By John Hayes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mike Stout doesn't beat around the Bush. He's mad as hell about the war in Iraq, and he's not gonna take it anymore.  On his eighth politically charged, self-released album, the 54-year-old Pittsburgher wages a shock and awe campaign that he calls "War and Resistance." The opening salvos will be launched tomorrow in a CD release party with activist singer-songwriter Anne Feeney at Bloomfield Bridge Tavern. There's nothing subtle about Stout's approach to songwriting, no middle ground in his leftist ideology. In the Woody Guthrie tradition, his songs reflect contemporary issues without resorting to journalism. They're more like partisan op-ed columns that grab political opponents by the throat and don't let go. "I think the trick to doing it like an op-ed piece is to not preach," says Stout. "You tell the story from the heart, not from the head. Whether the issue is the war or unemployment or social justice, you make [the song] a hard-hitting piece that people can relate to from the heart." Stout fleshes out his editorial opinions with a band of brothers who have for decades waged war against local musical timidness. Co-produced by Fred Nelson, former guitarist for Pittsburgh's raunchiest hair band, Triple X, recording sessions at Soundscape Studios included Triple X drummer Chris Procopio, The Granati Brothers' Hermie Granati and jazz saxophonist Robbie Klein. "This album was a major breakthrough for me," says Stout. "The musicians came in with their artistic visions and helped to reinforce what I was trying to say. "Rachel Corrie," written for the American social activist who was run over by an Israeli vehicle in the process of knocking down a Palestinian house, reflects in music what Stout says in words. "I think it's a solemn song," he says, "a folk requiem. That's why I used violins and cellos." While "Homestead Town" was co-produced by Nelson and Matt Herrington with a homespun bluegrass ambiance, much of the music explodes with bunker-busting fury equal to Stout's lyrics.

"I think people [at the show] can expect to hear a lot of truth and have a good time," he says. "Part of the time it will be quiet and laid back, but I'm gonna rock their socks off, too, because I have some of the best musicians in town playing with me."