Episode 181 - Avi Salloway

Above The Basement - Boston Music and Conversation

Like so many of the Boston musicians we have talked to, Avi Salloway from the band Billy Wylder is a very thoughtful guy who has learned that as an activist, you need to understand how to be an ally.

Avi just released a new EP called Whatcha Looking For and we were fortunate enough to hear a few tunes from it. He has played music around the globe, from working with Israeli and Palestinian youth to develop creative nonviolent tools for social change with the Non Profit organization Heartbeat, to his travels to Standing Rock to unite with the native-led nonviolent movement to resist the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Avi shows up.

Not only does he show up, but he does so with some pretty incredible musicians, notably Tuareg guitar master, Bombino, and other renowned artists like Jack Johnson, Pete Seeger, Celia Woodsmith of Della Mae, and a slew of other Boston musicians who make this city a great place for the arts.

His belief in the power of music to unite and face challenges is incredible and if we could all have his kind of optimism, the world would be a better place.