Fellow Townspeople, I come before you one more time as an honest supplicant, begging your favor and craving your collective indulgence on behalf of a devastated nation, still reeling from the effects of disaster.
You may remember about a month ago, my company co-sponsored a benefit concert for victims of the Haiti earthquake, at which we raised nearly $6,000. What I don’t think I told you then was that the artists at the show were being filmed by a multi-camera HD film crew, and that they’d be edited together by some of the finest editing professionals in the DC area. The idea was that these performances would form the “seed content” for a Web site that would allow unsigned bands and artists to share their music with the world, while urging listeners to donate to the charity of their choice.
Well, many weeks of volunteer work later, we have a Web site: www.indiemusicforhaiti.com. Now, we need your help. If you’re a musician, we want you to help us populate the site with great music — and we want you to spread the word about the place with fellow bands and musicians. If you’re an avid listener, we want your eyes and ears. And Haiti, of course, would appreciate your money, if you have any to spare.
I urge all Townspeople to check the site out. There’s already a lot of great music up there for you to enjoy — including a track penned and performed by yours truly, with the able assistance of Paul Garisto, drummer for the Psychedelic Furs!
Thanks, townspeople. As always… I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSES.
HVB
Ahoy there, musicians! The final enhancements to the content submission section of the site are complete, and we await your music! Just remember to type in a Haiti charity of your choice in the description field that you’ll see when you submit your tunes.
Thanking you in advance,
HVB
Just wanted folks to know that traffic at this site is really starting to pick up. Now would be the time to upload audio or video of you/your band. It’s easy! It’s free! It’s good publicity! It’s for a good cause!
http://www.indiemusicforhaiti.com
Fellow Townspeople: BE NOT AFRAID! If you’re a musician with songs to share, share them. Let my silly song about blue balls show you that your contributions need not be sad, or serious, or focused on the eradication of injustice, intolerance, and, uh, earthquakes around the globe. All we ask is that you point viewers in the direction of your favorite Haiti-related charity (which you specify in the description/comments field that you fill out when uploading your music).
Videos are welcome! MP3s are welcome! Links to Youtube and other online video storehouses are welcome! You are welcome!
Seriously, guys and gals — use those mouldering tracks for some good, and help us keep this site fresh and full of great content. Get those tracks up there pronto!
I can attest that I just successfully loaded a link to one of our band’s videos along with text encouraging people to support a charity to which I donated money. It was E-A-S-Y. As those of you who know me will not be surprised, I’m a bit of a technophobe. When I first read what HVB and his peeps had set up I thought I was going to have to come on at the end and make a plea on video while a single tear rolled down my right cheek. That was not the case. The whole process took about 5 minutes, with 1 of those minutes being the time it took me to consider whether or not I should make a wisecrack about the foundation founder to whom we direct donations. (You can rest assured I was a class act in this regard.) What not do it, artists of Rock Town Hall? And if you haven’t done so already how about donating some $$$ in the process? Thanks.
Mr. Mod, you are a man amongst men. And he’s right, people — this thing has been designed to be EASY. Give it a try, and help rebuild a nation in the process!
Some more Townspeople have taken HVB up on this cool – and necessary (for the people in need) – effort: cdm’s Philadelphia Ukelele Orchestra, featuring chickenfrank as W.B. Mason, have added a clip from a yearly holiday show organized by General Slocum and his Big Mess Orchestra.
http://indiemusicforhaiti.com/video/view/the-philadelphia-ukulele-orchestra-dream-a-little-
That’s cdm looking very relaxed in the red smoking jacket. mrclean can be seen sitting at the drum kit in the back – he’s a Big Mess player. There may be other Townspeople in the frame that I’m not seeing or I’m not aware of.
Anyhow, for those who like to watch, here’s your chance. For those who like to show, here’s your chance. For those who like to give and who haven’t done so already, why not do so today?
Those of you keen on world music and great guitar playing should check out the new track by Michael Harris and Bossalingo, just posted to Indie Music for Haiti. And, fer chrissakes, if you’ve got original music to share, upload it! What have you got to lose?
http://indiemusicforhaiti.com/video/view/bossalingo-aparna
Potential contributors: if you’ve been sitting on the fence about uploading your music to http://www.indiemusicforhaiti.com — stop dithering, ‘cuz now is the time to do it! The good folks who manage Gogol Bordello’s Web site have kept the story about bassist Tommy T’s contributions to the cause on their main news page — which is the same place where they just posted a link to the first free giveaway track from their monster new album, produced by Rick Rubin. So… we’re expecting a HUGE influx of visitors to our Haiti site, while these two news posts co-habitate. So stop dicking around and contribute your music TODAY!
HVB