All the “Rage” for a living wage

Posted on by Brian Postelle

On Tuesday, April 22, former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello will perform at the Grey Eagle under the name “The Nightwatchman,” but before he takes the stage, he’ll take a day to help boost awareness of Asheville’s living-wage campaign.

Morello “has always been passionate about labor and worker issues,” notes Sarah Osmer, of Just Economics, the local group trying to jumpstart a living-wage certification for local businesses. “We’re incredibly excited about this.”

As part of his nationwide Justice Tour, Morello is spending a day of activism in each community he visits. So, on the day of his Asheville appearance, which will also feature musicians Boots Riley of The Coup, Shooter Jennings, and Wayne Kramer of MC5, he will appear at the West End Bakery to spread the word for Just Economics.

According to Osmer, who says she’s a “huge Rage fan,” Morello will speak about the importance of a living wage and then encourage people to sign a pledge to patronize businesses that are part of the Living Wage Campaign.

“This is right up Tom’s alley,” she says.

This isn’t the first time Morello has ridden into town on a political train. He performed here in 2003 as part of the Tell Us the Truth Tour, an outing that included Billy Bragg and Steve Earle to preach about the consequences of media consolidation.

Morello will appear at the West End Bakery, 757 Haywood Road, at noon. He and fellow Justice Tour musicians will hold an acoustic performance at the Grey Eagle at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, and part of the proceeds goes to the Just Economics Living Wage Campaign. For more information, visit greyeagle.com or justeconomicswnc.org, or call 301-7291.

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One thought on “All the “Rage” for a living wage”

  1. flyingangel

    People need a living wage just too surive. When you must work two jobs and then your husband also works teo jobs just too be able too surival and then you have no time too spend with your family ,thats very wrong ,I know because thats how it worked in our home for more years than I WANT TOO COUNT. and lifes just all work no time for nothing elese, thats not living nor is it a life. I believe thats part of the reason for such a high divorce rate in this county.

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