Raging Voodoo

Yesterday morning I found myself in New Orleans driving through water when I heard the commercial for Voodoofest. Among the national acts like the Smashing Pumpkins and Ben Harper was the newly reunited Rage Against the Machine. As I got turned down wrong streets I went past the mostly empty and still destroyed homes. If there were ever a place for Rage to play a gig it would be New Orleans I thought.

I remember first hearing them in the early 90's and they were young and angry and continued until they disbanded. They were bringing heavy music with heavier lyrics in a time that seemed easier in retrospect. That was before the war and Katrina and Rita, now they really have something to be enraged about, especially about the "machine". Some of their politics I agree with, some I don't, but I have great admiration for them stating the case without mincing words. Rage battles social injustice and has the ear of people in a way that Lennon or Bono could never say quite so rudely.

The three day festival opening Friday will feature numerous national and local acts with different stages going at the same time. It looks like a good lineup and there will be plenty of memorable performances from a variety of styles. Rage is the last act Friday night which is good because I don't think anyone could follow them with the power and emotion they will bring.