Decemberists throw in with Kotek and Warren!

You knew it was coming

Hey fellow civically engaged Machinists,

While I tend to get flack from some quarters about my tendency to shoot my mouth on political issues, I intend to continue doing it till my dying day, haters bedamned. My parents were outspoken progressives and so were my grandparents; I grew up watching my favorite musicians, writers, and filmmakers use their visibility as a platform to advocate on social and political issues. It felt to me like it was part and parcel of being an artist with an audience.

We Decemberists haven’t shied away from such things in the past and, considering the momentous election in Oregon that is fast approaching, we figured it would be a good time to throw in with the one and only true progressive Democrat on the Oregon gubernatorial ticket: Tina Kotek. Tina’s a tried-and-true leader on progressive issues, having been Speaker of the House in Salem, and she’s the only one on the ticket that will champion women’s reproductive choice and lead on climate action. The idea of having a Republican governor — now, of all times — is horrifying. I don’t care how much Christine Drazan pushes herself center — she’s still a card-carrying member of the anti-choice, anti-democracy, guns-for-all, Trumpian GOP. Fuck that shit. And, as you must know, a vote for Betsy Johnson is not a voice for change or new direction; it’s a vote for Oregon’s first Republican Governor in 40 years. Vomit.

And so: The Decemberists will be joining Ms. Kotek and Elizabeth Warren (squuuueeeeeee) this Saturday, October 22nd, at 6 pm at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland. We’ll be playing a few songs to help celebrate Tina’s candidacy and maybe get some people fired up to vote for the Democratic ticket this November 8th.

Come on out! Doors at 5pm! And it’s freeeeee!