Breaking the Silence

Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States, died today at the age of 87, and the nation and world will miss his presence.

His contributions to our society, however, will live on forever. (Read the Associated Press obit here.) Recently, the History Channel aired the much-anticipated and  thoroughly stirring “The People Speak”—a visually and audibly compelling 101 course in democracy and American history based on Zinn’s important work. So we present in his honor this performance from the aforementioned documentary, by an artist much admired by The Madness of Art, that in many ways sums up the spirit of the man who used his art to seek and deliver truth. Read more…

From Dave Matthews and Neil Young to Jay-Z and U2, from Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay to Wyclef Jean, musicians of all stripes and styles played music of hope on a multi-network telethon to raise money to help all those suffering in Haiti in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.

Once again, I’m struck by the sheer potency of music, galvanizing the global community to offer financial support to a nation of people that desperately need it. While many of the big-name stars gave moving performances, the real example of the transcendent power of music came during a report from Haiti. Amid the rubble, groups of Haitians continue gathering to summon positive vibes and spread hope through the sounds of salvaged instruments, strained-yet-optimistic voices and hands clapping in unison.

Whether you watched or not, whether you donated already or not, simply buying some good music right now will have an impact. iTunes is now offering an album of the live performances from Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief for $7.99 (a video of the complete broadcast will be available for $2.99), and proceeds will support several vital organizations involved in the relief efforts: Partners In Health, American Red Cross, UNICEF, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Yéle Haiti, and Oxfam.

Check out some of the performances from the benefit concert after the jump. Read more…

Next week, as highlighted in a previous post, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s follow-up to Once—the indie musical that became 2007’s surprise hit (both the film and its soundtrack)—will finally be released after a fair amount of buzz and anticipation.

Fans, and there are many now following these once-obscure musicians turned Oscar winners, don’t have to wait until October 27 to hear the dozen tracks that comprise the duo’s new album, Strict Joy. NPR Music—arguably the best, all-encompassing music site on the Web, featuring live concerts, studio sessions, interviews, profiles, and more—is now offering an “Exclusive First Listen” of the entire album by The Swell Season (the duo’s post-Once moniker) until its official release. Read more…

Rob Gibson, executive and artistic director of the Savannah Music Festival, announced earlier this evening the lineup for the 2010 edition of the two-week, multi-venue musical celebration in March, and it’s arguably the most impressive, and diverse, roster of artists yet in the festival’s eight years.

After attending my first Savannah Music Festival last year—five concerts in about ten days (mostly of the classical music variety) that surpassed even my exceedingly high expectations—I didn’t think it could get much better. Until tonight’s lineup announcement, which will likely result in a severely depleted bank account by tomorrow afternoon (tickets go on sale Friday morning). But, as the 2009 experience demonstrated, it’s worth every penny. Read more…

Music is, of course, one of the great forms of artistic expression. Music also influences, to some degree, the creation of all kinds of other art, inspiring artists across a variety of disciplines, including writers, painter, filmmakers, and other creative souls.

With that in mind, The Madness of Art introduces a new feature: “Listen Up!” Located in the right sidebar, between “Exhibit A” and “Hot Topics,” “Listen Up!” will feature a new song each week, so be sure to check back regularly to check out the latest musical selection. To browse the archive and hear previous picks, click on the link below the player. There is no rigid criteria to guide the selection of songs—just great music, new and old, that hopefully inspires a bit of creativity.

Once was not nearly enough.

I don’t recall when or how I first discovered the music of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, but I do remember falling quickly for their sound well in advance of the movie that would catapult the seemingly shy duo into the spotlight. “Once,” the low-budget 2007 film—a modern musical, really—starring Hansard (frontman for the Irish band The Frames) and Irglova (classically trained Czech pianist and vocalist), added layers of context to the soundtrack I had been listening to repeatedly, daily, for some time, only increasing my evangelical crusade to convert everyone I knew into fans. Read more…

Can music change the world?  The answer is, of course, a resounding yes.

Music possesses a power—to a greater extent than any other art form—to bring together people of diverse backgrounds, varying religions, opposing political views, and other typically divisive issues. Whether on a front porch in Appalachia, a New York City subway station, a street corner in Los Angeles or New Orleans, on a park bench, in an arena or stadium, or anywhere at all, music attracts a crowd that can, at least temporarily, agree—a group willing to unite, whether they realize it or not, in the moment. Read more…

The Dead are back on the road again. Are you?

The current tour, which began on Easter Sunday in Greensboro, N.C., continued last night in the nation’s capital and on to Charlottesville, Va., tonight—then 19 other stops through mid-May, culminating with the Rothbury Festival in July. Did you attend the kickoff in Carolina? Share your experiences and stories from the show—or any other during this run—with The Madness of Art.

E-mail us your thoughts, opinions, experiences, stories, photos, and reviews.

He’s Gone, but the Music Never Stops

As the witching hour arrived, bringing Easter Sunday to a close, the message was clear: The Dead have risen! Read more…

Surviving Grateful Dead Members
Kick Off Tour Tonight in Greensboro, NC

In less than seven hours, my wife and I are headed to the promised land—Greensboro, North Carolina. That’s where the Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann (original members of the Grateful Dead), along with guitarist Warren Haynes and the keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, kick off The Dead’s 2009 tour—a reunion of sorts, consisting of 20-plus shows, after a five-year hiatus.

Read more…