In recent weeks, several artists have been announcing efforts to show support for those that feel threatened by the administration of Donald Trump. Notably, last week, we got “I Give You Power,” a new track from Arcade Fire featuring Mavis Staples that was released alongside a tweet stating that, “It’s never been more important that we stick together & take care of each other,” with proceeds from the single to be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union.
In a similar vein, in the days since the inauguration, indie rockers Pinegrove released their first-ever live album Elsewhere, exclusively on Bandcamp. Featuring songs from Cardinal, our number one rock album of 2016, the album is available for “pay-what-you-want,” and profits will be donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that helps marginalized individuals with legal defense, especially when related to civil rights advocacy. Since November’s election, Pinegrove has been donating a section of their online profits to various charities. They explained their decision to release the album, as well as updated fans on how much money they have raised to date, in a post on Facebook.
hi everybody! we’d like to present to you a group of 8 songs, recorded live in november last year! we’d like to offer them for free/donations as a thank you for all the support you’ve given us this year & always. we’ll be donating all of Your donations to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is an anti-hate legal defense organization with a long history of civil rights advocacy. now also seems like a good time to thank you for your past contributions—with your help we donated $2,423 to support the water protectors at Standing Rock, and $7,284 dollars to Planned Parenthood (which on this particular day a donor agreed to triple any donation made, bringing the total to over $21,000!!). needless to say we are so so excited to see such a ray of generosity in a time when our country really needs it. & if you want to contribute more, our entire catalogue will be available for Pay What You Want for the rest of the weekend, donations also to SPLC . thank you everybody. much love <&
Stream/download Elsewhere below.
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Additionally, DIY punk overlord Jeff Rosenstock released Live And Acoustic At Vinyl Paradise via his donation-based record label Quote Unquote Records, and all proceeds will be donated to the Immigration Defense Project. The album features acoustic renditions of fifteen tracks from across Rosenstock’s career, including last year’s WORRY., which also appeared on our top rock albums of 2016. Rosenstock wrote a statement about the live album and the Immigration Defense Project on the Quote Unquote Records website:
Last year, my friend Dan opened a record store in Long Island and we almost immediately talked about doing an acoustic show the week whatever next record I was working on came out. The night of the final presidential debate, a bunch of us crammed into his small air-conditioned store, which soon became muggy with human sweat. I played a bunch of songs I’d never played before, with no microphones or PA system, spoke to some people, changed my shirt, drank a water and headed back home to get ready for tour. A buncha weeks later my buddy Dan e-mailed this recording and was like “heyyyy” and I was like “heyyyyyyy” and here we are!
The Immigrant Defense Project uses impact litigation and advocacy to challenge unfair laws and policies and media and communications to counter the pervasive demonization of immigrants. They also provide expert legal advice, training, and resources to immigrants, legal defenders, and grassroots organizations, to support those on the frontlines of the struggle for justice.
Pick up Live And Acoustic At Vinyl Paradise via Quote Unquote Records here.
