Tom Morello Plans ‘Flash Mob Dance Party’ For Occupy SXSW
Tom Morello is teaming up with the Occupy Austin movement for a special SXSW showcase this Friday night at the Swan Dive in Austin, Texas. “SXSW has a lot of specialty shows – record companies, vodka companies, promoters and things like that,” Morello tells Rolling Stone. “I thought it was important that at a music gathering of that size, to have a place where the rebels, revolutionaries, rockers, rappers and the 99 percent could gather and have a mighty SXSW throw down.”
Occupy SXSW came about when Morello reached out to the Occupy Austin people about doing a show during the festival. “With all things Occupy, it is a democratic process,” says Morello. “I basically said ‘What do y’all want to do, how can I best serve?’ and so they made a wish list of things and I was able to say yes to, ironically, about 99 percent of them.”
“Their intention is to have this flash mob dance party that’s going to arrive at the venue,” Morello explains. “Due to the fact that it’s an official SXSW show, a lot of the space inside is reserved for badge holders, but there will certainly be a healthy Occupy presence in the venue, and also a contingent outside the venue. I promise you, they will all be served musically.”
Morello will perform with his band, the Freedom Fighter Orchestra, for the main set, and Wayne Kramer and friends will play a show in support of Jail Guitar Doors, a nonprofit organization that works to bring instruments into prisons for rehabilitation purposes, earlier on the bill.