the EP Union Town, with all profits benefiting the America Votes Labor Unity Fund via SaveWorkers.org. The release consists of pro-union songs and was inspired by Morello’s performance in Madison, WI in February of this year in protest to an anti-union bill put forward by Governor Scott Walker. Tom Morello stated, "This year’s Justice Tour aims to support independent media which is battling the mountain of disinformation and propaganda foisted on the public by right wing media barons. We will also return to the union battlegrounds of the Midwest to help steel the backbone of workers under siege." Tim McIlrath added, “Playing with Tom on the steps of the Capitol building in Madison last February was an inspiring experience. I cant wait to join him again for such an important cause. Media has become a battleground, and we're out to even the odds.”

A nonprofit media center, The Nation Institute was established to extend the reach of progressive ideas and strengthen the independent press in the United States. It's dynamic range of programs include a bestselling book publishing imprint, Nation Books; an award-winning Investigative Fund, which supports groundbreaking investigative journalism; the widely read and syndicated website TomDispatch; the internship program at The Nation magazine; and Journalism Fellowships that fund up to 15 high-profile, convention challenging reporters every year. Work produced by The Nation Institute has sparked Congressional hearings, new legislation, FBI investigations and the resignation of government officials, has changed the debate and has a regular impact on the most urgent social and political issues of our day. Much more on the Institute's work can be found at www.nationinstitute.org.

Three new dates supporting The Justice Tour 2011 have been added to the Tour page.

September 5, 2011 - The Barrymore Theatre - Madison, WI - TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 3 at noon

September 6, 2011 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH - TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 5 at noon

September 7, 2011 - The Machine Shop - Flint, MI - TICKETS
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 3 at noon

Tom Morello unveiled his debut graphic novel, Orchid, at San Diego Comic Con last night. From Dark Horse Comics, Orchid is an epic fantasy story set in a dystopian future infused with Morello’s worldview and the politics of street terrorism. Part Suicide Girl, part Joan of Arc - Orchid is the tale of a 16-year-old street prostitute who learns that she is more than the role society has imposed upon her. When the seas rose, genetic codes were smashed. Human settlements are now ringed by a dense wilderness from which ferocious new animal species prey on the helpless. The high ground belongs to the rich and powerful that overlook swampland shantytowns from their fortress-like cities. Iron-fisted rule ensures order and allows the wealthy to harvest the poor as slaves. Orchid features a variant cover by the well-known and influential street artist Shepard Fairey, with interior art by Scott Hepburn (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic). Orchid will be released over the course of twelve issues with the first issue on sale October 12th, 2011. Morello has written a score for the series which will serve as a soundtrack to the story. Each song will be distributed as a free, downloadable track available with the purchase of each issue.

Read the article

http://janesaddiction.com/news/35491

Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman answers your questions for this week's "Nightwatchman Speaks." Tom discusses his favorite albums of all time, his guitars and more.

Tom Morello is set to release the solo album, World Wide Rebel Songs, on August 30^th via New West Records. The 12-track set is the anticipated follow up to the 2008 The Nightwatchman album The Fabled City and was produced by Morello. The first single, “Save The Hammer For The Man” was co-written with Ben Harper and features Harper on vocals and guitar. While Morello’s solo albums as The Nightwatchman have primarily been acoustic affairs, World Wide Rebel Songs, features a full electric band, “The Freedom Fighter Orchestra” (comprised of Dave Gibbs on bass, Carl Restivo on guitar and piano, Chris Joyner on keyboard, and Eric Gardner on drums). World Wide Rebel Songs is the 14^th studio album of Tom Morello’s influential career.

When describing World Wide Rebel Songs, Morello stated, "Troubled times call out for troubled songs. World Wide Rebel Songs is an album of rousing hopelessness and this time The Nightwatchman has brought along his electric guitar to tip the scales. I wanted to capture a vibe midway between Johnny Cash and Che Guevera, murder ballads and Molotov anthems."

World Wide Rebel Songs will be released on the heels of Morello’s new benefit EP, Union Town. Union Town will be released on July 19^th on CD and Vinyl and is available digitally now. All profits from Union Town will benefit The America Votes Labor Unity Fund via SaveWorkers.org. The studio recording consists of 8 pro-union songs featuring three Morello originals, as well as the Woody Guthrie classic, “This Land Is Your Land” (including the more radical, often censored verses). On February 21^st of this year, Morello performed at the Capitol Square in Madison, WI in protest to an anti-union bill put forward by Governor Scott Walker. A recording of the track “Union Song” was captured at this performance and is included on Union Town.

World Wide Rebel Songs Track Listing

1. Black Spartacus Heart Attack Machine
2. The Dogs of Tijuana
3. It Begins Tonight
4. Save The Hammer For The Man featuring Ben Harper
5. The Fifth Horseman Of The Apocalypse
6. Speak and Make Lightning
7. Facing Mount Kenya
8. The Whirlwind
9. Stray Bullets
10. Branding Iron
11. World Wide Rebel Songs
12. God Help Us All

The first installment of the series where Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman answers your questions. Submit your own questions at: http://tommorello.fanbridge.com/fan_questions

Few people inspire me in such a profound way as my good friend, The Nightwatchman - the alter ego of guitar hero, Tom Morello. That's not because he's a big rock star or even that he does rip that guitar apart every time he picks one up, but because he speaks his mind exactly, never minding if it rankles the G.P. (general population) or has fans that want him to shut up about social justice and just shred. In a time when so much music and its attendant celebrity is up its own ass, pointless, platform-wasting, and so empty it echoes ... He's here to make a difference.

I've stood beside him many times in complete solidarity, and can tell you from experience that the guy is beyond 100% authentic, in both talent and conviction. His brand new EP, Union Town, (available now here) illustrates that absolute fact better than anything he's done yet, especially as ALL proceeds will go toward the fight for the rights of Union workers across the country. ALL proceeds.

The album of Pro-Union, Pro-Labor, Pro-Working Class songs was recorded in four days right after Tom returned from the massive rallies and Capitol sit-ins in opposition to Governor Scott Walker's (BOO! HISS!) attack on worker's rights in Madison, Wisconsin this past February. He and his Freedom Fighter Orchestra (Wayne Kramer, Dave Gibbs, Carl Restivo, Chris Joyner and Anne Preven) play the 8 songs of originals and classics with such gusto, you can almost feel the chill of the Wisconsin winter - indeed, I had chills many times during listening to these seriously important tunes.

None more so than the live version of The Nightwatchman's own Union anthem (from his first album,One Man Revolution), "Union Song" that ends the EP. It starts with Tom belting out a speech to rile up the 100,000 people he's playing to in Madison, and you can hear the crowd starting to believe that they really can make a difference ... that we can ALL make a difference, when we stand UP, and stand STRONG - Together. That one is book-ended on the front side by "Union Town" which Tom wrote the day he returned to L.A. from Madison, as inspired as he'd ever been. The recorded version is a true rabble-rouser, complete with the hoped-for and received Morello-ian guitar solo that sears through all the madness as much as the lyrics do.

"Solidarity Forever" is sung to the tune of, appropriately, "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic" ...Solidarity Forever, for the Union makes us strong! Amen to that. The EP has its acoustic ballad moments in "Which Side Are You On?" (written in 1931 by a Kentucky coal miner's 12 year old daughter, Florence Reece) and even a finger-snapping jazzy turn in the Merle Travis classic, "16 Tons". I was listening along to the opening notes to "Wall Against The Wind" when I thought, "This sounds like a Nightwatchman song" - which it is. Meaning, he's been around doing this for long enough now that I recognized the sound as distinctly his, without question. Cool. "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night" is slow and serious, and Tom made up the music to go with the lyrics that he'd read in a Joe Hill biography. They recorded it with the lights down way low, to capture the haunting quality of the ghost-y lyrics. They succeeded.

Three generations of Morello's (and friends) sing along to the now-signature closer of a Nightwatchman show, Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" - always with censored versions intact, and always a reminder of what our great country is SUPPOSED to be. And, sadly, how far we've been led astray from those ideals.

That is true, but instead of feeling unbearably daunted, these songs and ideas UPLIFT and EMPOWER. As Tom says, they are meant to show how music is another form of guerilla warfare. It's a fact. It gets people inspired to get off the sidelines and get involved, to do SOMETHING. To take back what's rightfully theirs ... life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, respect, equality, and JUSTICE. When you get a giant crowd singing along a chorus of truth, you can feel the change a-coming. And that change will not happen in boardrooms or halls of Congress ... it will happen in the streets of this land, that was made for you and me.

Get Union Town right now, to support your brothers and sisters out there fighting the good fight, and let them know that they're not alone in this, or any, struggle.

Stand UP! Stand STRONG!

*And keep your ears perked for The Nightwatchman's new full length album World Wide Rebel Songs - this Summer!

Below is a partial list of the Labor Union Blogs, Posts & Tweets about
The Nightwatchman's new free song and video "UNION TOWN".
The full length UNION TOWN EP will be released digitally
May 17th with all proceeds going towards pro-union struggles.

Blogs: Great Plains Labor District Council

AFL-CIO main page feature (also mentioned on twitter)

AFSCME (also mentioned on facebook page)

AFSCME's Stand For Public Service

AFSCME's Battleground Bulletin

Teamster Magazine

Teamster Nation blog

Teamsters Locals 355, 570, 992 (reprinted same blurb)

Teamsters Local 396

Teamsters Local 311(posted on main page)

Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Local 104

Change to Win (also mentioned on twitter)

Utility Workers Union of America (also mentioned on "Senior National Representative,
UWUA. Jim Lewis's" twitter)

Union Label Service Trades Department

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 751
(posted on main page)

National Education Association (mentioned on fb page and as "Featured Video" on
educationvotes.nea.org website. Also on twitter-this was retweeted by @RochesterEA,
@oregoneducation and @NEAToday):

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes Local 477
(reposted Politico article as a PDF on their website)

New York State United Teachers

Unions.org

Twitter:

Tom Morello postretweeted by @AFSCME, @ohioaflcio

@LondonIWW

@CSEA_Now (California School Employees Association)

@CSEA_Unit_7400

@SEIU721 (Service Employees International Union Local 721)

@transportworker (Transport Worker's Union)

@BoiseCLC (Boise Central Trades and Labor Council)

@MNAFLCIO (Minnesota AFL-CIO)

@IBEW569 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569)

@LALabor (Los Angeles County Federation of Labor)

@SheetMetal5 (Sheet Metal Local 5)

@PeoplesWorld (People's World)

@BayLakesUnited (Bay Lakes United Educators)

@Florida_AFL_CIO (Florida AFL-CIO)

@ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation)

Nonunion blogs/twitter:

Blogging Blue (also mentioned on twitter)

Justice Through Music (also mentioned on twitter)

@Progress2day America United

@araw (American Rights at Work)

@ThankUnions Thank Unions

@PCNLabor Progressive Congress Labor

@rubberstamprosk Rubber Stamp Roskam

Visit SaveWorkers.org to join the fight and download "Union Town" for free.
Video by Revolution Messaging. Directed and edited by Robin Bell. Tom Morello filmed by Sean Ricigliano Wisconsin convergence footage by Matt Wisniewski. LA Unity Rally footage by Chris Kissinger.

FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE TITLE TRACK "UNION TOWN" AVAILABLE NOW AT SAVEWORKERS.ORG

Tom is set to release Union Town via New West Records digitally on May 17th with a physical CD and Vinyl release to follow on July 19th. All profits from Union Town will benefit The America Votes Labor Unity Fund via SaveWorkers.org. The studio recording consists of 8 pro-union songs featuring three Tom Morello originals, as well as the Woody Guthrie classic “This Land Is Your Land” (including the more radical, often censored verses). On February 21st of this year, Tom Morello performed at the Capitol Square in Madison, WI in protest to an anti-union bill put forward by Governor Scott Walker. To read Morello’s editorial about his experience, “Frostbite and Freedom: Tom Morello on the Battle of Madison,” please visit RollingStone.com. The title track from the Union Town EP (full track listing below) is available now at SaveWorkers.org. On the heels of Union Town, Tom Morello, as The Nightwatchman, will release his third full length solo album, World Wide Rebel Songs, late Summer via New West Records.

Morello stated, "Performing in Madison, Wisconsin and seeing 100,000 people in the streets demanding justice inspired me to record an album of union fighting songs. I've been a proud union man for 22 years and my mom was a union public high school teacher, so for me this fight is very personal. Unions are a crucial counterweight to the raw corporate greed that torpedoed our economy, threatens our environment and wants to strip away decades of social progress. From Cairo to Madison, workers are pushing back and tyrants are falling. Here's a soundtrack for our fight."

The America Votes Labor Unity Fund supports the unified efforts of a broad coalition of national labor organizations to defend workers and their unions against state legislation, ballot measures and executive orders that will undermine or destroy their rights. The America Votes Labor Unity Fund accepts donations from labor organizations and individuals who donate on their own behalf. Please visit www.saveworkers.org for more details and to make a donation.

Tom Morello : The Nightwatchman Union Town Track Listing:
1. Union Town
2. Solidarity Forever
3. Which Side Are You On?
4. A Wall Against The Wind
5. 16 Tons
6. This Land Is Your Land
7. I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night
8. Union Song (Live - Capitol Square, Madison, Wisconsin Feb. 21st, 2011)

Thank you for helping to Pressure Arizona to Stop the Hate! The Boycott is having a stronger impact.
Let's Step up the Pressure and push to Repeal SB107.

In a stunning turn of events last Thursday Arizona State Senate President Russell Pearce, our favorite Nazi symphatizer, was handed a rare defeat. Ten (10) Arizona Republican Sentaors voted down five (5) immigrant hater bills, including Pearce favorite birthright citizenship repeal (SB 1308-09). Why? Because big business told them to do so. Big business in Arizona has finally seen the light...the light that says boycotts hurt. On March 14th in a letter signed by 60 state business leaders Russell Pearce was urged halt all immigrant hater bills and urging the legislature to “redirect its energy by joining us in pressing the federal government for meaningful immigration reform.” The letter goes on,

“boycotts were called against our state’s business community, adversely impacting our already-struggling economy and costing us jobs. Arizona-based businesses saw contracts canceled or were turned away form bidding, Sales outside of the state declined...It is an undeniable fact that each of our companies and our employees were impacted by the boycotts and the coincident negative image.”

This letter was signed by such big wigs as Cox Communication, Ernest & Young, Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ, Intel, US Airways, The Arizona Republic, Hensley Beverage Co. and was echoed by close to 30 Arizona Chambers of Commerce. Pearce has previously threatened to take out any Republicans that stray from the path of hatred.

Pearce could also take these matter to the ballot. But Pearce perhaps has bigger worries than passing his hater bills since a second group has filed paperwork to begin a recall petition on him.

Acrosst he country States and Counties are seeing the futility of passing similar hater bills. SB1070 copycat bills have now been beaten or dissappeared in Colorado and Freemont, Nebraska. However, with more and more cities and states still considering anti-immgirant bills it is important to understand the power of the wallet book. We must not rest until SB 1070 is repealled.

Now let's repeal SB1070. Click here to email the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and tell them to push to repeal SB1070 to end the Arizona Boycott. Email info@azchamber.com.

Meanwhile, congratulations to those who this small but significant victory belongs, the impressive fight by Arizona based grass roots groups like PUENTE, Derechos Humanos, The Capital 9, the Unniversalist Unitarian Church, Somos America and the thousands from their movements. By maintaining the pressure and attention, cities, organizations, frats, musicians and individual tourists stayed away from Arizona. Great job!

**Donate $25 and receive a Sound Strike T-Shirt. Help fund legal defense, outreach and organizing in Arizona. Still available from historic July 2010 Rage Against the Machine and Bright Eyes benefit show to combat hatred in Arizona. To purchase shirt click here: http://thesoundstrike.info/donate**

**Check out Immortal Technique of The Sound Strike at Immigration Panel at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music and Film Festival. Click to Read/Listen.**

Tom is featured in the official video for "Goodbye" which is from the Imperfect Remixes EP by Serj Tankian available now on iTunes. Watch it now.

There has been some great press and reaction to the Union Rights Concert Rally yesterday in Madison, Wisconsin. Here are some highlights, check them out.

The Daily- Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine galvanizes Wisconsin protesters

Huffington Post- Rage Against The Machine Guitarist Tom Morello Coming to Wisconsin: 'Madison is the Next Cairo'

Rolling Stone- Tom Morello Rages Against Anti-Union Bill at Wisconsin Rally

Death and Taxes Mag- Tom Morello Joins Wisconsin Protesters: Where Are the Other Musicians?

RALLY FOR WISCONSIN!

Special Acoustic Performances by

-Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman, Rage Against the Machine

-Wayne Kramer (The MC5)

-The Street Dogs (featuring Mike McColgan fmr lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys)

This Monday 2/21/11
Noon and 5pm Rallies!
Capitol Square
Madison, WI
More info text WI to 225568

All eyes are on Madison, Wisconsin as thousands rally day after day against the radical policies Gov. Scott Walker is proposing against teachers, nurses, and all public service workers to silence the voice of workers and their unions. Come rock with students, teachers, community members, religious leaders, football players and many others for the middle class and leaders who will respect the freedom of working people to collectively call for a better life!

Come out TONIGHT (2/10) to the Bottom of the Hill to see The Nightwatchman with special guest Boots Riley!

This show is a benefit Show to support the efforts of Bay Area activist/teacher Sarah Shourd to help free her fiance Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fattal who have been unjustly detained in Iranian prison for nearly a year and a half. After 410 days of solitary confinement Sarah was released last Sept.14th, without Shane and Josh. She is now fighting alongside countless others in the campaign to Free Shane and Josh. For more information please visit: freethehikers.org or freeourfriends.eu.

MC'd by James Tracy and freed prisoner Sarah Shourd, Poetry from Ananda Esteva

Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 9410

Doors at 7:30, Show at 8:30. $12-18 Sliding Scale / 21+

8:30 - 9:15: Ryan Harvey and Lia Rose (shared set)

9:30 - 10:00: Jason Webley

10:15 - 11:00: Jolie Holland

11:15 - about midnight or so: The Nightwatchman w/Boots Riley

Two Amnesty International staff members have been detained by the Police in Cairo. The organization will be holding a live chat on Facebook tomorrow with their Country Specialist for Egypt. It's a great opportunity to ask questions - if you would like to be a part or simply read the questions and answers - you can just go to the Amnesty International Facebook page tomorrow at 1PM EST.

See full press release below...

Amnesty International Press Release
For Immediate Release
Thursday, February 3, 2011

Amnesty International Calls on Egyptian Vice President to Stop Violence, Saying Lack of Policing is a “Total Abdication of Responsibility”

Organization’s Own Staff Members Are Detained in Crackdown on Activists and Journalists

(London) – With a renewed crackdown on activists and journalists, Amnesty International today called on Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman to stop the violence unleashed by pro-government supporters in Cairo and across the country, calling it “a total abdication of responsibility.” Two Amnesty International representatives were detained with other activists after a military police raid on a leading human rights center.

Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International, demanded the immediate release of the Amnesty International representatives, who were detained after the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre was taken over by military police Thursday morning. Their names were withheld by the organization.

“We call for the immediate and safe release of our colleagues who should be able to monitor the human rights situation in Egypt at this crucial time without fear of harassment or detention,” said Shetty.

"The Egyptian authorities must ensure that protesters, journalists and human rights activists are protected,” said Shetty. “The lack of police on the ground responding to the violence is a blatant sign of the complicity of the Egyptian government in the violence, or at best the total abdication of responsibility for law and order at a moment of national crisis”

“Peaceful demonstrations must be allowed, whatever the views expressed, and peaceful demonstrators must be protected, regardless of any political negotiations taking place."

In the United States, the organization sought a meeting with the Egyptian ambassador in Washington and mobilized U.S. activists to call the Egyptian embassy demanding the release of the organization’s staff members.

The organization also called on other states to use their influence to urge the Egyptian authorities to rein in their supporters.

"Vice President Suleiman has been appointed to handle the current crisis. As such he must show true leadership now by responding to the organized violence that we are seeing on the streets," said Shetty.

"He must act if his stated commitment to reform is to have any credibility, at home and abroad.

"At the same time it is incumbent on countries with close ties to Egypt to exert influence on the Egyptian authorities to stop the violence.

"They need to make clear that the failure to protect peaceful demonstrators from violence, arbitrary arrest and other violations will severely damage Egypt's relationship with these countries."

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

# # #

For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org

This ongoing series pairs creative thinkers from a range of disciplines for engaging, provocative discussions on culture, science, and the arts.

TOM MORELLO & SAM DURANT - Hammer Conversations

Jan 12th 2011 - 7pm
UCLA Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: 310.443.7000

The musical reach of Morello is matched only by his political activism. ---Los Angeles Times

Sam Durant’s work interrogates the political and social aspects of art and American life with a rare insight and humor. ---ArtReview

Tom Morello is the Grammy Award-winning guitarist of the rock bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Street Sweeper Social Club, and a solo project, The Nighwatchman. A widely recognized political activist, Morello co-founded Axis of Justice, an organization whose purpose is to bring together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. Sam Durant is a multimedia artist whose work engages a variety of social, political, and cultural issues, while often referencing American history. Durant has exhibited widely in the U.S. and internationally, and teaches art at the California Institute of the Arts.

ALL HAMMER PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE FREE. Tickets are required, and are available at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour prior to start time. Limit one ticket per person on a first come, first served basis. Hammer members receive priority seating, subject to availability. Reservations not accepted, RSVPs not required.

Parking is available under the museum for $3 after 6:00pm

Tom is featured on Robbie Robertson's upcoming release How to Become Clairvoyant. The LP is his first in 13 years and features appearances by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and three songs co-written by Eric Clapton.

"The boys helped me out," Robertson told Rolling Stone. "I think I've written some really good songs, and ... it turned out quite extraordinary." Robertson, 67, released four solo albums between 1987 and 1998, long after the break-up of the Band. Now, almost 50 years after the group's first ramblings with Bob Dylan, Robertson has written This Is Where I Get Off, a song about his last days as the Band's guitarist and principal songwriter. Other tracks explore addiction, 60s idealism and "rock'n'roll's early reputation as the devil's music".

Clapton performs on six tracks, and there are cameos from Steve Winwood, pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, and Morello. Reznor appears on just one song, providing "additional textures", Robertson explained, to an instrumental called Madame X. "It's a really cinematic piece of music. I wanted Trent to contribute something, and he understood exactly what I was talking about and did something completely beautiful and haunting."

One song, When the Night Was Young, is streaming now at 429 Records, with backing vocals from Angela McCluskey. It is mellow, soulful and name-drops Andy Warhol – Pretty Hate Machine, this is not.

How to Become Clairvoyant is due out in April.

Tom Morello is featured on the track "Carry It" being released on Travis Barker's debut solo album, Give The Drummer Some being released next month.

The Blink-182 drummer told his Twitter followers that the record is titled Give The Drummer Some and features a number of collaborations.

Aside from Tom other artists who feature on the LP include Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor as well as rappers B.O.B, Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne.

The album, which has been produced by Barker himself alongside The Neptunes and DJ Khalil, will be released on February 22.

You can check out the article here

Street Sweeper Social Club ... "We're not just a band, we're a Social Club!", exclaimed co-front man Boots Riley several times during the band/Social Club's BLISTERING rock show last night at The Roxy in Los Angeles. Meaning, they're gonna melt your faces off with the heavy tunes, the lyrics are going to be equally molten, but it's not just to sing and play about, it's also to live it, and try to improve social CONDITIONS at the same time.

New Orleans has music-based Social Clubs, and that's what the guys decided to name the band after plain "Street Sweeper" was already taken. It makes total sense. They've all spent time helping out in New Orleans, and their rock really is about in-your-face examinations of what's going on in society today. Boots and guitarist/friend Tom Morello teamed up a couple of years ago, when Tom just handed Boots a tape of music and said, "We're in a new band together. Add lyrics to these jams." and off they went. Their first tour was opening for Jane's Addiction and Nine Inch Nails on the NINJA tour last year, but they had yet to play in 80% of the band member's hometown of Los Angeles (Boots lives in Oakland) - until last night's KROQ sponsored sold-out throw down at The Roxy on Sunset.

The fans were ready for it too. I arrived too late to catch the opening acts (Hollis and The Memorials - who I saw just ending, and featured a shirtless drummer playing backwards at the front of the stage. Hmm.), but it was already pretty frenzied in the small room. Especially as it was clear that the Superfans were out, and many had probably maybe only seen Tom play his Rage riffs from a mile away on a Jumbotron at some festival, but never in a place so small you could see the individual sweat beads pour off his face as he executed said magic.

It felt exciting in there, like that concert build feeling when you hear the bass tuning behind the curtain, a couple drum beats, the stray guitar chord, each met with a rising swell of noise from the crowd. Suddenly old school hip hop on the P.A. turned into the Storm Trooper anthem from Star Wars ... ominous ... heavy ... Oh, MAN - the guys (and the crowd was heavily guy) down front were salivating ... Guitar Hero AND Star Wars all in one space/time continuum ... LIVE?! They were real, real happy, and vocally expressed it. Loudly.


The curtain rose, and SSSC stood there in their matching military coats and FBI style shades, meaning business. Boots said, "Los Angeles! I'm Boots Riley, he's Tom Morello, and we're Street Sweeper Social Club!" and with that they launched into the heavily rocking title track from their new-ish EP, The Ghettoblaster EP. It's hard, it's loud, and the place was slam dancing from the first chord. Even this one old guy, who I promise didn't stop dancing - hard - ever.


Tom has described the SSSC genre as "Revolutionary Party Music", and I don't think there's a better way to describe it. From the sheer poesy spat out by Boots, to the legendary guitar prowess of Tom, and the rock solid backing team of Kid Lighting/Dave Gibbs on bass, Carl Restivo on backing guitar, and Eric Gardner beating down the drums, the fact is there is going to be a party every time it's played, and it's serious enough that it could definitely incite a revolution. All you have to do is observe the fans FEELING it to know that.


"Somewhere In The World It's Midnight" is a party rocker from SSSC's self-titled debut album featuring Boots dancing like he does - inimitably - and Tom doing intricate guitar tuner solo moves, but underneath all that is some dead serious subject matter and a lyrical microscope focused on social injustice that oozes from everywhere.


Like:

Somewhere in the world it's 3 o'clock Time to get out of school and think, Somewhere in the world it's 5pm And quittin' time means it's time to drink, Somewhere in the world it's 8 o'clock Let's get fly, man, and go to the gig, But somewhere in the world it's midnight And the guerrillas just shot two pigs ...


Whoa. From there they went right into their stellar cover of MIA's "Paper Planes", that is clearly a fan favorite. It ruled. Everyone danced along, and had their finger guns in the air shooting away at that part. Then "Scars" ... just as crazy, (as when Tom pulled out his guitar plug and played a solo with it on his hand) and just as lyrically smart and witty.


(But those words were not even close to crystal clear at The Roxy, and Boots' mike even went out a couple of times. The mix is often muddy. The Roxy could just use better sound all around, straight up. C'mon.)


A tip: You need to just put on headphones and go for a run sometime and listen to what Boots has to say, as from his original days as part of The Coup, to his solo spoken word performances, to Ghettoblasting now with Tom, his words are some of the socially wisest and most acidly funny as I've ever heard.

"The Oath" from the first album was up next, and had Tom blowing a referee whistle, and Boots urging Mofo's to FIGHT back ... I pledge to get their foot off my neck, instead, I shall demand my respect, I'll fight even if I won't win ... Again, serious as hell, but packaged in the rock fun that by now had the band stripped down to their SSSC T's, and the crowd surging like it might hurt in there.


The first song I ever heard from Boots and Tom together was in 2008 on The Nightwatchman's Justice Tour, "100 Little Curses". I wrote at the time, after hearing it just the once, that this group was going to kick the collective ass of the people all around the world. Hearing it last night, I believe that to be absolute fact. Tom opened it with an almost classical sounding sickly fancy guitar intro, that had fists in the air even before Boots lit up the chorus of,

"All my people in the place put your fists in the air, All my down mutherfuckas get up outta your chairs, All my real down peoples we got love for you here, 'cept for that muthafuckas right there, get 'em!"


Man, I love that tune. So did the entire place. All Tom has to do at the completion of one of his solos is raise his arm, and every arm in the room goes up in support. And he earns it. The sweat was pouring off his head and down his nose as he made his guitar speak just as eloquently as the rhymes put together by Boots. It's a truly incredible experience every time, and it's evident on his fans' faces that they are experiencing true awe. BadASS.


"Fight! Smash! Win!" and "Clap For The Killers" ("Double up for them gangsters, clap clap"!) was the next one-two punch. I swear I saw some NEW Boots dance moves, even as he struggled a moment with his mike inexplicably cutting out. These guys just BRING IT, every time. And you can see that they also MEAN it. Boots said then that nearly every show, someone says they really like the band, but the guitar player tries too hard to sound like Tom Morello. (Really, I've heard this a few times myself, hilariously.) To which Boots replies every time, "Our guitar player IS motherfucking Tom Morello!" ... and the house screamed in honor of that fact. To which Tom responded with his "Guitar Fury Remix" version of their song, "Promenade".


"Guitar Fury" is no hyperbole. This "Squaredance rap" song doesn't mince any words, and you really need to listen to them all, until they proudly wind up with, "My skin is black, my star is red!" But the real show stopper of this song is Tom's, indeed, FURY. His solo goes all over the place in gigantic Rage-y riffs, which last night wound up with the classic solo with his teeth that brought out camera phones, (and hankies for some, to weep with joy at what they just witnessed) and hoarse yells for more.


And they got one more, the conspiratorial, "Nobody Moves 'Til We Say Go", that builds from a whisper at one point, to the heaviest music mayhem riot imaginable. Or so we thought.

That was the last song of the regular set, but after they left and came right back, Tom picked up the mike and told the crowd how happy they were to be playing their first show in L.A. proper, for a hometown audience of whom Tom requested, "For this last song, I want to see everyone go absolutely apeshit from beginning to end!" Yeah, no problem there. Because the last song was their cover of LL Cool J's ever-dope, "Mama Said Knock You Out".

In this case, "Apeshit" meant that a full mosh pit swirled around the little Roxy floor in aggressive fashion, while Boots screamed "Oakland! L.A.!" over and over. Tom grabbed back the mike and just before his astounding feedback finale solo, said, "Everyone from my 87 year old Mother (Mary, who STOOD and rocked at the rail above the floor for the entire set!) to this Indie Rock kid at his first show down front, I want to see you all JUMP! ELEVATE!!!"


And ELEVATE is exactly what we all did in there last night. Not just physically off of our feet, which certainly happened, to a person. But much more importantly, we elevated in heart, mind, consciousness, and spirit. That's what great music, raw wisdom, eye-opening commentary, camaraderie with friends and strangers alike, and yeah, even some good mosh bruises reminding you that you LIVED hard last night, will do for you. Every time.

Street Sweeper Social Club is a club that's basic tenets are to:

1) Feed the poor.
2) Fight the power. And ...
3) Rock the fuck out!

Now that is a club everyone should want to be a part of. And as evidenced by the beaming faces streaming out of The Roxy last night, not just be a part of, but really know what it means to be elevated ... right off your feet.

Get involved. Get E-volved!

- Carol Gronner


*Fresh photos by PaulGronner.com

http://www.hollywood-arts.org/dreamawards.php

This Veteran's Day take some time to look at the veterans who are doing activist work against war, and to help out their fellow veterans.

Veterans For Peace

Street Sweeper Social Club w/ The Memorials (Thomas Pridgen from The Mars Volta) and Hollis!
Monday, November 8th @ The Roxy - Los Angeles, CA
Tickets

A tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio on October 16, 2010 at 11PM on VH1 channel featuring Tom.

THE TIES THAT BIND – THE NEXT GENERATION
TO FEATURE TOM MORELLO, PETE YORN, JAY WEINBERG

PREMIERE EPISODE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13, 2010
AT 4:00PM (EASTERN TIME)

ADDITIONAL RE-BROADCASTS ON
OCTOBER 14 AT 12AM & 8AM (ET), OCTOBER 20 AT 4PM (ET),
OCTOBER 21 AT 12AM & 8AM (ET)

SIRIUS/XM Radio presents The Ties That Bind – The Next Generation, an exciting new installment of the Bruce Springsteen Community Conference on the highly acclaimed, E-Street Radio channel. On this extraordinary show, co-moderators Ben Lazar and John Franck are joined by Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Street Sweeper Social Club, The Nightwatchman), Pete Yorn and Jay Weinberg.
The round-table discussion explores the influence of Springsteen’s music and message on a new generation of musicians. Each artist describes, in-depth, their discovery of Bruce's music and how it has impacted their lives and art, as well as sharing often hilarious anecdotes about meeting and playing with Springsteen that will have listeners have a deeper understanding of how Springsteen works and why he is so beloved by both musicians and fans.
Two preview clips are now available. To listen to Clip #1, please click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgMR3Pplhp4

To listen to clip #2 (Featuring Tom Morello), click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh8QMZpqCXE
Premiere Episode: Wednesday October 13 at 4:00pm pm (Eastern Time)

Re-Broadcasts: Thursday October 14 at 12am & 8am (ET)
Wednesday October 20 at 4pm (ET)
Thursday October 21 at 12am & 8am (ET)
Where: E-Street Radio on SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio (Channel 10)



ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
BEN LAZARFormer A&R representative for Island Def-Jam, music writer, producer, manager and founder of A Deeper Shade Of Soul, a music blog focusing on Rock, Soul and today's current music.
JOHN FRANCK
Currently, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Entertainment One Music in New York and video commissioner with over 15 years of music business experience and previous gigs at Elektra and Epic Records.

TOM MORELLO
A Grammy Award winner and founding member of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave. Tom also channels his folk voice on his solo recordings as the Nightwatchman. His current project Street Sweeper Social Club recently completed a tour on Rock The Bells.

Morello is considered by many to be one of the most informed and influential guitar players of the past 20 years.

Morello is also an activist and co-founded Axis Of Justice, a political group that has worked for such causes as immigrant rights and death-penalty abolition.
PETE YORN
A singer/song-writer who released his 2001 his Gold Certified debut, Music For The Morning on Columbia Records spawning the hit, “Life On A Chain”.
His albums have featured a string of high profile collaborations with the likes of Peter Buck from R.E.M., Dave Grohl, and Martie Maguire & Natalie Maines from The Dixie Chicks among others. Pete has toured with Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters and many more.

Pete has released 5 studio albums to date, and collaborated with Scarlett Johansen on an album entitled Break Up.

Yorn recently released a new self-titled studio album.

JAY WEINBERG
Son of E-Street Band drummer, Max Weinberg and an accomplished drummer in his own right, Jay filled in for Max on many stops on Bruce Springsteen’s Working On A Dream tour. Jay learned over 200 songs for the tour and received raves from both fans and critics. Raised on a mixture of hardcore, emo and metal, Jay’s energetic kinetic playing energized the E-Street band’s sound, propelling it to new heights.

Jay also completed work on Empire, a new studio album from New York Hardcore legends, Madball but recently left the group due to creative differences.

Let the bidding begin!

The online portion of the PATHPorts Across America silent auction is now open. Now you can bid in advance on exclusive items like signed guitars from Maroon 5 and Neil Young, or luxurious vacation packages in Las Vegas, Mexico and France.

BID ONLINE TODAY!

Proceeds go to People Assisting The Homeless (PATH) and help people experiencing homelessness get off the streets and transform their lives. Even if you can't attend the event in person, don't miss out on these exciting items. The online auction will run from September 16, 2010. Items will be available for further bidding at the live event on October 2nd, 2010.

Purchase tickets to attend PATHPorts Across America online.

Brief clip of Tom on a recent visit to Democracy Now!

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/9/13/kenyan_father_white_american_mother_from

Full interview with Tom and Boots to air later this week!

Rolling Stone caught Tom "In the Studio" during his recent recording session for the new Nightwatchman album. For a sneak peek into his recording sesh download the article here.

Tom is featured on the new album Dear New Orleans, a benefit compilation that honors New Orleans and the 5^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Profits will benefit New Orleans-based charities and nonprofits. Dear New Orleans is a touching commemoration with over 30 artists and will be released on August 24^th.

Street Sweeper Social Club will perform live on ROCKLINE with host Bob Coburn on Monday 8/16 at 8:30/11:30 PT/ET. You can call in and speak with Tom and Boots at 1-800-344-ROCK. For more info visit www.rocklineradio.com.

Street Sweeper Social Club's new EP "The Ghetto Blaster EP" is available now!

Get your copy here!

Check out a review of the EP in USA Today!

Axis of Justice Report from Gold VE on Vimeo.