Music That Matters
By Jenna Kirkman
Filed Under Arts & Culture |
You certainly know the world’s favorite 75-year-old cowboy-hippie Willie Nelson, but did you know he is opening his own bio-diesel truck stop in Summer 2008? Located in Texas, Willie’s Place will feature his own blend of veggie-oil derived BioWillie® fuel.
As environmental damage continues to elevate concern, numerous musicians are using their notoriety as a tool to promote positive global change. Here’s a look at some of the industry’s most inspiring green giants and what they are up to on and off stage.
ESTABLISHED ECO-MUSIC ENTREPRENEURS
Reverb
In 2004, Adam Gardner, lead vocalist of the indie-rock group Guster, and his wife Lauren Sullivan, founded Reverb, an organization that “educates and engages musicians and their fans to promote environmental sustainability.” Reverb helps bands greenify their tours by using bio-diesel fuel, offsetting carbon emissions with Native Energy, and educating the fans about how they can green their lifestyles.
The Reverb Eco-Village is a green educational package that unfolds at each stop on the tour and includes tents with information about green issues, as well as eco-friendly sample products. The Village also features a voter registration area and non-profit sponsors chosen by each band. To date Reverb has joined forces with the Barenaked Ladies, Sheryl Crow, the Beastie Boys, and many more.
This July, Reverb helped to green both the Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer summer tours. As a result of Reverb and John Mayer’s Another Kind of Green, fans have already offset over 2,200 tons of CO2 pollution. Their last project, the Maroon 5/Counting Crows tour wrapped up just a few days ago .
Jack Johnson
Mellow rocker Jack Johnson is not only using Reverb to help bio-fuel his tour, but on their advice, he recorded his latest album, Sleep Through the Static, using only solar power. In fact, the barefoot performer’s recording studio, Brushfire Records, is made from post-consumer waste (including old blue jeans!) and has a solar panel and recycled shingle rooftop. All power is 100% solar-sourced, and all paper for CD production is 100% recycled. Johnson’s fans can also join his online community: All At Once, which allows members to share, explore, and discuss eco-issues, while promoting individual change for a better global environment.
In his native Hawaii, he has taken the green campaign to the where it will make the most difference: children. In addition to the Curious George soundtrack’s uber-catchy “The 3 R’s”, which teaches kids to reduce, reuse, and recycle, Jack also co-founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation to help educate keiki (children) in Hawaiian schools about environmental issues.
As if that wasn’t already enough, Johnson has also created the “EnviroRider” foundation for his shows to help promote positive eco-action in communities while on tour. He also donates one percent of his total profit through One Percent for the Planet and even managed VIP parking for hybrid cars at some of his shows. Wow.
Ben Jelen & Sarah Harmer
Artist and eco-entrepreneur 29-year-old Ben Jelen, is the founder of the Ben Jelen Foundation and his latest album: Ex-Sensitive, is a collection of love songs written for the Earth. Canadian songstress Sarah Harmer has done far more to protect the environment throughout her career by founding the Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (PERL).
GREENisicians ON THE RISE
They may not be household names yet, but these up-and-coming eco-activists will be soon to leave a positive mark on music and the environment.
Cloud Cult
Though they’ve been around for nearly a decade, Minnesota-based Cloud Cult has remained independently signed and environmentally active, recording all of their music with lead singer Craig Minowa’s non-profit record label: Earthology. The Earthology studio is located on an organic farm, built from recycled material, and uses geothermal power and wind energy. Since Earthology is a non-profit, all of Cloud Cult’s income after expenses is donated to environmental protection organizations.
Probably the most fascinating aspect of Cloud Cult’s CD production is their hand-cleaned, recycled jewel cases- instead of making more harmful plastic cases, Earthology actually collects old unwanted jewel cases, washes them, and ships them out full of brand new tunes. Absolute commonsensical genius.
Kelley Stoltz
Signed to Sub Pop Records, the first record label certified by the renewable resources organization Green-E, Kelley Stoltz struck a music-industry first when he recorded his album Below the Branches using 100% renewable energy. His newest album Circular Sounds earned the same certification.
The bluesy folk-pop artist hopes that his albums, which sport the Green-E logo, will set an example for other musicians and fans alike, inspiring them to consider alternative energy as a very viable option.
The Ditty Bops
Partners in music and life, Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett make up the Ditty Bops. The acoustic folk-pop duo set up a non-profit organization: You and I Save the World, to promote environmental awareness. They have also put their drawing skills to work in a comic strip entitled: The Environmentalist’s Dilemma.
After learning of an Irish tax placed on plastic bags in 2002 that reduced their use in Ireland by ninety percent, the girls started a petition to put a similar tax on plastic bags in America. And, since nothing could draw attention to environmental issues better than sexy girls in bikinis, the Ditty Bops have put out three eco-themed Bikini Calendars: Bicycles in 2006, Vegetables in 2007, and most recently, Save the World for 2008- each is printed on recycled paper with soy based inks.
The icing? These green queens toured by bicycle, pedaling over 4,000 miles across the country to promote their 2006 album Moon Over the Freeway. Now that’s green!
Want to do your part as a fan? Take action!
- Volunteer for Reverb, or other green organizations at concerts and venues. Not only will you be doing your part to promote green living, but you might even get to hang with some of the eco-rock stars themselves.
- If you are driving solo to a concert, or have empty seats in your car, check Pick-up Pal to find some other green fans, and carpool to the show. It will split up gas costs and reduce your carbon footprint
- It would be impossible to mention every greenified rocker in one little article. Support and share info about rising green musicians via your own online networking profiles, or tell us about your favorite green performer in the comment box below!
Posted on September 1, 2008 |
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