When Nada Surf hits the road this week, the band will be trying to accumulate more than just rabid fans. Members of the voter-registration group Headcount will be on hand, too, signing up fresh faces for November's presidential election and raising awareness of the political process among the Nada Surf faithful.
Formed as an addendum to the jam-band scene — Disco Biscuit Marc Brownstein and Pharmer's Almanac author Andy Bernstein are co-chairs — Headcount launched with the stated mission to be "a nonpartisan organization devoted to using the multifaceted power of music to enable voter registration and participation in democracy." The organization found immediate success registering voters at Phish and Dave Matthews Band shows in the summer of 2004, signing up 12,000 DMB fans alone in the span of just a few months. Headcount has added 60,000 new voters to the rolls since its inception (they claim this is a record among groups comprised entirely of volunteers), and hope to push the numbers even higher by registering 200,000 more voters before the election, showing up for festivals and band tours throughout the country.
Though Nada Surf has been active in local New York politics for years, this will be its first pairing with Headcount. According to Barsuk Records publicist Ever Kipp, "The band became aware of Headcount through their manager, who attended a meeting at SXSW about how bands can become more politically involved." Headcount was one of the groups that were discussed at the meeting. "With the upcoming presidential election," says Kipp, "the band felt voter registration was an important issue to become involved with."
If you're thinking Headcount's mix of music and politics sounds like a bit of a throwback to the summer of love, you're on to something. Per the organization's website: "We believe that music, expression and freedom are all intrinsically intertwined. Our community can trace its roots back to the 1960s counterculture, with a sense of higher purpose that can still be felt today. Many artists and fans have strong convictions and a deep personal belief in democracy." And that conviction will be on tour and coming to a city near you all summer long.
Headcount will be at various Nada Surf shows, including the show in Orlando. Check out a short film about Headcount at iclips.net/acta.php, or visit their website at headcount.org. And if you're over 18 and not registered to vote, what the hell are you waiting for?
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2008.
