Spotlit: The “For Callum” Benefit Compilation
Posted on March 9, 2007 at 1:59 am | No Comments
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.
Just check out this top-notch track list…
The “For Callum” Benefit Compilation
disc 1:
1. All the Way Rider – “Luxembourg“
2. Arcwelder – “The Hope” (demo)
3. Careers In Modeling – “Acorn“
4. Chad – “English Girl“
5. Channels – “Cast Away“
6. E. Fowlkes Sextet – “Rory Corrigan“
7. Engine 88 – “Get Off“
8. Engine Down – “Your Suit“
9. Eternals – “Rawar Style“
10. Gordonovich – “Au Revoir (Char’s Garden)“
11. David Grubbs – “A Dream to Help Me Sleep“
12. Halloween, Alaska – “Halloween” (remix)
13. The Icy Shores – “Backseat“
14. Imaginary Johnny – “Little Dimes“
15. Jawbreaker – “I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both” (demo)
16. Kingfield – “Penny“disc two:
1. Bryan Knisley – “Madeline“
2. Joe Lally – “Mistaken Identity“
3. The Life and Times – “Catching Crumbs“
4. Maritime – “Tearing up the Oxygen“
5. Medications – “Domestic Animals“
6. Bill Mike – “Secure“
7. The Million – “Waterfront” (demo)
8. Mission of Burma – “N.S.U.“
9. Travis Morrison – “Represent“
10. Drew O’Doherty – “You’ll Believe A Man Can Fly“
11. The Oranges Band – “Operator“
12. Pilot to Gunner – “All the Lights“
13. Roh Delikat – “Ant Overthrow“
14. Self-Evident – “World As a Verb“
15. The Spectaculars – “Dopasetic“
16. Story of the Sea – “West Bank“
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?
Nac Flashback: Arcade Fire in Cambridge, MA
Posted on March 6, 2007 at 7:02 am | 1 Comment
In honor of today’s release of “Neon Bible”, the second full-length from Montreal’s Arcade Fire, I’m finally re-sharing what is easily the most-frequently requested live set here on the Almanac: my recording of the band’s revelatory performance at Cambridge, Massachusetts club TT the Bears back on Friday night, November 12th, 2004. Read the original post, in which I profess my pure amazement at what the lucky crowd witnessed, and check out the over-100 comments from ‘Nac visitors.
In addition to songs from their debut, “Funeral”, their TT’s set included a cover of Talking Heads‘ “This Must Be The Place” as well as a new song called “Burning Bridges, Breaking Hearts” that I thought might end up on “Neon Bible”, but didn’t. Maybe a future b-side? Here’s hoping… ‘cuz it’s a beauty.
“Neon Bible” is available today from the esteemed Merge Records. Buy it here. I do so hope my pre-order arrives today.
Live at TT the Bears
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
on Friday, November 12th, 2004
01. Wake Up
02. Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
03. Une Annee Sans Lumiere
04. Neighborhood #3 (PowerOut) / Rebellion (Lies)
05. This Must Be The Place (Talking Heads)
06. Haiti
07. Headlights Look Like Diamonds
08. Burning Bridges (unreleased)
09. Crown of Love
10. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
11. No Cars Go
12. In The Backseat
the fine print… If anyone has any issues whatsoever with this live set being made available, just say the word (contact info in the ‘nac faq). I am but a fan trying to share and spread the word. Recorded with a Sony ECM-719 mic and a Sony MZ-RH10 minidisc, converted to .wav and then edited to 192kbps mp3s. Tracks are made available for a limited time, and are not reposted once removed.