A Line in the Sand (AZ music comp against SB1070)

Readers here may notice I rarely get mix my rock n' roll blog action with any political overtones. Heck, even friends I've had know I shy away from taking hardcore stands on things political. But here's an exception, as I've now entered the illegal immigration debate.

I contributed a rockin' track called 'Immigration Clampdown' for a just-released CD compilation called 'A Line in the Sand' (click image below to buy).



The compilation was spearheaded by the music editorial team at the Phoenix New Times, called 'one of the best alt-news weeklies in the country' by MediaMatters (and owned by Village Voice Media). They put out a call three weeks ago for PHX area musicians to contribute a protest song against the SB 1070 law, signed into law a few weeks ago.

According to this description from the Arizona Republic, "The law, which goes into effect in late July, makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally. It says that an officer engaged in a lawful stop, detention or arrest shall, when practicable, ask about a person's legal status when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the U.S. illegally." And that's where the protest doth lie. In that action of 'reasonable suspicion' which many people will lend itself instead toward racial profiling.

But back to the disc itself: many good local Phoenix and surrounding area music types have also contributed tracks, including the Joey Arroyo Band, Kirkwood Dellinger, River Jones and others from 'round here. And while thematically, it's all drawn together toward the SB 10870 law, musically it's all over the map. A couple of clicks here bears that out.

Can't say I've lived here long enough to understand all the historical issues around illegals in the state, and my song will likely stick out on the comp like an illegal immigrant at a Republican golf outing in Scottsdale, but hey, it's what I do. Hope you like it.

If you have any sensitivities toward the illegal immigrant situation, help support this CD by buying a copy and spreading the word via these links. Thanks.