Twenty-somethings rock for Obama

By CHRISTINA YOON Special to the Daily Press

WILSHIRE BLVD With celebrity-packed music videos and T-shirts sold at trendy stores like Urban Outfitters featuring slogans like “Obama says knock you out,” there’s no denying that Barack Obama’s presidential campaign relies heavily on the voracious enthusiasm of its young supporters.

Tonight, two 22-year-old Westside natives will do their part to contribute to this momentum with Barock the House, a concert at the Temple Bar on Wilshire Boulevard designed to encourage young people to contribute to the Obama campaign. Beginning at 8 p.m., the event will feature five musical acts, and Obama campaign staff members will be on hand to collect a suggested $15 donation to the show and distribute merchandise.

“This isn’t about money,” said organizer J.T. McLain.“This is about bringing together all of these different fans of different bands under a common cause in which they all believe and showing them it doesn’t take a lot to transform a normal social activity into something that makes a difference.”

McLain and his high school buddy Asher Rumack dreamed up Barock the House while sitting around at lunch discussing politics and music, two of their main interests. Rumack, who worked as a D.J. at USC’s campus radio station while attending the university, and McLain, who currently studies Public Policy and Law at Trinity College, devised a way to meld their passion for music and their vast social network in the area to garner support for their favored presidential candidate.

“We wanted to do something more than vote,” said Rumack.

The duo got on the phone with their friends to organize an eclectic lineup of young rock, soul and electronic bands. Many of the musicians featured tonight have known Rumack and McLain since high school.

“Up until we had Obama as our candidate I think all the young people’s and musicians’ interest was just getting Bush out of office,” said Eric Frederic of Wallpaper, one of tonight’s performers. “The energy behind a pro-Obama and not anti-Bush event is cool. It’s not going to be fueled by frustration and anger.”

Although Frederic, 26, has previously worked with the Democratic National Committee and MoveOn, has not previously mixed his political beliefs with his band, which plays music he describes as “p-funk mixed with hyphy.” He and all of the other performers will play for free for tonight’s show.

“The sacrifice of being on tour is a lot but Obama winning is worth a lot more,” he said.

Graham Fink of the Silverlake band the Outline sees Obama as a figure that has been able to motivate and mobilize his peers more than other politicians in the past have.

“I haven’t really been inspired by political figures in the past,” Fink said. “I’ve had the thought that for someone to get to the point to be president you have to be somewhat irrelevant.”

Although members of the Outline are excited to contribute their time and tunes to the cause, Fink still keeps a level head about presidential politics.

“I’m not expecting him to come into office and have sunflowers bloom and rainbows appear,” he said. “But he clearly is thinking about things that are relevant.”

Fink has already begun to consider what other musical steps he can make to help get Obama into office. His latest idea is changing lyrics to the popular dance song “Stop the Rock” by Apollo 440 to “Stop Barack, can’t stop Barack,” making a video for it with a friend and posting it on YouTube.

Rumack and McLain hope that tonight’s concert will be the first of many musical events that they organize in the name of social change. They will soon begin preparations for the New York installment of Barock the House in September. They also started a nonprofit organization called Music Forward that will focus on using music to bring attention to political and social issues past this year’s presidential election.

“It’s been amazing,” Rumack said.“Before I go to sleep, thoughts are storming through my brain, and when I wake up I’m stressed and energized about it at the same time.”

For McLain, the efforts are also a way for him to express his karmic gratitude.

“I’ve grown up on the Westside, gone to private schools,” he said. “I’ve been given a lot and I want to give back.”

Both organizers are adamant in emphasizing that “Barock the House” will not be a lecture on the wonders of Obama.

“There’s not going to be a lot of spiels about Obama,” McLain said. “That’s the theme but that’s not the night. I want people to have fun and I want them to know why they’re having fun.”

The participating bands have no doubts that the organizers will let the music do the talking tonight.

“They’ve had some great parties,” said Fink of his longtime friends. “This is a party with a purpose.”