Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye Surprised NYC Early Voters, Busking ‘People Have the Power’ on a Street Corner

Rock Cellar Magazine Staffon November 3, 2020Categories:Latest News
Rock Cellar Magazine

A group of New Yorkers out for early voting earlier this week received a rousing pep talk in the form of an unexpected rendition of “People Have the Power,” the classic 1988 song from Patti Smith, performed by the legendary singer/songwriter/activist and her longtime colleague, guitarist Lenny Kaye.

As the video shows, Smith removed her face covering briefly to sing the song, keeping distance from those around her. Some of the crowd chips in and helps Smith song the song, which makes for a pretty excellent scene:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

to wrestle the world from fools #pattismith #lennykaye #peoplehavethepower #kurimanzutto #TITAN #damianortega #breezucker #useyourvoice #vote

A post shared by Zoe Leonard (@zoe_leonard_studio) on

More, via Brooklyn Vegan:

The video was shot by Zoe Leonard and reposted by the Joy to the Polls campaign, which also commissioned tons of musicians to make playlists to listen to while you wait on line to vote. Joy to the Polls wrote:

Singing to voters in the streets is so punk! We love @thisispattismith bringing people power to the polls with this impromptu performance in NYC earlier this week.

You don’t have to be the Godmother of Punk to surprise and delight voters in long voting lines! How are you bringing #JoyToThePolls on Tuesday? Check out the link in our bio for a toolkit for artists and performers.

lenny kayePatti Smithpeople have the powervoting
Related Posts
Rock Cellar Magazine

June 11, 2021

Out Now: Garbage as Fierce and Focused as Ever with Timely New Album ‘No Gods No Masters’ (Listen)
Rock Cellar Magazine

January 15, 2021

Rest in Peace, New York Dolls Guitarist Sylvain Sylvain: 1951-2021
Rock Cellar Magazine

October 6, 2020

The Electoral College: Save it or Dump It?