Video Review

This is a public service announcement with guitars! Know your rights! – Joe Strummer

I was recently hipped to a YouTube music video by the Sons of Maxwell that takes aim at United Airlines, who damaged lead singer Dave Carroll’s high-end Taylor guitar and callously refused to take responsibility, rejecting his claim for reimbursement. While it’s disheartening to learn than customer service is continuing its steady decline, I’m warmed by the success of the response by Carroll and his band mates. As of this writing the video has garnered 3.2 million views on YouTube and has been featured in the USA Today, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal. Not only is it proof that the protest song is alive and well, but it shows that a little biting humor can go a long way in making a powerful statement. Indeed, a quick look at some of the most effective protest songs show that they contain deadly serious commentary couched in tongue and cheek banter: “Draft Dodger Rag” by Phil Ochs; “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish; “Rednecks” by Randy Newman; “Sexuality” by Billy Bragg…the list goes on.

But I digress. What makes the Sons of Maxwell’s YouTube video so compelling is the combination of a great song (one that cleverly nods to Willie Nelson’s “Me and Paul” and “Bloody Mary Morning” – both about life on the road, the later about the existentialism of commercial flight), a simple, funny and well-produced video, and the use of a social media platform like YouTube to blast it to the world. It’s this last piece that can provide an important lesson to protest singers of all ilk, whether famous or unknown, because a protest song without an audience is just like complaining to your spouse.

Check out the Sons of Maxwell below and raise your fist in solidarity!

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