The National, Ben Harper join President Obama’s rally stop in Madison
Spencer Platt
The National will join Ben Harper and Mama Digdown’s Brass Band as musical guests for President Barack Obama’s Moving America Forward Rally on the Library Mall Tuesday. NBC 15 reports that Obama’s stop is the first of four scheduled rallies aimed at swelling voters’ interest in the upcoming midterm elections. Things kick off at 4:45 p.m., but the gates on Park Street open at 3:30 p.m.
The National and President Obama have supported each other since the former Illinois senator ran for office in 2008. The band designed and sold T-shirts and donated all profits to the campaign, and the Obama campaign used The National’s “Fake Empire” in commercials and campaign videos. The National’s appearance conveniently corresponds with its show with Owen Pallett at the Orpheum Theatre later that evening, though Harper is slated to perform with the President at each of his four rallies. RSVP here.
