Mixing religion with politics

Young Chang

Singer-songwriter Holly Near is all for the small gathering place, the

small crowd.

“It gives a sense of community and reminds us of who we are,” the

activist wrote in an interview done via e-mail. “This allows a kind of

intimacy. It makes it possible for me as the artist and the audience as a

community to rise up to higher ground.”

The intimacy is important especially now, she continues, when so much

“low ground” surrounds.

Near’s next small-hall show will be at the Orange Coast Unitarian

Universalist Church in Costa Mesa today.

Known for her socially conscious lyrics, her activism during the

women’s movement in the ‘70s and her musical collaborations with such

names as Ronnie Gilbert (of the folk group The Weavers) and Peter, Paul

and Mary, Near’s political bent has infused her folk, rock and

musical-theater albums for more than three decades.

Richard Scoby, an active member at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist

and producer of the concert, says this is why his church will host “An

Evening with Holly Near.”

“She’s certainly a socially conscious person, and in my church that

would make you a religious person,” he said.

Near’s newest release, “Edge,” features the tracks “Planet Called

Home,” a song suggesting helpers from elsewhere visit Earth to help us

figure things out, and “I Ain’t Afraid,” in which Near addresses people

using religion to justify war and prejudice.

The Northern California resident first entered the spotlight as a

7-year-old, at a Veteran of Foreign Wars talent show. She studied singing

and dance growing up and made films (“The Magic Garden of Stanley

Sweetheart”) and appeared in musicals (Broadway’s “Hair.”)

Near, 52, began writing songs in the early ‘70s, when she toured with

the Indochina Peace Campaign. Her work continued to address such issues

as radical lesbian feminism, her stance against the Vietnam War and other

international topics.

Her first album, “Hang in There,” (1972) responded mostly to the war

against Indochina happening at the time.

Subsequent projects included “Imagine My Surprise” (1978) and “Fire in

the Rain” (1981), which conveyed Near’s feminist approach. “Speed of

Light” (1982) reflected a broader scope and “Don’t Hold Back” (1987)

offered love songs.

“She’s always out there working on whatever social justice causes she

thinks are important,” Scoby said. “It seems to me she’s always been more

concerned with that than making a musical career.”

Near was born into a socially conscious family.

“My parents were very interested in the world,” she wrote. “They

brought it to us, out in a rural northern California town, through music

. . . My parents taught me how to think. I don’t think it is an easy

thing to do, to learn critical thinking.”

She remembers reading a pamphlet with her father some decades ago

about developing theory from the lesbian feminist movement.

“He said, ‘This is the most challenging and interesting political

thought I have read in a long time!”’ wrote Near, who came out as a

lesbian in the mid-’70s. “He was not afraid of change. I am his

daughter.”

Others who have influenced Near include her friends, whom she knows

“are in the world being their smart, sassy selves,” Dr. Bernice Reagon, a

historian of black oral tradition and the founder of Grammy

Award-winning, African American a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock;

radio host Casey Kasum, for his humanitarian work; and Dolores Huerta of

the United Farm Workers.

“And most importantly, everyday hard working community organizers who

dare to run against the storm,” added Near, who spends part of her time

speaking at universities and conferences about music, race, homophobia,

war and social change.

In concert halls and recording studios, she uses the medium of music

to communicate about the same issues.

“Music has a personal invitation into the soul,” Near wrote. “That is

why we must be welcoming but also careful. I have listened to a song with

a great melody, with great passion, and all of a sudden realized the

lyrics were asking me to be small and misinformed.”

But when music contains truth, dignity, compassion and courage, “there

is nothing as powerful as that,” she said.

FYI

* What: “An Evening with Holly Near”

* When: 8 p.m. today

* Where: Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, 1259 Victoria

St., Costa Mesa

* Cost: $35 or $25

* Call: (949) 646-4652