Barack Rock Rocks the Vote

NEW YORK: On the eve of the 2008 primary election, OK Go, members of Shudder to Think, Joan as Police Woman, and more, support Barack Obama.

On the eve of Super Tuesday (Feb. 4), the Bowery was overrun with Barack Obama music-minded supporters thanks to Shudder to Think, OK Go, Cardigans vocalist Nina Persson and comedy trio Stella, all of which came together to urge people to get out and vote for democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. "Our demographic is broken," said Shudder to Think frontman Craig Wedren, who organized the Bowery Ballroom gig. "We knew we couldn't raise much money, but we could use the publicity to remind people to get up tomorrow, get off their asses and go vote."

Wedren and guitarist Nathan Larson, who hammered out 40 minutes of material, including Shudder classics such as "X-French Tee Shirt" and "Red House," were joined by Nina Persson's new all-female outfit Birds. "I'm a Swede and I'm not even allowed to vote in the U.S." Persson chimed. "But Obama is the closest thing you have to a true social democrat." Persson's Birds weren't the only non-Americans who played on Obama's behalf -- London-bred blues-infused trio Alberta Cross started the show with a solid acoustic set. "Whatever happens in the States changes the world," said vocalist/guitarist Terry Wolfers "It's nice to be among the foreign representatives here."

Brooklyn-based songstress Joan as Police Woman a.k.a. Joan Wasser showed off her versatility with flashes of blues, hard rock, funk and melodic acoustics with tunes from her debut LP, 2007's Real Life. "We're all ready for a radical change," Wasser added after her set. "And Obama is reminiscent of '60s era presentation and change."

The highlight of the evening, though, was a guitar-heavy performance from headliner OK Go. "We don't want to preach to the converted, but if you don't vote for Obama then you're an idiot," lead vocalist Damian Kulash cheered. Guitarist/pianist Andy Ross had a wisdom tooth pulled the morning of the show, but took one for the team as the energetic pop outfit offered a few fan faves such as "Don't Ask Me" before introducing new tracks from their iTunes-only You're Not Alone EP, out today (Feb. 5). The fresh batch of material was recorded with New Orleans bass band Bonerama on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and all proceeds made will go to New Orleans charities.

Those fans lucky enough to score a ticket to last night's sold-out show seemingly already have motivation to vote, but how the rest of the country will respond remains to be seen until the results are in Tuesday evening. Stella comic Michael Ian Black said it best: "It's time to fight! For your right! To party! The Democratic Party! Or better yet, the human party." DAVEY BARON / PHOTOS BY BEOWULF SHEEHAN