John - are you a fan of the band New Order? Even though the 80s weren’t my prime, I grew up listening to a lot of new wave music (thanks to having a bunch of older cousins). I’d like to tell you about a fun new fundraiser I’m involved in with progressive candidates across the country based on our favorite music.

So here’s the deal:

Our campaign is endorsed by Blue America, an organization that exclusively supports progressive candidates who take no corporate money and strongly supports policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Howie Klein, a former music industry producer, co-leads Blue America and also runs the Down With Tyranny blog (to which myself and other endorsed candidates frequently contribute).

Howie is auctioning two signed copies of the book Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave by Bill Kopp, along with an accompanying CD. You can read Howie’s article on the contest here.

You will be entered into the contest to win the signed book and CD by contributing any amount to the fundraiser. There’s an added bonus that the candidate who gets the most individual donations in their name will get a $1,000 check from Blue America. You can either split the donations evenly amongst all the candidates or send a donation to our campaign specifically, increasing our chances of winning the $1,000 check! Howie is asking supporters to match their donation to the candidate’s favorite musical artist or band.

If you donate just $1 today, you give us a great chance of winning $1,000! So can you donate $1 today?

DONATE $1

Now I want to make it clear that my all-time favorite band is Radiohead. However, since the book Howie is auctioning is about New Wave music, I opted to select my favorite band of the genre: New Order.

After Ian Curtis, frontrunner for the amazing band Joy Division (another favorite), committed suicide in 1980, his bandmates Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris carried the torch of post-punk music forward and brought on keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. They created the band New Order, with Sumner as vocalist, lyricist, and guitarist.

I was in high school the first time I heard their 1983 album, Power, Corruption & Lies. Songs like “Age of Consent” and “Your Silent Face” are timeless treasures that bring me back to my angsty teenage years. In my view, the album was a beautiful combination of their dark, post-punk Joy Division roots with the growing trend of 80s synth that was exploding at the time.

They went on to write and record some of the greatest songs of the 1980s - including the world-famous “Blue Monday” which I believe is the most emblematic song of the entire decade (I will fight you on this).

If you agree that New Order is the s**t, please send a donation here.

If you look at the other candidates’ favorites and decide you like their choice better, donate in their name. The bottom line is a donation to this fundraiser helps all of us. This unique fundraiser runs from now through Monday, February 14th. Please get your vote in ASAP!

Solidarity,

- Shervin