Singer Cockburn still a vital, critical voice from the north

The folk-rock/jazz singer is clearly not a fan of cupidity: "The world situation is worsening in large part because of the unfettered wave of greed," Cockburn says by phone from his tour bus. "Greed used to be a deadly sin, but now it's a cardinal virtue. The business leaders have sold people on the notion that each of us deserves more than his neighbors. That's a sick way to run a country -- and maintaining social justice in an atmosphere like that is very difficult."

Perhaps because he lives in Montreal, Cockburn can get away with a lot more protest statements than many American artists (read: Dixie Chicks). "I also don't depend on country radio," he says. "And I think that some of [the Chicks' audience] would just prefer them not to be politically involved."

Cockburn, an activist who has joined benefits to ban land mines and nuclear power, has noticed how many American artists have become more timid in speaking out for fear of a backlash. "There's been a pall and a self-censorship, starting with Clear Channel's ridiculous banning of some records after 9/11," he says.

He also worries about America's new office of Homeland Security, set up after 9/11. "It's the nature of bureaucracy that when things slow down, they've still got to make up things to do," he notes. "And with all the criticism that people might level toward America, the one thing they still respect is America's freedom. But if you lose that, you lose the whole thing."

But Cockburn doesn't just sling arrows south of the Canadian border.

In the title track to "You've Never Seen Everything," he also swipes at some Canadian police: "The Mounties are strip-searching schoolgirls because they can," he sings, backed by Tom Waits's rhythm section and Emmylou Harris on harmony. And in "Postcards From Cambodia," he decries the longtime violence in that country in a spoken-word recitative: "Outside Phnom Penh there's a town . . . filled with skulls from the killing fields."

As vocal as he is, however, Cockburn is not without hope. The new album's last song, the acoustic ballad "Messenger Wind," ends with the verse: "Messenger winds swooping out of the sky, lights each tiny speck in the human kaleidoscope with hope." (The song was written in Montpelier, Vt., where Cockburn dated a woman in recent years.)

Cockburn, who attended Boston's Berklee College of Music in the '60s, also has some beautiful love songs on the new album, notably "Put It in Your Heart." And other guests such as Jackson Browne and fellow Canadian Sarah Harmer help make it one of the best, and most haunting, records of his 27-album career. The CD is out on Cambridge's Rounder Records, which also just reissued some of his earlier discs this week.

At Berklee tonight, Cockburn performs as part of a four-piece band including keyboardist Julie Wolf, who has toured with Ani DiFranco and recently did studio sessions for Kris Delmhorst.

Caught around town: Hubert Sumlin at the Regent Theatre: Sumlin, known best for his legendary guitar playing with Howlin' Wolf, had a lung removed last year but has recuperated miraculously. He looked great and played even better. His tone and phrasing were exquisite, and he rocked gorgeously on some Wolf material, while backed by guest guitar brethren Jay Geils and Kid Bangham. It was part of the Boston Blues Festival and couldn't have been a finer showcase for it. Dennis Brennan at the Independent: Brennan has resumed his Wednesday residency at the Independent in Union Square -- and he hasn't lost a step. Last week's set featured not only his own stellar roots-rock tunes (backed by guitarists Duke Levine and Kevin Barry) but also covers that ranged around the musical map, from the Beatles to Gram Parsons to a joyous version of Charlie Rich's "Mohair Sam."

Bits and pieces: Look for Sarah McLachlan to perform at the Orpheum Theatre on Dec. 16 as part of a MIX 98.5-sponsored holiday show. And expect Dido to be at the KISS Jingle Ball sponsored by KISS-108 at the Tsongas Arena around that same time. Official announcements and ticket details to come. . . . Arlo Guthrie has booked five nights at Club Passim starting Nov. 3. . . . Tonight: Keller Williams at the Somerville Theatre, the So & So's at T.T. the Bear's, Swinging Steaks at the Sea Note in Hull, High as the Moon (a Black Crowes tribute band) at Bill's Bar. . . . Tomorrow: Longwave at the Paradise, Killing Joke at Axis, Alice Cooper at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Mike Errico at Harpers Ferry. . . . Sunday: UK Subs at Axis.