REVIEW: Bring ‘Em Home Now!

By Stacy Fine

A concert was held at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom to commemorate the third anniversary of the US War in Iraq. "Bring 'Em Home Now!" was the second anti-war concert to be held in the northeastern US (a smaller concert, Operation Cease fire, was held in Washington D.C. on 9/24/05). "Bring ‘Em Home Now!" set a precedent for anti-war concerts, presenting a multimedia event that served up great entertainment with a clear message.

Benefiting two organizations - Iraq Veterans Against The War and Veterans For Peace - "Bring 'Em Home Now!" featured a diverse selection of musical performances.

The show's headliner, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., was joined onstage by guitarist James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), singer-songwriter Mark Mulcahy, Joseph Arthur, members of One Giant Leap (a world music project) and a singer named Rain Phoenix, sister of the actor Joaquin Phoenix (who watched from backstage along with fellow actors Julia Stiles, Alan Cumming and Mike Myers).

Other stellar performers included: Steve Earle, Rufus Wainwright (wearing a slick Subversive necklace), Bright Eyes, Fischerspooner, Peaches and Devendra Banhart, who all did their best to entertain and illuminate an enthusiastic full house.

Moby gave a surprise performance, playing an acoustic version of The Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth.” Ironically, this was the least interesting performance of the night but it succeeded in paying homage to '60's protest singers like Bob Dylan and Barry McGuire.

Comedienne Margaret Cho raised spirits and brought laughter to the event with her biting satire of the President and First Lady, Laura's "bush.” Cho softened the senses for the harsher reality of the evening.

An Iraqi pharmacist, Dr. Entisar Ariabi, who aids both sides' injured, addressed the crowd in her native tongue. Through a translator the audience learned, by way of personal account, about the atrocities of this war. These "war effects" permeate daily life in her homeland. '”There is no life,” she confessed sadly.

Celebrity guest speaker, Susan Sarandon wisely declared, "Every mother's worst fear is she will outlive her child" before introducing author and peace activist, Cindy Sheehan who's son was killed in Iraq. Sheehan famously camped outside the White House and George W. Bush's vacation home in Texas waiting for the President to answer her question: "For what reason did my son give his life?" Of course, her question went unanswered.

While Ms. Sheehan has been ignored by the president the media has made her a household name. Ms. Sheehan tries to bring solace and enlightenment to people in the form of "peace chants". Tonight's chant went like this: "violence and occupation do not bring liberation-- get off it: this war is for profit." The audience joined her in chanting.

The concert also served as the launch party for a fifteen-city speaking tour for Ms. Sheehan, sponsored by The New Press, co-sponsor of "Bring Em Home Now!.”


“From coast to coast, the polls now show that a majority of Americans believe this war was wrong to begin with and even more wrong now,” said concert organizer Chris Wangro, who prior to founding "Bring 'Em Home Now!" with co-producer Josh Wood, was a founder of The Imagine Festival, which presented more than 200 events during the 2004 Republican National Convention. “Americans have had enough and are ready for a change. We are proud to have such a great coalition of artists working together to give voice to this new majority and to bring this great country back to a course of sanity.”

At concert time the most recent Gallup poll revealed that a majority of Americans oppose the war and believe it was a mistake. At least 2,267 American soldiers have died since the war began three years ago, and more than 16,600 troops have been injured. It is estimated that more than 30,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed.

The big surprise at "Bring Em Home Now!" was the unveiling of a thirty-nine cent postage stamp permitted by the US Postal Service: http://www.goodstorm.com/stores/bringthemhomenow

Celebrated provocateur, author and activist Andrew Boyd, of NY, America - a co-producer of the event - designed the stamp. Wangro encourages people to use the stamps on mail to elected officials or for tax returns.

If you would like to learn more about the "Bring 'Em Home Now!" organization and sponsors, follow these links:

About NY, America:
NY, America is an organization of artists and producers committed to engaging the public in civic discourse through events that unite the arts, sciences, and humanities. (www.nyamerica.org).

About New Press:
Established in 1990 as a major alternative to the large, commercial publishers, The New Press is a not-for-profit publishing house operated editorially in the public interest. (www.thenewpress.com).

About Iraq Veterans Against the War:
Iraq Veterans Against the War is a group of veterans who have served since September 11th, 2001. They are committed to saving lives and ending the violence in Iraq by an immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces. (www.ivaw.org)

About Veterans For Peace:
Veterans for Peace is a national organization founded in 1985. It is comprised of veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, other conflicts and “peacetime” veterans who strive to encourage alternative means of problem solving. (www.veteransforpeace.org).