You'll find no better way to spend some of your discretionary dollars next week than on the "For Callum" compilation, which becomes available for pre-order this Tuesday, March 13th, and gets officially released at a benefit show on Saturday, March 17th in Minneapolis (more on that below). It's a two-disc collection with 32 tracks from some amazing artists, pulled together to help out Callum Robbins, the one-year old son of Janet Morgan (Shonben, Channels) and J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels, Magpie Cage Recording Studio). Callum was diagnosed last year with the genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Type 1 SMA impacts the brain's ability to communicate with the voluntary muscles that control the functions we all take for granted, like head & neck control, breathing, swallowing, and crawling or walking. Apparently most Type 1-afflicted children die before their second birthday, and those who do survive into childhood face a future of occupational therapy and much-needed assistive hardware. Sadly, there is no known cure, so little Callum may be in danger, and he and his parents need our help. And not with just well wishes, but with our donations, and now, with our well-spent cash. The disc is a pure benefit: In addition to all the artists donating their songs, all involved are donating their time, and every penny of the proceeds go to J. and Janet to help pay for Cal's treatment.
Like I said, an amazing lineup. Real nice to see Boston so well-represented, what with Drew O'Doherty, Roh Delikat, and Mission of Burma all on board, and very cool to find my Brooklyn friends Pilot to Gunner on there, too. Most of the 32 songs are exclusive to the collection, according to compilation curator (and ace drummer) Zach Barocas: "Careers in Modeling, Engine 88, Engine Down, Eternals, The Icy Shores, Kingfield, Maritime, Bill Mike, Travis Morrison, Roh Delikat, & Self-Evident contributed previously released or forthcoming songs, though of varying availability (some out-of-print records, some 7"s, some hard-to-find, etc.). Everything else is exclusive." As if the cause itself wasn't already a reason to plunk down the dough.
The assembly and release of the compilation is a joint effort between Catlick Records, Letterbox Creative, and The Cultural Society. While pre-orders start this Tuesday via Catlick, the first to get their hands on it will be anyone who is lucky enough to attend the March 17th Callum Benefit Show at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. Appearing is the one and only Arcwelder, along with fellow compilation contributors Story of the Sea, Self-Evident, All The Way Rider, and The Million. Wish I could be there, but instead I'll be attending virtually: In addition to buying the compilation, I'm gonna make another donation to the Callum Robbins Family Fund that would be my cover charge if I could make it out to Minneapolis. Why not do the same?
You'll find no better way to spend some of your discretionary dollars next week than on the "For Callum" compilation, which becomes available for pre-order this Tuesday, March 13th, and gets officially released at a benefit show on Saturday, March 17th in Minneapolis (more on that below). It's a two-disc collection with 32 tracks from some amazing artists, pulled together to help out Callum Robbins, the one-year old son of Janet Morgan (Shonben, Channels) and J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels, Magpie Cage Recording Studio). Callum was diagnosed last year with the genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
