More than 50 bands collaborate for Flint water crisis relief album

FLINT, MI - A group of more than 50 bands is lending their talents to an album in relief efforts for the Flint water crisis.

The online album, entitled "Not Safe To Drink: Music For Flint Water Crisis Relief" features a variety of acts including Taking Back Sunday, Anti-Flag, Tunde Olaniran, The Swellers, and Craig Owens, lead singer of the band Chiodos, to raise money for the Flint Child Health and Development Fund.

Jonathan Diener, who toured with The Swellers for more than a decade, said the idea came about after chatting with James Shotwell thinking of a way they could help contribute to the cause.

"We kind of put our heads together jokingly at first," said Diener, of a potential cover of the song "Dirty Water," but shortly thereafter they put feelers out on social media in regards to who might be interested in a benefit album the offers rushed in to help.

The artists on the album include mix of Flint musicians and national touring acts, to help draw interest from near and far, with an anticipated Saturday, Feb. 20 release date.

Diener said the effort will include original songs from Braided Veins and a reunion of The Swellers being recorded this weekend in Saginaw. A pre-order of the album has raised around $1,000 in less than 24 hours.

"It's already going well," he said. "The bigger fans like Taking Back Sunday and Anti-Flag, they're posting about it. They want to help just because they know how bad the situation is."

The reaction from bands has been a mix of reactions -- from sadness to anger -- with Diener stating it's important to channel it because "when you utilize that properly that leads to passion and I think that's the cool thing about this."

With a collage of acts taking part, Diener hopes it will provide a draw for a large audience.

"Music isn't going to save anything, but getting 13 to 30 years that like music and aren't political and don't necessarily have anything to donate, giving them 60 reasons to donate they're going to throw five dollars down," he said.

A benefit show is also in the works for this spring at Flint Local 432, but details are still in the works. The dollars raised by the album will go towards the Flint Child Health and Development Fund through the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

"It made the most sense because it's the closest thing you can do to find a long-term fix or a long-term aid," he said, adding the city faces issues outside of the water crisis and they hoped the efforts by themselves and others would "not only get (Flint) back to where it was, but beyond that."

While some in the community have been critical of celebrities utilizing the opportunity for press, Diener said it was a big name act that put the use of that spotlight into perspective for him.

He was at Flint Local 432 when Macklemore stopped in town Feb. 1 to chat with people in the city about the water issue and race.

"This guy didn't want press there. He didn't want everyone else to know he was there. At the end of the day he made a good point," said Diener, adding the Flint issue should be of importance to everyone. "You shouldn't be judging people based on how they're trying to help, because they're trying to help."

A free album track and track list is available online at notsafetodrink.bandcamp.com. Those purchasing the album have been asked to make at least a $5 donation.

Roberto can be reached by phone at 810-429-3865, email at racosta1@mlive.com, on Facebook at Roberto Acosta Journalist, Roberto Acosta on Google Plus or on Twitter @racostaJourno.

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