Photo Credit: Brooklyn Media Group/Heather Chin
The Occuponics were glad to play in Brooklyn at the 83rd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on January 16, 2012. This event was part of Occupy Sunset Park (OSP), and involved a march up Fourth Avenue. You can read more about this event on the site of the Home Reporter and Sunset News.
The Occuponics perform Paul Stein’s Occupy Wall Street Song on October, 23rd, 2011, at Zuccotti Park, AKA Liberty Square. This recording was made several weeks before police raided the encampment, and one can get a good idea of how the camp looked in its prime, and sense the wonderful energy that was present in the place.
The Occuponics greatly enjoyed the chance to jam with Brian Eno and Laurie Anderson at Liberty Square (AKA Zuccotti Park) on the afternoon of November 16, 2011, as crowds gathered attempting to re-enter Zuccotti Park after police and municipal authorities evicted protesters from the area. Brian and Laurie are two of our heroes.
There’s a video interview with Brian and Laurie that was recorded that same day; you can view it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6-c53rM-Y0
Additionally, an audio interview with Brian and Laurie can be listened to at the site of Miss Ntertainment: http://missntertainment.com/2011/11/15/brian-eno-and-laurie-anderson-at-occupywallstreet/
Accra Shepp is a very talented photographer who for months has been documenting the people of Occupy Wall Street using an antique box camera. In early December of 2011, Accra took a photograph of The Occuponics down at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Square) and the band was very grateful to be honored in this way. You can check out more of his images online at the site of the Steven Kasher Gallery.
On Christmas Day, 2011, in Zuccotti Park the Occuponics, with other musicians, perform Feliz Navidad, a traditional Christmas song made popular by Jose Feliciano. Feliz Navidad is a great song to play in public spaces, because most people know the melody, the chords are easy to play, and the spirit of the song is infectious. This song has the power to cheer people up, and one should never underestimate the importance of being able to do this when people are genuinely suffering.
Despite the fact that many protesters continued to feel aggrieved after they were denied the right to protest by encamping at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Square), Christmas Day at Zuccotti Park was a joyous experience, and the Occuponics were on hand to provide musical support to the demonstrators.
As the evening darkened, the lights in the park glittered gaily, as protestors pondered the meaning of Christmas and were kept warm by a wonderful meal prepared by the OWS kitchen. Much of the food was donated by local restaurants, a fact that everyone was grateful for.
On Christmas Day, the Occuponics performed many songs at Zuccotti. This recording captures the band doing one of their standards, Paul Stain’s Occupy Wall Street Song.
One of the best things about playing at protests such as Occupy Wall Street is the energy and spontaneity of people participating in the musical experience that finds its way back into the music. Here, at Liberty Square (AKA Zuccotti Park), the band jams on a simple blues progression with input from the audience. What resulted in this case was a song called “Zuccotti Park Blues.” Given that this performance happened only a short time after police raided the Zuccotti encampment, removing and/or confiscating many of the occupiers’ personal possessions, it is quite appropriate that one of the singers notes that “they even took my shoes.”
On Friday, October 22, The Occuponics performed a long set of music at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Square), and were informed by a friend that one of their heroes, Pete Seeger, would be appearing uptown at Symphony Space and might even lead a march down to Columbus Circle to express solidarity with OWS. So although the band was very tired, they journeyed uptown and were on site when crowds began forming outside the theater where Pete was performing.
Taking advantage of the fact that a large throng of people had gathered but no music could be heard at that time, they played Paul Stein’s “The Occupy Wall Street Song” several time before a highly receptive audience. A few minutes later, people began emerging from the doors and the march began forming. This large procession of some 1,000 people began moving peacefully down Broadway, with police guiding the throng so that vehicular traffic would not be encumbered. Pete Seeger called out the songs, and our spirits were lifted when we saw the 92-year old Seeger making rapid progress towards Columbus Circle accompanied by friends, family, and musicians.
Marching with Pete Seeger was an inspiring experience for the band, and several songs performed on the march, including “This Little Light of Mine,” “Ain’t Going To Nobody Turn Us Around,” and, of course, “We Shall Overcome,” found their way into the band’s repertoire.