The black-hooded sweater adorned with Bob Marley’s visage
worn by Jared Burton only hints at all the things he has to say
about the world.
“What’s interesting about Bob Marley is that he
talked about Zion a lot, and right now there’s a whole
anti-Zionist movement going on with Palestine and Israel,”
Burton said. “I wonder if someone in the movement might come
up to me saying “˜he’s a Zionist, how can you wear
that?'”
A conversation with Burton can reveal an ideology more political
than musical. But when the sixth-year anthropology student
isn’t tabling for the Green Party or making the rounds on the
demonstration circuit, he can be found moonlighting as a local
singer-songwriter. Burton will be performing at the Westwood
Brewing Company Sunday at 8:40 p.m. as part of the Acoustic Live
Showcase Series, which starts at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, Burton lent his musical support to the
International Socialist Organization by playing in its peace rally.
A native of the conservative Antelope Valley, Calif., Burton
fittingly developed an anti-war stance while growing up in an area
where government aircraft are often tested. But he credits his
father for exposing him to liberal ideas at a young age.
“I was kicked out of class a lot because I would bring up
things the teacher didn’t want to talk about,” Burton
said. “I also think going from white suburbia to a big
college opened my eyes to many things and different
cultures.”
With TV and video games barred from his household while growing
up, Burton had plenty of time to develop into a voracious reader
(he completed “The Lord of the Rings” seven times
before catching the film), an avid rock climber, an award-winning
bird-watcher and, of course, a fledgling musician.
“When I was 13, the first song that made me think about
the power of music was “˜Fast Car’ by Tracy
Chapman,” Burton said. “It made me realize that you can
really reach people with music and words.”
Burton began writing songs, and joining punk and industrial
bands when he was 17. However, it was hip-hop poet Saul Williams
who woke him up to music’s ability to shape social
consciousness.
“When I was in high school, I was into Nirvana and Rage
Against the Machine, the punk scene and the industrial
scene,” Burton said. “It wasn’t until I started
looking to Saul Williams that I began seeing the diversity of
artistry you can have as a musician.”
Burton, who also co-founded an animal rights group on campus,
has no problem with people tagging him as a political
singer-songwriter ““ a man with a guitar and a cause. He
believes his music can give his fans a cause.
“Politics isn’t just about voting,” Burton
said. “It’s about your daily life and being informed.
Who are the judges on the Supreme Court? Who is your senator? Can I
run for office? Anyone can run for office. There are so many
positions. Most of the time on city councils, there’s just no
competition. If you sign up, you’ll win. My punker friend
almost won sheriff.”
This Neil Young in baggy pants understands that his beliefs
““ he’s a self-professed anarchist and vegan ““ and
songs may not be music to the ears of corporate America.
“I look to people like Ozomatli and others who have risen
up by building their own grassroots movements without going to
major labels,” Burton said. “I don’t ever look to
go to a major label. Ani DiFranco is a good example. They’ve
really done a lot of good things locally.”
Despite Burton’s insistence on political consciousness for
himself, he simply wants to present his art on stage, not run some
kind of a campaign trail.
“Fans are a weird dimension that I’m not quite
accustomed to yet,” Burton said. “Anybody that comes to
my show sort of knows what I’m going to say. I don’t
know if I need to build a fan base, but I know I need to
perform.”