A Cause For Attention
Some bands pick a platform, some tours take a stand – Here’s music news that doesn’t highlight the messenger, just the message.
This week’s focus: Thrice, Fall Out Boy and Invisible Children
In northern Uganda, a group calling itself the Lord's Resistance Army has abducted in the range of 20,000 children to use as soldiers. Only 4 years ago, a documentary entitled "Invisible Children: Rough Cut" was created by 3 young filmmakers who traveled to Africa from their homes in Southern California. In a very short time, their efforts have developed into multiple facets of education, outreach, and campaigns to bring support and peace to this war-torn country.
The growing network of supporters for non-profit organization Invisible Children continues to blossom. It can be seen in the faces of over 4,500 people who slept outside en mass at Soldier Field last April for their event called “Displace Me.? It can also be heard through the voices of musicians and artists who support the cause.
It should be no surprise that Thrice is one of the four bands listed on the Invisible Children website. They have been pledging portions of album sales to various aid organizations since their April 2000 release, and have had agreements with both Hopeless/Sub City and Island Records (labels they were signed to) to have their charitable donations matched. Lead singer Dustin Kensrue is even on the board of directors for the growing non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms.
For the 2005 release Vheissu, the band chose a program called 826 Valencia to receive album sale proceeds - but were supporting Invisible Children at the same time, using their tour as an avenue to spread awareness. The organization still holds top spot on the band’s myspace.
While the first single released off that album, ?Image of the Invisible? is not based off the organization, when drummer Riley Breckenridge was asked about it by SMNnews, he noted that, “Knowing what we had put into our video…we thought that these two were way too similar, and that there is something that needs to happen here. It was like a sign or something, that they were so closely linked.?
According to the Invisible Children website, “Ever since Pete Wentz heard about Invisible Children, Fall Out Boy has gone above and beyond to use their unique platform to spread the word about northern Uganda.? Throughout 2007, FOB promoted the nationwide event Displace Me through a video shown to every audience on their tour.
They continued their involvement by traveling with Invisible Children to Uganda in July, 2007 and filming their music video ?I’m like a Lawyer?. An Invisible Children team then came along on Warped Tour, talking to crowds and providing materials and supportive merchandise.
The FOB video is supposed to make its point through the unfolding of a love story between 2 young Ugandan teens, and the commitment they made by traveling to the country and directly partnering with Invisible Children is nothing short of admirable.
After a study of Invisible Children’s message, media, and opportunities, it’s hard not to feel the pull to respond. For those bands that direct their audiences to take a look for themselves, the applause is earned.
Posted by Leen Morrissey on Sep 27, 2007 @ 12:00 am
