Indie Rock the Vote: Arcade Fire and Superchunk Team for Obama Campaign Shows

Arcade Fire and Superchunk Team for Obama Campaign Shows

By Eliot Van Buskirk EmailApril 22, 2008 | 5:57:33 PMCategories: Shows

Barack Obama's iPod contains some Jay-Z songs, but his campaign will receive a boost from some very different bands at two campaign stops in North Carolina. Award-winning Canadians Arcade Fire and legendary Chapel Hill indie rockers Superchunk are slated to play shows at Obama campaign stops in Greensboro and Carrboro, North Carolina, on May 1 and 2.

Tickets are free on a first-come-first-served basis. Merge Records (Arcade Fire's distributor, founded by Superchunk's Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance) has the details, which are interesting if you're in North Carolina.

So where does that tidbit above about Obama having Jay-Z on his iPod come from? First, he told a radio station that has "some Jay-Z and Beyonce" on his iPod alongside older school artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis.

Then, Asymmetric Music pointed out that Obama seemed to quote Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" in an appearance last Friday, with a shoulder-brushing-off gesture while referencing last week's debate. Not only does Obama have Jay-Z on his iPod, but he apparently listens to it quite a bit, or at least knows when to quote it.

Either Jay-Z is too busy between business and pleasure lately, or his lyrics ("middle finger to the lord... grippin' my balls") didn't convey the proper image of hope. Luckily, Arcade Fire and Superchunk are available.