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| Billy Bragg receives certificate from Mitch O'Farrell |
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Billy Bragg and Wayne
Kramer founded Jail Guitar Doors, an organization which provides musical
instruments to inmates. The organization was named after the song by The Clash,
a song that actually mentions Wayne Kramer in its lyrics. Today at Amoeba in
Hollywood they were given certificates by Councilman Mitch O'Farrell,
honoring them for their work in that field.
The presentation started
just after 11:30 a.m., with Councilman O'Farrell introducing them and speaking a
bit about their work. He mentioned that online they’re labeled “left wing activists,” but he thinks of
them as human rights activists. He read one of the certificates, then presented
them, first to Wayne Kramer and then to Billy Bragg, both of whom then spoke.
Billy Bragg said, “We understand as a
musician that a guitar can help you, or any instrument can help you to
momentarily transcend your surroundings.” This presentation ended at 11:49
p.m.
At precisely noon, Wayne
Kramer took the stage and performed two songs solo on acoustic guitar. The
first was that wonderful Merle Haggard tune, “Sing Me Back Home.” Years
ago I heard an old recording of the Grateful Dead performing this song in the
early 1970s, and it struck me as so sad and beautiful. And since then, this
song has held a special place for me.
After that song Wayne
talked a bit about The Clash, and how he found out they were MC5 fans (Wayne Kramer was a founding member of MC5). And then
he played “Jail Guitar Doors.” It was great hearing a solo acoustic version of
this song.
He then introduced Billy
Bragg, and yielded the stage to him. Billy also played two songs, the first
being a cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” Both that and his second song
are songs that he plays when he visits prisons. The second song was his own “I Keep The
Faith.”
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