Srinivas Kuchibhotla was a Sikh immigrant to the USA who was murdered in February 2017 by a racist who mistook him for a Muslim – as if that was a valid excuse. His is one of eleven stories told on Marc Ribot’s new album ‘Songs of Resistance 1942 – 2018‘, which features notable guest vocalists such as Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Sam Amidon and Tift Merritt amongst others. It’s Earle singing on this track of course, but he brought more than his voice as Marc Ribot explains: “In the original version I had named the guy who shot him, but Steve changed that—he said, ‘That guy is just some poor idiot, it’s not about him, it’s about the ones who set him up.’ That kind of intelligence and wisdom coming from the artist was important to me.” Portions of the album’s proceeds will be donated to The Indivisible Project, an organization that helps individuals resist the Trump agenda via grassroots movements in their local communities.
Marc Ribot “Srinivas” – Listen
