I recently saw the laundry list of groups that are taking part in the Vote for Change tour, taking place in the first week of October in various sites in Michigan. My reaction wasn’t one of disgust, or of elation. It was a reaction of “I am not sure if I want my music to dictate my political beliefs,” and I think many people agree with me. The Vote for Change tour idea is a unique proposition, but to me, trying to listen to bands throw their message and rhetoric into a concert is something that would have me heading towards the beer or bathroom line.

A significant percentage of groups on this tour also seem to be a collection of fading artists looking to boost ticket sales and gain more exposure. Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, and R.E.M. are all socially aware artists, but they are not the driving force behind massive ticket or album sales these days.

Not to knock everyone on the bill, there are a few somewhat relevant groups or artists on this tour: Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, and Pearl Jam. Honestly, about the only one that would somewhat interest me is Pearl Jam, but after the last time I saw Vedder and his crew, I won’t exactly be running back anytime soon. It was like watching old people screw at the nursing home. But these bands didn’t come together to please you and me; they came together for one reason, to persuade enough people to vote President Bush out of office.

Personal feelings for the man aside, I feel that many people will be duped into going to this show thinking Dave Matthews is going to put on a usual 2 ½ show and please the masses. Or Bruce Springsteen will be rocking out to his base of forty-somethings, playing “Glory Days,” and pleasing everybody. Guess again. The messages that night will be loud and clear; this will be a night about politics, not about the songs you want to hear, which may or may not turn you off.

Also, placing four to five concerts in one or two days in the same state might be a bit of an overkill of their part. There might be people who want to go see the groups, but Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews are playing on the same day. Who will that person choose? It just seems like this could have been planned somewhat earlier and given more time to hatch. I know these artists want to bring back some 1960s activism vibe back to this era, but will the public buy it?

To answer that question, I don’t think so. After this tour, some fans might become ex-fans, depending on what that artist has to say about issues being discussed.

Does a huge Bush fan want to wade through people with different views to hear Springsteen or Mellencamp say something horrible about the economy? Remember the last time the Dixie Chicks (also on the bill) said something about the President? They left their careers at the door and are now like that kid you used to pick on in gym class in 6th grade with the boogers and bad odor. Whether or not they deserved it is another question that I’m not even going to touch.

Now, nobody has asked this question yet? Where the hell are today’s artists and do they even care? Do the youth (which is the group this tour is aiming to have come to the shows) want to see people in their forties and fifties sing and rant about politics? I don’t think today’s youth will want to run out and see most of these shows because the music doesn’t really relate much to them.

I will tell you where most of today’s artists are going to be: Shutting their mouths about politics and playing it safe. Personally, I can’t blame them. For a band starting out and getting big, the last thing that band wants to take a gamble on is how their fans feel about politics.

I think these shows will attract people also in their forties and fifties, that already have their minds made up about who they will vote for in the coming election. If that is the demographic that shows up, then the idea has failed. This tour set out to try to change things in this country, and quite frankly, this isn’t going to decide the winner of the next presidential election.

Or you simply take the ‘objectionable material on TV’ route and just not go. But if you are a fan of mixing your music with politics then all I have to say is; enter at your own risk.

After reading this article, you may be surprised about Art Michalski’s feelings about life and politics and all that fun crap. If you plan to go, or plan to protest, please e-mail him at arthatesyou@detroitbuzz.com.