Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books including “The Tunnels” and “The Campaign of the Century” (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” (up for an Emmy later this month) . You can still subscribe to this newsletter for free.
After a couple of nights of musical bafflement (post-Isbell, from a Boomer point of view), it was great to hear Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” escort Tim Walz off stage. Especially since Neil has been slamming Trump for almost a decade for playing the song at rallies.
A few minutes earlier Walz, an avowed Zevon fan, had referenced “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.” I believe Mellencamp welcomed him on stage but I’ve never been a fan. Stevie Wonder offered a terrific, and apparently ad libbed, moving little speech before “Higher Ground.”
Earlier, John Legend covered Prince, which earned praise and scorn (someone compared poor John to a “lounge singer” on this number). I guess the idea was to honor a famous Minnesotan in the ramp up to Walz. But, hey, why not the greatest of them all, who hails from Hibbing? And is still alive and touring? Dylan could have even done “Mr. Timbourine Man,” “Coach from the North Country,” or “It Ain’t JD, Man.” Or his Biden tribute, “Simple Twist of Fate.”
Anyway, a few tunes and cartoons below.
A vintage Neil version of “Rockin in the Free World” from 1990 and acoutic.
If you missed, all of Stevie last night including his opening rap.
Zevon, with the usual over-the-top “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.”
Dylan’s “Cold Irons Bound” tribute to the Iron Range near Hibbing.
Cartooning
Steve Brodner:
Another from Steve Brodner on Tim and Kamala getting into Trump’s head:
Barry Blitt:
Love love love your posts. Nobody else covered the music at the convention. And thank you for curating the cartoons, always!