In Fremont, Nebraska in the US mid-west, some of the biggest names in indie rock played a sold-out pro-immigrant benefit gig on July 31 titled “Concert for Equality”.
Omaha.com said on August 2: “The theme of the day — and the reason for the show — was to fight Fremont’s recently passed immigration ordinance, which would fine employers and landlords who hire or rent to illegal immigrants.”
All proceeds from the gig were offered to the American Liberties Civil Union to assist its fight against the law, Pollstar.com said on August 4.
Organised by singer/songwriter Conor Oberst, best known as frontman for Bright Eyes, the gig featured Cursive, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and Lullaby for the Working Class.
Desaparecidos, a politically orientated punk band also headed by Orbest, reunited for the gig after an eight-year hiatus. Their show was described by Omaha.com as the “most anticipated performance and the biggest draw of the day”.
“Desaparecidos' faithful moshed and sang every word while they held fists in the air.”
Bright Eyes, who played earlier, debuted a new track, “Coyote Song”, about lovers separated by the US-Mexico border. Ohama.com said the track would be sold as a benefit for Sound Strike, an organisation of artists formed to oppose the harsh anti-immigrant law in Arizona.
Ohama.com said Oberst brought Erica Munoz, a family friend, on stage. She “told the story of her mother, who lived in the United States for 23 years but returned to Mexico and now is not allowed back into the U.S.”