Volume aaa, Number 7 November 1, 2002 f

Bluegrass-roots level politics
MAIA-CHRISTINA LEE
ORIENT STAFF

The bluegrass band called the Old Crow Medicine Show performs in Morrell Lounge. The band was followed by Hannah Pingree during an event entitled "Rock the Vote" encouraging students to vote. (Karsten Moran, Bowdoin Orient)

With a name that sounds more like a Disney World pavilion than a band, the Old Crow Medicine Show is playing the kind of politically active music you rarely find in the Magic Kingdom. Their foot stomping bluegrass tunes serve as a backdrop for their liberal political message, a message they have been delivering to various venues around the country.

On Sunday night they stopped here at Bowdoin for an evening of Appalachian string music and Memphis blues. The event was hosted by the Bowdoin Women's Association, College Democrats, and V-Day. Along with representatives from Chellie Pingree's campaign, those organizing the event hoped to "rock the vote."

Though the event could not claim to be non-partisan, its motivation was to encourage students to vote no matter who they choose to vote for. With elections coming up next week, increasing voter turn-out has been an important issue for faculty, students, and student organizations.

"With all that's going on in the world right now it's important for people who care about change to get out and vote," said Barbara Condliffe '04. Representing the Bowdoin Women's Association, Condliffe was one of many students who helped to organize the event on Sunday.

The Old Crow Medicine Show's performance at Bowdoin was not the first time that the band has tried to encourage voter turn-out. During Al Gore's campaign for president, The Old Crow Medicine Show performed at a busy intersection in Virginia, supporting Gore by holding signs and spreading a liberal message with their lyrics. The band was hired by Gore's field staff, a team of individuals who specialize in campaigning at the grass roots level. Throughout the country, they hired various bands to perform on the side of the road, at intersections, and along busy commuter routes.

The Old Crow Medicine Show teamed up with Chellie Pingree earlier this year after Ketch Secor, the band's lead singer, contacted Cecily Pingree, the candidate's daughter. The two had known each other for awhile but it was only after a free concert on the island of Vinal Haven that Pingree knew the band would be perfect for the campaign. "They're very attached to the environment of Maine," said Cecily Pingree. "They were very exited about traveling the state in support of the campaign."

So far the Old Crow Medicine Show has performed at the College of the Atlantic, the University of Southern Maine, and Bates, in addition to Morrell Lounge where they played their toe-tapping tunes on Sunday night. With a team of five musicians playing everything from the harmonica to an instrument called the doghouse bass, the band members are no strangers to traveling. They have performed up and down the East Coast and have opened for Dolly Parton, among others.

On Sunday, the Old Crow Medicine Show opened for Chellie Pingree's daughter Hannah Pingree, who is currently running for Maine Senate. Pingree spoke briefly in front of a crowd of students and Brunswick residents after the band performed.

Aside from watching Pingree and the band, students who attended "Rock the Vote" wandered between tables with information about V-Day, the Vagina Monologues, Chellie Pingree's campaign, and the Bowdoin Women's Association. Come Election Day, that information may come in handy at the voting booth.