Surviving the Sixties

At present, Sinclair's work is not nearly as propagandistic as it once was, but he does not see it as apolitical. "My feelings and beliefs are pretty much part of my central personality core," he says. "And really, I work with African-American music as a form--and for a white person to commit themselves to the furtherance of this music without really being into it for personal gain is political enough in this racist society." Occasionally, people expecting Sinclair to preach about the overthrow of the ruling class will come to his concerts. "Three or four, maybe, proportionate to their place in the country right now," he remarks. "But we're mainly about making a musical registration, and after working on it for three or four years, we've got a pretty convincing offering."

Does Sinclair still hope for a day when justice is not such a rare commodity? Of course--such dreams are part of his Sixties legacy. "But right now I'm concentrating on getting to the next phase," he says. "The one where you pay the rent on the first of the month."

John Sinclair, with the Rocky Mountain Blues Scholars. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, August 9, Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street, $6, 294-9258.