Arlo Guthrie is still a renegade more than 40 years after his music debuted. Although Guthrie is a registered Republican, he’s not afraid to voice opinions in opposition to the party line. Perhaps what sets Guthrie apart is that he still creates music just for the joy of it, unlike some other socially conscious artists that use music only as a political platform.

“When you really enjoy it, the music is better,” said Guthrie of his love for performing. “People in the audience can tell the difference between those who enjoy performing and [something akin to] a trained seal routine.”