Celebrity involvement in causes and issues can sometimes land with a dull thud, but when the individual has done their homework, especially on an issue, which is deeply and personally resonant, their contributions and insights can be quite moving and stirring indeed.
Dave Matthews definitely has some worthwhile thoughts to share on the matter of mountain top removal coal mining. Tonic’s friends at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) clued us in to an exclusive interview that the guitarist and leader of his eponymous band recently gave as part of his participation in a concert last month dedicated to raising awareness on the permanent damage that the mining practice is known to unleash.
As we wrote back in March as a preview to the Music Saves Mountains concert held May 19 at Nashville, Tenn.’s Ryman Auditorium, NRDC enlisted the talents and time of several prominent recording artists. Representing several popular music genres, the participating musicians banded together to mobilize the impact of music to crystallize awareness and support around how important it is that we seek alternatives to mining practices that drastically and permanently destroy the character of the Appalachian landscape.
Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow were among the artists that joined Matthews at last month’s event where performers entertained and urged their fans to learn more about the practice and its consequences, to stay engaged and take action.
“Wherever there’s a battle, a reasonable battle, a balanced battle for the environment, I just think it’s ok to be on the right side.”
In a three and a half minute clip that NRDC shared with Tonic, Matthews shared his thoughts backstage at the May event on the need to protect a threatened landscape and move away from the false dichotomy that pits jobs and the environment against each other.
Coming off as well-informed, measured but impassioned, Matthews’ reflections seem to strike just the right chords.
Photo by Moses via Wikimedia Commons.