Gearing up for Artist Activism Camp V

Jolie Holland

[UPDATE: Now with Saul Williams!!!]

Things are coming together for the fifth installment of FMC and Air Traffic Control's Artist Activism Camp, which takes place in New Orleans on May 19-22. And as always, the retreat — where up-and-coming and established musicians from around the country come together to talk about ways to incorporate activism into their lives as artists — includes an all-star concert with performances from all the musician attendees.

This year's show at the legendary Tipitina's is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. We're still waiting on confirmation from a participant or two, but we're so excited about who's confirmed, we just have to spill the beans. Here's what we can tell you.

Artists appearing at "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home V" include Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jolie Holland, John Langford (Waco Brothers, Mekons), Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, R.E.M.), Laura Viers, Vijay Iyer, Erin McKeown, Bonerama, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Martin Perna (Antibalas, Ocote Soul Sounds) and Paul Sanchez.

Tickets for the event are available at www.tipitinas.com and in person at the Tipitina’s box office. Admission is $12, with all proceeds benefiting Sweet Home New Orleans — a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for Katrina displaced musicians, Mardi Gras performers and other traditional New Orleans artists.

More to come!

Good News From New Orleans!

Al "Carnival Time" Johnson plays the "Hope for Home" benefit house party in 2007.

Regular readers will be familiar with FMC's efforts to help New Orleans musicians, like our annual Artist Activism Camp and benefit concert, where artists from around the country come together to discuss best practices for advocacy and play a show to help NOLA musicians still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

One such musician, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, just got great news. As of December 29, the New Orleans R&B and Mardis Gras legend has brand new digs, courtesy Habitat for Humanity. Al lost everything in Katrina, including his longtime dwelling in the Lower Ninth Ward. Now he can finally come home.

This was a long time coming, and represents the hard work and generous support of individuals and groups like Sweet Home New Orleans — a non-profit that helps Big Easy artists get back to their neighborhoods and communities.

Congrats to Al on his new place!

Damian Kulash of OK Go in Huffingon Post

OK Go's Damian Kulash is one committed musician-activist. Not only does he keep up to speed on important issues like net neutrality, he's also deeply concerned for New Orleans residents still struggling to put their lives back together after Hurricane Katrina.

Damian is a veteran of FMC's Artist Activism Camp, which brings together musicians to talk about the best ways to engage in positive social change. These yearly events culminate in an all-star benefit concert for NOLA musicians like Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, who lost everything in the storm.

OK Go and Big Easy brass band Bonerama recently released an iTunes-only EP, called You're Not Alone, which benefits the same cause. But Damian hasn't stopped there. Last week, he wrote a moving article for the Huffington Post about his experiences in New Orleans. Check it out here.

OK Go & Bonerama Pics

OK Go & Bonerama

The other day we promised to show you some pictures of the February 2 show with OK Go & Bonerama at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club.

Well, here they are, freshly loaded onto our Flickr page.

If you haven't yet picked up your (digital) copy of OK Go & Bonerama's You're Not Alone EP, click here. Remember, it's for a great cause — proceeds go towards building a Habitat for Humanity home for New Orleans music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson.

Music, Technology, Politics & Mardis Gras

Happy Super-Duper (and Fat) Tuesday!

Not too long ago we posted about Presidential hopefuls' various positions on technology, with an eye towards net neutrality. Well, the other day, we stumbled across a list of their views on related issues like copyright and intellectual property. Some of this information is dated, because a few candidates have since quit the race. But it's still pretty illuminating.

And here's another candidate-tech chart.

If all that's too wonky for you, you might want to have a look at this Guardian UK round-up of which musicians are supporting which candidates.

Let's skip the election talk get back to Fat Tuesday, otherwise known as Mardis Gras. Today is the day to pick up your digital copy of OK Go & Bonerama's awesome collaborative EP, You're Not Alone, which is available exclusively through iTunes. Last Saturday, the two groups put on a kick-ass performance at Washington D.C.'s 9:30 Club — this mini-album makes a great memento or offers a taste of what you missed.

The sold-out concert raised more than $8000 for Big Easy legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and Sweet Home New Orleans — a group that helps bring back the city's displaced musicians. Read more about it here. We'll be posting pictures of the show soon, so stay tuned.

Here's a link to a short CMJ article about the EP.

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.

Musicians Help New Orleans Musicians

OK Go

Last week, FMC and Air Traffic Control got their indie-rock on at two concerts to benefit New Orleans musicians still struggling to secure housing after Hurricane Katrina.

The first show, "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home III," took place in the Parish Room of the New Orleans House of Blues on Thursday, January 10. Performers included Nellie McKay, Jon Langford & Sally Timms of The Mekons, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket, Charles Bissell of The Wrens, Kimya Dawson, Timothy Bracy of the Mendoza Line, Janet Bean of Freakwater and members of Bonerama, who provided sure-footed backup during several artists' sets. Need we say it rocked?

Here are some cool shots of the evening's festivities from NOLA.com.

The concert came at the end of FMC & ATC's annual Artist Activism Camp, which brings musicians together to discuss best practices for artist advocacy. During the two-day meeting, attendees went on a tour of New Orleans, checking in with Ninth Ward musicians about efforts to revitalize their community. Thursday night's show was a benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans — a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for artists scattered by Katrina.

The following night, January 11, saw infectious pop-rockers OK Go join up with New Orleans funk faves Bonerama for a show to benefit Crescent City music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, who lost everything in the hurricane. The two groups have also collaborated on an iTunes-only EP, You're Not Alone, which features Al on a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." The mini-album will be released on February 5, just in time for Mardis Gras!

Check out pictures from the gig here.

Bummed you missed the NOLA show(s)? You can still catch OK Go and Bonerama when they perform at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC on February 2 — which will be streamed and podcast by NPR. It, too, is a benefit for Al Johnson and SHNO, so don't miss this opportunity to help out Big Easy musicians in need.

Stay tuned for more info on this exciting event.

Bhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifenefit Concerts for New Orleans Musicians

Happy New Year!

We at FMC are always pleased when musicians donate their time and energy to help other musicians. So we're psyched about two shows taking place in New Orleans next week that benefit artists still struggling in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The first event takes place on Thursday, January 10 in the Parish Room of New Orleans' House of Blues. "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home III" features Jon Langford & Sally Timms of The Mekons, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket, Charles Bissell of The Wrens, Kimya Dawson (who recently contributed eight songs to the hit movie Juno), Timothy Bracy of the Mendoza Line, Janet Bean of Freakwater and Craig Klein, Mat Perrine, Eric Bolivar & Bert Cotton of Bonerama. The concert is a benefit for Sweet Home New Orleans — a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for the city’s cultural ambassadors.musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Tickets are available here.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune just wrote an item about this first show.

The following night, OK Go and Bonerama play a concert at Tipitina's to aid New Orleans music legend Al “Carnival Time” Johnson and Sweet Home New Orleans. Tickets are available here. OK Go and Bonerama have also collaborated on an EP for the same cause, to be released in February. The two groups will also play at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club on February 2. Stay tuned for further news about that show.

Check out this press release for more info on both New Orleans events.

Mike Mills: a Friend to Musicians

Mike Mills of R.E.M. is just plain awesome. Not only does he play bass and sing backup for one of the longest-running and influential "alternative" rock bands in America, he's also a dedicated supporter of musician causes.

Currently, Mike is hard at work putting the final touches on R.E.M.'s 14th(!) studio album, but being the generous fellow he is, he's made time to come to Washington, D.C. for tomorrow's benefit house party for Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and Sweet Home New Orleans.

There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event -- only ten at last count! For info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org. If you can't make it, please consider making a donation.

We've been blogging about the shindig all week; read the previous entries here, here and here.

Pitchfork also ran a couple of news items about the party.

We at FMC are thrilled to have Mike Mills on board for this worthy event. And it's certainly not out of character. Last November, Mike played a concert at legendary Big Easy venue Tipitina's to benefit Arabi Wrecking Krewe and the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic. "Future of Music Coalition presents: Musicians Bringing Musicians Home" also featured Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker, Tom Morello, the Coup's Boots Riley, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, and Allison Moorer.

In October of last year, Mike testified before the FCC in Los Angeles at a hearing on media ownership held at UCLA. He talked about the harm consolidation has done to radio, speaking eloquently about the importance of localism and diversity on the dial.

We applaud Mike's ongoing commitment to bettering the lives of his fellow musicians and look forward to hearing him perform with Al Johnson at Saturday's party. See you there?

Sweet Home New Orleans: Helping New Orleans Musicians Return Home

On December 1, FMC and Sweet Home New Orleans invite you to join Mike Mills of R.E.M. at a Washington, DC house party to aid one of the Big Easy's most beloved musicians, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event; for info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org.

We figured this would be a fine time to post about the event's beneficiaries, sponsors and special guests. Today's entry is about Sweet Home New Orleans, a fantastic group that aids Crescent City musicians.

Sweet Home New Orleans is a collective that works to revitalize New Orleans music community by connecting artists impacted by Hurricane Katrina to an array of social services, while providing direct assistance for relocation and housing. SHNO’s goal is to help New Orleans retain and maintain its unique musical culture, by helping its artists and performers return to and stay in their old neighborhoods. This is accomplished through relocation, rental and renovation assistance for affected musicians.

According to SHNO data, out of 4,500 musicians who previously called New Orleans home, nearly 3,000 have yet to secure stable housing in the city post-Katrina. 1,500 of these families remain displaced outside the metro area.

Here's some more info from the Sweet Home New Orleans Website:

• Sweet Home New Orleans directs resources to this community through an innovative data-sharing system that connects local and national service providers.
  
• Since opening its intake center in June of 2007, Sweet Home has served 250 tradition bearers with $150,000 in housing aid, and approximately $96,000 in assistance from its network of partners.
  
• Sweet Home New Orleans administers housing assistance through a case management system that addresses each household’s needs holistically.

New Orleans' rich and vibrant culture has contributed to almost all of our nation's musical idioms, from jazz and funk to rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll. At the heart of it all are New Orleans' musicians, whose oversized talent and contagious energy make up the soul and spirit of the Big Easy. We applaud SHNO's commitment in helping Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and many other musical talents reestablish their community and cultural roots.

The Amazing Al "Carnival Time" Johnson

On December 1, FMC and Sweet Home New Orleans invite you to join Mike Mills of R.E.M. at a Washington, DC house party to aid one of the Big Easy's most beloved musicians, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event; for info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org.

We figured now is a perfect time for a few posts about Al, Sweet Home New Orleans, and the importance of protecting the Crescent City's cultural heritage. Let's start with the guest of honor.

Alvin Lee Johnson is better known to everyone in New Orleans as Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. His famous song, "Carnival Time", originally recorded in February 1960, has become a Mardi Gras tradition, and it continues to be performed every Mardi Gras/Carnival Time season.

But Al, like many musicians in New Orleans, was a victim of Hurricane Katrina. The Gambit Weekly recounts his story:

"I lost everything in Katrina. I was in Mississippi for a barbecue the Saturday before the storm, and we tried to come back that day, but they wouldn't let us in." Johnson's home was on Tennessee Street in the Lower Ninth Ward. "Water filled it up. The house got moved off the foundation and back into the yard 25 feet. We came back after the storm and Armand and Patty St. Martin and the Arabi Wrecking Krewe went in and salvaged some stuff, some laminated stuff."

But his ordeal wasn't nearly over. According to Johnson, "The city came in and bulldozed the house. I didn't request it. In fact, I was trying to get them to let it stay, but they said that it was in imminent danger."

Since then, Johnson has been spending half his time in Houston and half in New Orleans. He has been approved for a house in the Musicians' Village, and there have been several benefits on his behalf. "Everything is uncertain," he says, "I had one address for years and now I don't have one."

Check out this video of Al performing at FMC's 2007 Policy Summit in D.C.:




Stay tuned for a closer look at Sweet Home New Orleans, and the terrific work they do.

Hope for Home

On December 1, FMC and Sweet Home New Orleans invite you to join Mike Mills of R.E.M. at a Washington, DC house party to aid one of the Big Easy's most beloved musicians, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. There are a limited number of tickets available to this private event; for info on how you could attend, e-mail hopeforhome@futureofmusic.org.

"Hope for Home" is being organized to support the rebuilding and relocation effort for the thousands of New Orleans' musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina, including Al Johnson. The event, which takes place on Saturday, December 1, is co-hosted by FMC, Mike Mills of R.E.M., Michael Petricone and Eric and Sharapat Kessler, who have graciously opened their home for the occasion. Johnson and Mills will perform -- exciting, we know! Minimum donation is $200 per person, with 100% of proceeds going to the beneficiaries. All contributions are tax-deductible.

In addition to the performances and excellent food, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind signed material from R.E.M. and Pearl Jam.

Stay tuned for posts on Al Johnson, Sweet Home New Orleans and R.E.M., as we gear up for this worthy event.

WPFW: Why Community Radio Matters

Jenny just returned from Piety Street Recording studios in New Orleans where Damian & Tim from OK GO, Bonerama and Al "Carnival Time" Johnson were collaborating on a forthcoming benefit record to support Sweet Home New Orleans.

While there she listened obsessively to WWOZ the spectacular community radio station that features a lot of local New Orleans music. Just this morning she was sent this link to a mini movie about DC's own spectacular community radio station WPFW. It was produced by Jessica Duda who is also working on a Net Neutrality documentary. It gives you a clear picture of why it's so important to expand community and low power radio.