rock/pop review

I volunteered to pick up trash while Ian MacKaye played to a crowd of thousands in front of the Washington Monument. What did you do last Saturday?

Rumored to be the biggest anti-war protest in Washington, D.C., since the Vietnam era, Saturday's rally, march and concert were simultaneously refreshing and frustrating. While it was uplifting to see how many people turned out in support of peace and justice, there was the accompanying sense that the loud, articulate and passionate voices would not be enough in the grand scheme.

From NOW and the Green Party to Cindy Sheehan and her Gold Star Families for Peace, every activist group worth its salt was representing. United for Peace and Justice capped off its anti-war weekend with one hell of an afterparty, Operation Ceasefire. Many of the 300,000 protesters rallied around the stage after the march for the evening/early morning concert.

Jello Biafra, outspoken frontman for the reincarnated Dead Kennedys and one-time San Francisco mayoral candidate, MC'd the proceedings, quipping about Subway sandwich boycotts and phallic national monuments in between acts. To him, the Washington Monument is a symbolic Klansman in the sky flanked by pubic hair flags at its base. This went over well.

You can't have a political concert without Joan Baez; the woman hasn't missed a rally since when, 1960? Locking up an afternoon time slot, Baez entertained with protest standards and a Steve Earle cover. Earle was there too, but perhaps too early. About two hours after his set, people were walking around asking if Steve Earle had played yet. Watches are not a damn-the-man essential.

For the indie and punks kids, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Le Tigre and The Bouncing Souls contributed to the rally raucous. Grammy-winning a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock and D.C. rapper Head Roc gave two of the evening's most memorable performances.

Co-coordinators and D.C. DJs extraordinaire Thievery Corporation put on an impressive live show, thanks to live accompaniment from a full percussion section, vocalists and a sitar player. Their innovative combination of lounge, reggae, hip-hop and Latin music proved to be a crowd favorite. Tired volunteers, organizers and demonstrators danced along throughout the hourlong set.

In addition to the musical talent, Cindy Sheehan, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, the DC Guerilla Poets and countless other speakers contributed their thoughts and feelings about the current administration between acts. And I got a free T-shirt.

Operation Ceasefire

Sept. 24, Washington, D.C.