The Fourth of July. America celebrates its independence and itself, its freedom, and its pot. Two separate concerts were held on the mall to revel and rejoice in the benefits of marijuana. One was set on the Ellipse, just down from the seat of power of the Western World; the other at 23rd and Constitution, on a ballfield adjacent to perhaps one of the most moving monuments on American soil, the Lincoln Memorial.
My travels first took me to the Ellipse during the afternoon. A stage platform was set up and a band called Decapitate was playing. There was a good crowd present, spread across the lawn on blankets. The band was "death metal" and loud, sounding along the lines of Pantera. The lead singer was jumping around the stage hoarsely screaming into the microphone. They had a lot of energy for that early on a hot summer afternoon. But most of the crowd was lounging, still soaking up the rays.
This event was considered by Leatrice (one of the organizers) as a "side stage" to the main rally/concert being held at 23rd and Constitution. Its official title is the Yippie Cannabis Re-Legalization Rally and Concert, yippies being the originators of smoke-ins. Apparently, this "side show" is being held separately from the main concert due to some differences in approaches to the subject of legalization between the two groups who had the rally/concerts. Though still friendly, they prefer to do their own things.
Leatrice introduced the next band, Betty Blue, who weren't too bad at all; sounding more mainstream, but driving. Not too long into the set, a cop car came screaming across the grounds, causing the crowd to part wildly. Screeching to a halt in the middle of the gathering, the cop (apparently an undercover narc....well, not anymore) emerged proclaiming that smoking pot was a crime and warning everyone they would be busted if caught. Needless to say, marijuana is illegal, but this approach by the cops was unnecessary and inciting. Besides distracting attention from the band and nearly hitting some people with his car, he created a stir which Leatrice attempted to diffuse from the stage, begging people to come back and hear the music and leave the cops alone. Yet she couldn't resist lambasting the police some for their actions. Apparently the narc is a familiar face to the organizers, having harassed people in the past. In a terse meeting with Leatrice near the band stage, the cops threatened her with a charge for inciting a riot due to some of her comments from on stage. However, the crowd remained calm, despite the fears of the police. I, on the other hand, gathered my stuff and left, some of the magic of freedom of assembly dispelled.
I then schlepped up to 23rd and Constitution to catch the main rally/concert/28th annual smoke-in organized by John Pylka, a native Washingtonian (he made that very clear) who has been transplanted to Berkeley, CA. The aim of this concert was to promote changes in the marijuana laws through political channels.
Having started at Lafayette Park with a rally and speeches, the people marched to the site to start the concert. The Lafayette rally seemed subdued, (people sitting on the grass with flowers in their hair) aside from the animated speakers. The one gentleman I caught was very vocal and very anti-establishment. Blasting the FDA and all laws concerning all Schedule I drugs, he sounded a little crazy. He was too anti-everything, more just ranting and raving than trying to effect a possible change. He sounded overboard. He believed in what he was saying, but his radical stance turned me off rather than inspiring me.
The concert however was superb. I showed up in the middle of Jah Works (a good reggae band), and the crowd, though spread all over the ballpark field, still seemed concentrated and enjoying themselves immensely. In between sets different people would speak for ten to fifteen minutes. In this short amount of time, one band would very efficiently get off stage and the next would be set up and ready to play.
The speeches were impassioned, yet not so radical as the rally at Lafayette would have led me to expect. Between extolling the virtues of hemp and past memories of activism, they constantly called for political action from the crowd, reminding them this was America, and they could vote to change things. Referencing California and Arizona, they informed the revelers that similar proposals were coming up in Maryland and Virginia and asked them to please vote. Their message was clear: There were things you could do and it was your right, so do them. Even throwing self-deprecating jabs at themselves and their lifestyle, they told everyone, "...not to go home and get high and sit on your couch and forget, go out and vote." The editor of High Times even made an appearance and spoke some. One in-between speech even turned into a hemp fashion show with attendees modeling the latest clothes made of hemp, since as the organizers proclaimed, "Hemp is the textile of the future."
However, as always, it was the bands that stole the show and who the people came to see. And to offset the costs of producing this concert/rally, all the bands journeyed there and played for free. As mentioned before, Jah Works was a great reggae band. The horn section was right on. They had a wonderful late afternoon groove working. Buzzy Lindren played next and was well received. His music ranged from down home B.B. King delta blues to a folksy country twang reminiscent of 1967 flower children gatherings in San Francisco. The Recipe also played, and as always were superb. Opening with a cover of "U.S. Blues", the crowd connected well with the band and their fun jamming-style of music. Joined again by their conga player after a time without him, the band sounded great. And for a small outdoor concert, the sound system was good wherever you were in the park.
The rally/concert went well, and despite the obvious presence of police around the perimeters, most people got high and had a free time. And after all, it was Independence Day.