The Nightwatchman

• Genre: Political Folk & Protest Songs
• Hometown: Los Angeles
• The Nightwatchman Website

About

Best known for his innovative six-string skills and masterful electrical effects as guitarist for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, Tom Morello shifts to a folksy alter ego with the Nightwatchman, which was quite the shocker for fans of his hard-core origins. Trading an electric guitar for an acoustic, Morello decided to put his passion for political and social activism at the forefront with Woody Guthrie-style folk and leftist lyrics fueled with bitterness toward government deception and social injustice. As the Nightwatchman, he first began playing in Los Angeles coffeehouses before touring with Billy Bragg and recording the song "No One Left" for Songs and Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11. The Nightwatchman's debut, One Man Revolution, was released in April 2007, showcasing Morello's gruff baritone and acoustic playing for one of the first times. Aside from his music, Morello, along with Serj Tankian of System of a Down, cofounded Axis of Justice, a nonprofit organization aimed at fighting social injustice.

- Stephanie Benson