No matter who you’re planning to vote for in the 2016 presidential election, you have to admit that the photo finish ending for the Democratic leg of the Iowa caucus was pretty intense. With the race for Iowan delegates veering too close to call right up until the end, it looks like the primary is going to be a fierce one. Now, some of Tucson’s bands and musicians are coming out in support of one presidential hopeful: Bernie Sanders.

Over the course of three different concerts at three different venues, the Tucson music community seeks to raise funds and support for Sanders’ campaign, as well as register area voters. 

On Saturday, Feb. 6, Katie Haverly, BIG MERIDOX, Rey Murphy and Sugar Stains will take over The Flycatcher (340 E. Sixth St.) for the area’s first Bands for Bernie showcase. The show starts at 9 p.m. with a $5 donation at the door. It is a 21 and over event. 

Over at Club Congress (311 E. Congress St.) on Friday, Feb. 12, La Cerca, PIPELiGHTs and Mason will be performing for the Latinas for Bernie Sanders showcase. The event, which is hosted by Frank Powers and runs from 8 p.m. until midnight, will encourage voter registration before the Feb. 22 deadline.

(Arizona is a closed primary state, which means if you want to weigh in on either party’s primary this year, you have to register as a voter for that party before the deadline date— i.e. if you want to Bern your face in Arizona, register as a Dem before Feb. 22 via the Service Arizona website. It’s also important to make sure your registered address matches the one on your ID, otherwise you could be forced to vote on a provisional ballot, which may end up not even being counted. It happened to me a few years back and one really has to wonder if that registration caveat is in place to limit voter fraud or to penalize people who have less stable housing situations… but then, why would a state want to do that? Anyway, I digress.)

Organizers are going to announce a special speaker for the free concert at Congress. You must be 21 or over to attend.

Finally, that same night, you can choose to Boogie for Bernie at Pursue Creative Studio (125 S. Seventh St.). Dazed and Confused is known in town for throwing some wicked deep house dance nights, but now the DJ collective is putting their organizing skills to use as voter registrants, so bring your IDs to this 18 and over event. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks will be served. All of the $5 cover fee will go to Sanders’ campaign. 

With such a diverse array of acts supporting Sanders, you might just have to leave it up to a coin toss to decide which to go to. After all, that’s a totally reasonable way to decide weekend plans, but maybe not so much a presidential candidate. For now, I’ll leave you with Bernie doing some jams of his own:

This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2016.

11 replies on “Local Musicians Band Together to Support Bernie Sanders at 3 Concerts”

  1. These supporters are nothing but Hillary haters that refuse to give her a chance. She is a progressive, give her first rights.

  2. No. These supporters are simply Bernie supporters. That’s how the process works. There are no first rights.

  3. Hillary has earned this and waited her turn. She has far more foreign policy experience after fixing all that mess in Benghazi. She is working for us. She has first rights.

  5. Bern Bernie Bern!
    Sanders inferno
    Bern Bernie Bern!

    And to all of you dipsticks (i.e. Hillary, Ch[Tr]ump, Cruz & Rubio supporters) who oppose a real chance for change, go have your own little Trumper Tantrum somewhere in private where I don’t have to witness it.

  7. There’s also a Bands for Bernie event tomorrow at the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix with Sacred Reich, Carlos Arzate and the Kind Souls, Cherie Cherie, Revizor, Haymarket Squares, Mariachi de Grand Ave and Barefoot and Pregnant! 21+

  8. Sacred Reich! 😈

    They should play the song “Ignorance” for those who feel Hillary or Chump would make a better president. 😁

  10. Medicare, Social Security VA health care, State parks, the interstate highway system an on and on,all socialist programs. Don’t let the status quo propaganda confuse you with their “Commie” label of Bernie Sanders. And while we are discussing
    political systems, if capitalism is so great why are most of Americans living paycheck to paycheck?

  11. Because they lack self motivation. Why is it many millionaires were broke more than once before they succeeded? Because they didn’t give up on themselves.

    Of all the programs that you listed as socialist, which one are you the most proud of? The VA where are servicemen and women are left untreated and dying? Or is it the bankrupt and robbed SSA? Or our roads that are crumbling and bridges that are collapsing?

    Ain’t socialism great?

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