At a time when the overlap of music, culture, and social criticism is greater than ever, Andras Jones offers us a red-hot reminder of what lurks beneath the surface in indie rock with “Politics Will Get You Gigs.” The water sounds carried my anger all the way to the Capitol Theater Backstage in Olympia, Washington, where the performance was recorded live one August night in 1999. This recording is a relic of the past, and a sharp message still starkly resonates today.
The feel-good single from Jones, “Politics Will Get You Gigs,” is the conceptual flip side of his recent track, “Hating The Haters,” which delved into the political undercurrents at play beneath the surface of indie. Jones offers his take with a droll, observational narration that illustrates how ideas of ambition, reputation, and politics have long determined the openings available to anyone allowed into music circles.
This live recording offers a rare glimpse into a track that brings the spirit and energy of life in a way that studio versions often struggle to achieve. The strum of the guitar and the slight rise in emotion behind Jones’s voice. The layers of intimacy at play here emphasize the song’s message, which, in turn, feels like it can apply directly to you as an individual and to that person over there whom everyone is pointing at. It’s a life lesson in how live performance is capable of capturing the emotion and humanity of an era.
“Politics Will Get You Gigs” hit a bump with a current-day issue when the track was blocked by Meta and unable to be promoted, as Facebook/Instagram (owned by Meta) has guidelines in place for “politics and elections.” Instead of lessening it, this actually drives home Jones’ point that the nexus of art and politics is as inescapable in 2025 as it was in 1999. Since music, after all, is ever a political act, outward or not so much as it is maintained internal to its own private plane, and Jones nails the awareness with remarkable clarity, along with wit.
It’s a fascinating listen for anyone interested in the indie rock ethos, uncut storytelling, or the rawest possible sound of a band in performance, short of holding a handycam live as they sing. And staring at one of these truths square in the face is Andras Jones, a living embodiment that some facts, as both far off and long ago as they may be, only get edgier with time.
Connect with Andras Jones on Instagram – @andrasjones
