Friday, February 1, 2008

OK Go & Bonerama — Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together


OK Go

Lots of excitement here at FMC this week, as pop-rock princes OK Go and New Orleans brass-funk act Bonerama are coming to D.C.'s 9:30 Club this Saturday, February 2. (Also known as the day before the Superbowl.)

The concert is a benefit to raise money for NOLA music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and Sweet Home New Orleans — an organization that provides housing and rental assistance to musicians scattered by the storm.

The bad news is, the show is completely sold out. The good news is, the show is completely sold out. The former is true if you're a fan who doesn't already have tickets. The latter is true if you care about the ongoing struggles facing Big Easy musicians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

But if you're not in the area or don't have tickets, there's still an exciting way for you to help the cause. On Tuesday, February 5, OK Go and Bonerama will release a collaborative, iTunes-only EP called You're Not Alone. The 5-song mini-album boasts an inspired take on David Bowie's "Rock and Roll Suicide," and also features Al Johnson on a cover of the Bob Dylan classic "I Shall Be Released."

Confession time: we've heard You're Not Alone, and can tell you unequivocally, it's awesome. Don't believe us? Check out this Blogcritics review of the EP. And make sure you stand in digital line bright and early next Tuesday to get your copy.

OK Go and Bonerama first met at FMC and Air Traffic Control's annual Artist Activism Camp, which brings musicians together in New Orleans to discuss best practices for positive social change. Attendees also tour the the Lower Ninth Ward to hear from residents about efforts to revitalize their communities.

Check out these articles in Washington Times and the Washington Post Express, to read how OK Go's Damian Kulash was affected by his experiences in New Orleans.

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