When musicians wax political, the results are usually laughable and rarely illuminating. With this in mind, we link to OC Weekly freelancer Ben Westhoff's blog, where he's posted the presidential preferences (or noncommittal blather) of several rock and rap figures he's recently interviewed. Their responses are fascinating, if only to get a glimpse into the workings of creative people's minds regarding subjects of which they're insufficiently informed.

Then there's DMX's infamous observations about Barack Obama (who he?), which is discussed in the video below.

Los Angeles producer Daedelus' newest side project is FMB (Fire Magic Blood), featuring Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra) and Taz Arnold. They've just posted a brief NSFW track ("Obama," for clarity's sake) that bluntly urges you to vote for Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton beat him in yesterday's California Democratic primary, so the song's political usefulness leaves something to be desired—although it should do fine with moving people to dance. Expect more from FMB as the year progresses. They have nine months to work on something more effective before the election.

As my colleague Erin DeWitt has pointed out, other than Machine Head and a couple of anonymous House of Blues employees, none of the main mucky-mucks involved in the Disney-bans-metal controversy are talking. At all. And the speech clampdown has filtered down through all levels of the Anaheim HOB, so much that not even the bartenders, security or service-industry workers will sing.

That's what I found last night at the Rentals/Copeland/Goldenboy show. Asked a server in the restaurant, “Hey, what's this about metal shows being banned?” -- got a “You'll have to ask someone inside the club.”

Asked one of the wand-waving security dudes: “I don't know anything about that.”

Asked the upstairs patio bartender, one who looked vaguely “metal”-ish with his scraggly goatee, who might have wanted to vent his pissed-offness to me (and after I told him about reading an LA Times article about the ban over the weekend): “I dunno, I don't read newspapers...” then, pointing to a fellow barkeep nearby, “...and neither does she.”

Guy, you better be making some serious bank at your job if you're that afraid of losing it.

Anaheim’s House Of Blues cancellation of the Machine Head show earlier this month was just the beginning in Disney’s slow and steady elimination of all things metal.

Immediately after the cancellation, Machine Head released a statement citing the venue’s reasons for canceling the show (with just a 48 hour notice) as “undesirable fans” and “offensive lyrics”. Within days, Orlando’s House Of Blues, also on Disney property, dropped the band’s Sept. 17 date.

Rumors started to swirl that Disney had heavily pressured and even threatened Live Nation (the promoter who owns the House Of Blues chain) to eliminate the show even though it meant the venue would be dark that night.

Disgruntled Anaheim HOB employees blamed new Talent Buyer Todd Miller, who handles all of the in-house booking, as the cause of the first cancellation. However, once the 2nd cancellation occurred across the country, it was obvious the decision came from higher up.

Miller, who had only started 2 weeks earlier, had no comment and suggested statements be obtained from Live Nation VP of Communications John Vlautin.

Vlautin had (surprise, surprise) no comment either.

Raise your hand if you saw this coming...

The powers that be at Walt Disney Properties have pressured concert promoter Live Nation into cancelling tomorrow’s Machine Head show at the House Of Blues, the reason being “violent imagery, undesirable fans and inflammatory lyrics”.

The Happiest Place On Earth? Not if you’re a metal fan. Mickey thinks you’re “undesirable”, therefore not welcome in his squeaky clean Magic Kingdom.

Censorship? Discrimination? Click here for the full story, then decide for yourself.

Cancelled less than 48 hours before the show (although tickets had been on sale for 2 months), Live Nation’s Paul McGuigan miraculously moved the show to the Glass House in Pomona with just a day’s notice.

All tickets will be honored at the Glass House on Friday September 7, for those willing to travel to Pomona instead of Anaheim (a 25 mile difference). Those unwilling to make the drive can have their tickets refunded in full.

Extra Golden chime in for Dem prez candidate Barack Obama.

The Kenyan-American quartet Extra Golden have cut a song big upping presidential hopeful Barack Obama. You can check out “Obama” (which will appear on Extra Golden's Hera Ma Nono Oct. 9) here.

Now that the Illinois Senator has this sonic backing, his chances of winning the Democratic nomination have increased dramatically. Right? I mean, listen to this song. How can you not be moved to get behind Obama's campaign after hearing its stoically uplifting vibe and steadfast momentum? Might as well give up now, Hillary...

Briefly, I'm here to show you this: The DoddPod. So named for the smirking, sun-soaked gentleman to my left, Senator (and possible future president) Christopher Dodd (D-CT). In an attempt to try to tap in to what I can only assume is the techno-savvy Gen-Y demographic (read: people like you and me), the DoddPod is relatively simple, and actually has nothing to do with an ipod. All you do is suggest a song to Chris Dodd's campaign with the form, and he'll put it up with your message. Each song will inevitably be vaguely positive and so blandly ubiquitous that it'd be impossible to have a strong opinion about any of the bands without being labeled a music snob, moron, or both. The DoddPod is an omen of how ridiculous the internet/youtube/myspace revolution is. Here's why: who the fuck cares? Honestly. Do you think anybody else is going to check this website frequently? This season it's like every politician is a fountain of shitty half-baked ideas on how to scoop up the youth vote. Suggestion, do what Obama did: pull some strings and get amazing Kenyan bands into the US.