Photo By Michael WIlson

Over The Rhine's Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler join other top name local artists for Thursday's Sound Off For Kerry concert.

In less than two weeks, voters in America will decide the direction this country will take for the next four years and beyond. Constituents are seemingly more passionate about supporting their choice for president this year than in any election in recent memory, and artists are no exception. When a musician asks, "What can I do to help?" the logical answer is often to participate in the process by doing what they do best, performing.

The amount of voting-related benefits and awareness-raising concerts this election season has been staggering. If you're a supporter of the current commander-in-chief, your entertainment-benefit options are scarce. Given the more liberal makeup of artists, John Kerry has been the beneficiary of many more events. Along with non-partisan "get out the vote" events, concerts featuring a wide range of musical styles in support of the Democratic challenger have seemingly taken place every week since the race heated up.

On Thursday, the "Sound Off For Kerry" concert at the Southgate House will feature the strongest local lineup of politically-motivated artists yet. Acts like Over The Rhine, psychodots, The Ass Ponys, Pike 27, Len's Lounge, wussy, The Graveblankets, 4 Track All-Stars (with special guest Freekbass), Ruby Vileos, The Kim Taylor Band, Abiyah, Mohenjo Daro and several others will show their support for Kerry and dissatisfaction with the current administration at the 8 p.m. concert, which is raising funds for the group Republicans For Kerry.

Laura Chenault is the mastermind behind the project, which she says was designed to promote Kerry and get people active in an important part of the country that, if you believe polls, is up for grabs on Nov. 2. Chenault, a freelance producer working in commercial and video production (and also a "huge local music fan" who has sung with local bands like The Graveblankets and others), says she developed the idea in August after talking about politics with her musician friends.

"We all felt strongly that Bush needed to be re-defeated but discovered that we all really liked John Kerry," she says of her inspiration. "I don't think this is choosing between the lesser of two evils. I learned there are a lot of us out there who feel the same way. They couldn't be more different when it comes to privacy rights, environment, civil rights, science, abortion rights, separation of church and state -- you name it. There was a lot of anger and anti-Bush stuff going on at the time. I made a decision to take my anger and channel it (into) actually doing something more positive."

Chenault first made a "wish list" of artists she'd like to have involved and, as word spread, she says bands began approaching her to donate their time. She even had the Kerry campaign recommending musicians who were volunteering in the senator's campaign.

"The response was overwhelming," she says, bemoaning the fact that she couldn't accommodate every artist eager to perform.

Karin Bergquist, singer for major-label locals Over The Rhine, is one of the artists who approached the Kerry campaign to offer her and partner Linford Detweiler's services. Bergquist and Detweiler are passionate about their support for Kerry and the need for regime change. They offer a laundry list of reasons they support Kerry, but they say they do respect differing opinions.

"We know good people, and even people that we love, who will vote for President Bush this November," Detweiler says. "We try to learn from them, and listen to their convictions and not just surround ourselves with people who tend to agree with us."

"Domestically, we don't feel George Bush's team is taking us in the right direction," adds Bergquist. "The current deficit is troubling. The cost of our health insurance is troubling. Many of our friends don't have health coverage because they can't afford it. Simultaneously declaring war and haphazardly cutting taxes seems wrong."

When asked if they are concerned about Bush-supporting fans turning their backs on the band, Detweiler and Bergquist agree that their close relationship with their fan base has allowed for open discussion about politics, religion and art without hasty, haughty reactions over disagreements.

"We've tried pretty hard over the years to respect the intelligence of our fans, engage them in conversation, grow together," says Detweiler. "We have a very diverse audience, and we think most people who connect with our music appreciate that diversity."

Dave Purcell of Pike 27 says that he feels fans of his band shouldn't be surprised by their participation, given the themes he addresses in his songs and onstage. Despite the hostile climate this election has facilitated, with reports of political yard signs being stolen and drivers being harassed for sporting bumper stickers on their cars, Purcell has yet to receive any negative feedback about his participation in Thursday's show. But he has received such responses in the past, particularly when he sent an e-mail out about another Kerry fund-raiser Pike played this summer.

"I included a frighteningly moronic quote from Bush on 'tribal sovereignty' and said I preferred to have a more intelligent president than this," Purcell says. "I worded it politely but still got flak from a few folks, including a couple musician pals, one of whom said he was sorry I'd been brainwashed by the liberal media. OK then."

There is a contingency of music fans who believe musicians and other entertainers shouldn't be involved in political issues -- the old "shut up and play" adage. Obviously, the "Sound Off For Kerry" participants strongly disagree.

"They don't have to listen," says Purcell. "I've been told over the years that I've lost potential gigs because of my politics -- especially with my criticism of Clear Channel -- and I'm fine with that. The key is to find a balance. I think you can be earnest and political but not alienate people or lecture to them in the process. Many of my heroes -- Springsteen, U2, REM, Billy Bragg, Ted Leo -- strike a great balance between expressing their social and political concerns and having fun."

"I think our culture affords celebrities and musicians a platform," says Bergquist. "The media scrutinizes the private lives of artists and people in the public eye. I think most artists feel like if they're given a platform, they might as well try to use it for something besides just furthering their own careers. Maybe we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. But I feel we're negligent if we don't engage in the debate. If we don't engage when it matters, we risk just being entertainment."

Chenault echoes the artists' sentiments, saying that the biggest lesson learned in organizing the concert has been the realization that motivated people can unite and change society, a wholeheartedly patriotic notion if there ever was one.

"I have always voted. I think it's a privilege that we take for granted," Chenault says. "With that said, I have not been an active participant in politics or in helping create changes locally. It has been too easy to let -- or hope -- someone does it for me. This administration changed that for me -- Bush, thanks for the kick in the pants -- and a whole lot of other people. I feel like this community of people -- who are playing in, volunteering for, supporting this event and the Kerry campaign -- has discovered that we can make a difference, and it feels good to be involved. Apathy is our worst enemy."