This Week with David Rovics

The Progressive Industrial Complex and Our Fascist Future

When fascism comes to America, it will delivered by a midwife called the Progressive Industrial Complex.

You can find this in written form in today's edition of Counterpunch, as well as in both written and podcast forms at davidrovics.com/thisweek.

Palestine Action: Smashing Elbit Systems

Have you heard about the hundreds of people arrested in the UK for breaking into weapons factories and smashing equipment? Here's the podcast version of the piece you can find in written form in today's edition of Counterpunch. #FreePalestine

Singing in the Shadow of Belmarsh Prison

The news is once again full of talk about the Espionage Act of 1917.  Here are some thoughts on connections between the "transportation" of the Tolpuddle Martyrs to Australia for taking a secret oath, and the extradition of Julian Assange to the USA under the draconian Espionage Act.

New song: ”Invasion”

The apologists for US imperialism call it "whataboutism."  Here's a song for them.  I challenge anyone to find a single word in this song (prior to the last line) that doesn't involve something the people of occupied Ukraine and the people of occupied Palestine have in common.

John Coleman interviews David Rovics

John Coleman of the Apocatastasis Institute interviewed me about what I've been up to over the past couple years, and about the state of the modern-day left, such as it is.  I spent a lot of time talking about the Progressive Industrial Complex.  Not sure what that is?  I'll explain.

New song: ”Smashing Elbit Systems”

The most inspiring thing I've heard about in a long time are the folks all over the UK going around with sledgehammers, smashing equipment at arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, under the banner of Palestine Action.  For inspiration and information, check out palestineaction.org and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.

El Batallón de San Patricio (traducción libre de la canción de David Rovics)

There is a gorgeous 8-song album in Spanish just out from Abraham Roman of Mexico City, which you can stream or download for free from the website of Mexico's Ministry of Culture.  Here is track 8, which is Roman's brilliant Spanish translation of "St Patrick Battalion."

New song: ”Killing the Messenger (Free Julian Assange)”

My latest musical effort at attempting to briefly elucidate some of the salient points relating to the ongoing transnational persecution of Julian Assange.

”At the End of World War 3” full band version

A few days ago I shared Chet Gardiner's solo acoustic recording of this song that I wrote a few months ago. Here is a full band recording of the song that he's just shared with me, which leaves me that much more excited about the prospect of making a record with Chet and other musicians in Hawaii this winter, if all goes as planned...

”At the End of World War 3” from Chet Gardiner

If you've never heard of a musician named Chet Gardiner, here's a fine introduction.  This is his solo acoustic version of a song I wrote a few months ago, which he recorded at his home studio in Hawaii.  

Both the bassy resonance of Chet's voice and his delivery reminds me very much of the last recordings Johnny Cash made, which I think were brilliant. Chet's fingerstyle DADGAD guitar playing is so evocative as well.

He plays a lot of other instruments as well, and I'm very much looking forward to hopefully spending the last half of January with other musicians at his studio in Hawaii making a record together.  More on those plans soon...