And just in case there's any doubt, so do the rest of the members of Pearl Jam.
That much you could probably guess, since the band announced last week that it's performing a concert in Missoula on Aug. 29 to bolster Tester's bid to oust Republican Sen. Conrad Burns.
The answer lies in the mind of the soft-spoken Ament, a Montana-raised musician who, like the rest of his band mates, wears his politics clearly on his sleeve.
"It's hard for us not to be involved with things," says Ament, in an interview from his Missoula home. "When you have so much information and you see so much need, there's too much going on for us not to get involved."
Pearl Jam's politics and stance on social issues are well-known, as are its social-activism credentials. When the band first rocketed to fame 15 years ago, it was tough to decide what to back and when, said Ament.
"It was hard to figure out what were the good causes, the bad causes, even the good politics and the bad politics. So we started taking requests and figuring it out."
In the case of Senate hopeful Tester, there is the obvious hometown connection. Ament, like Tester, grew up in Big Sandy, a small farming community 80 miles northeast of Great Falls, where everybody knows your name and probably the ph level of your soil.
But for Ament, it's more than just that connection that got Pearl Jam involved in this race. Lead singer Eddie Vedder and Co. have backed and promoted liberal causes before (on the "activism" section of their Web site, they promote the liberal group moveon.org; and, according to Ament, "dissident-minded" writers Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn figure big in the political reading). But, as the saying goes, all politics are local. And when Ament pitched the idea of backing Tester in a concert, it didn't take much persuasion.
"They were curious about what Jon was about," says Ament. "People from Farm Aid have approached us about shows. We'd just never done it. So part of my pitch to the band is that this IS farm aid. Š If (Tester) was elected to the Senate, he could potentially, over a term or two, have a big influence in changing the subsidy programs around. I really feel like he has a strong grasp on the farm world."
Tester says he considers Ament a friend, and is more than happy to have the support of Pearl Jam, even though lead singer Eddie Vedder has had some choice (and controversial) words for President Bush and the war in Iraq. In April 2003, for example, at a concert in Denver, Vedder impaled a mask of Bush on his microphone stand and then slammed it to the ground, prompting some in attendance to walk out of the concert in revulsion.
"I never looked at Pearl Jam as controversial," says Tester. "I'm sure some people would paint it that way. I appreciate the dedication that they have, particularly Jeff. That's how I look at it. I look at the things that have been done that are good."
It was Tester who hatched the idea a couple of years ago. Back in Big Sandy around the holidays, Tester approached Ament about a possible run for the Senate.
"He just made an offer then that if I ever needed any help, that's he'd give me a hand," says Tester. "He's a good guy and comes from a good family. He's the kind of guy I knew was sincere when he said it. I didn't know the flexibility the band would have. But I had made up my mind that I was sure I was going to do it."
And by Ament's recollection, it was at a Big Sandy community chili feed three years ago or so that he first heard of Tester's political aspirations. Either way, about four months ago, he got his call from Tester. And they both decided Missoula, where people may not know much about a farmer from east of the divide, would be the place to play.
"When we first talked about it, I told Jon, wherever you want to play, it's your show," says Ament. "Great Falls, Billings, just let us know where it'd do the most good. He felt like people in the east knew who he was, and maybe people in the west didn't. And I'm not going to say no to playing a show in Missoula."
Bill Lombardi, Tester's campaign spokesman, says he expect a big boost from the Pearl Jam concert.
"This really helps the campaign a lot, and pushes it into another level of credibility," he says. "Hopefully we'll raise some money, get some name recognition, and attract an audience of people who wouldn't normally be paying attention to something like this."
The Aug. 29 concert, which will be held in the Adams Center, isn't just a concert.
You'll know that the second you go to purchase your tickets, which go on sale Saturday.
You're not just a concertgoer. You're a campaign contributor.
And you're a campaign contributor in an election for federal office. Have your ID ready. And get ready to fill out some paperwork.
There are about 234 pages of federal laws and regulations regarding elections. The federal government doesn't hand out convenient little pamphlets, after all, unless it's about radon safety or ways to keep your kids from smoking herb. You get those pamphlets in Pueblo, Colo.
The parties that are bringing together Tester and Pearl Jam have spent a lot of time with their lawyers, making sure that everything is square with the enforcers of campaign finance law.
"We're definitely playing this by the book to make sure this is by the book," says Elizabeth Wilhelm, director of UM Productions.
The Montana Code of Ethics stipulates that no public institution can promote a political event, so no tickets will be sold at the Adams Center or the UC Box Office, where normally people would line up to get concert tickets at an event in the Adams Center. UM Productions is merely serving as the arbiter between concertgoers and the Pearl Jam/Tester production.
"We're not doing anything differently than we would do for any other client," says Wilhelm. "Our work starts once the contracts are all signed. Basically, we're trying to make things smooth with the band."
Lombardi said he and Tester are aware of the potential pitfalls of not following the letter of the law.
"You have to work through all the channels to make sure you do it right," he says. "That's what we've been doing with all the folks at UM. Everybody involved has complied with Federal Election Commission rules and guidelines. Š It's a lot more work than just putting on a concert."
Adds Tester:
"They're pretty strict, and we anticipated we'd have to jump through the hoops. We knew it wouldn't be a cakewalk. But we're comfortable with it."
TICKETS AND RESTRICTIONS
Tickets for the Aug. 29 Pearl Jam concert will go on sale Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m. ONLY through limited TicketsWest outlets, including the Big Sky Brewery in Missoula, online at www.ticketswest.com or by phone at 1-800-325-SEAT (7328) on a first-come, first-served basis. (They are not available at the Adams Center or the UC Box Office). Ticket prices are $46 plus applicable service charges. Outlets will only accept credit card purchases. Fans will be allowed to purchase up to four tickets apiece.
You cannot purchase tickets on behalf of a corporation, labor organization, federal contractor or national bank You cannot be a federal contractor You cannot pay cash Because of limitations on individual contributions to campaigns, you cannot purchase more than four tickets Purchase of tickets constitutes a political contribution and is not tax-deductible on your federal income taxes Ticket buyers must provide their name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer in accordance with federal laws for campaign contribution reportingReach Entertainer editor Jamie Kelly at 523-5254 or at jkelly@missoulian.com.
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