The holidays are here and the city'ês music community is getting into the spirit of the season with the benefit compilation album GIVE. The download-only record, which costs $7, is a showcase of some of the best music the Emerald City has to offer. The list of contributors includes Fleet Foxes, Champagne Champagne, The Saturday Knights, Fresh Espresso, Moondoggies, Common Market, and many, many others. But the music isn'êt the best part about GIVE. The best part about the record is that 100 percent of sales will go to area food banks and Arts Corps, a local nonprofit arts education organization.
Upon purchase, 30 tracks are available for download and several are exclusive to the compilation, which makes GIVE a must-have for any local music aficionado. Six artists — including The Long Winters, Ben Gibbard, David Bazan, Throw Me The Statue, The Dutchess and The Duke, and Unnatural Helpers — are still working on their contributions, which brings the total number of acts on GIVE'ês lineup up to 36. And thanks to the wonder of the Internet, if you purchase the record before the tracks are complete you'êll get an email letting you know there is new music for download. There are also several GIVE videos in the works that bring together artists from the compilation and organizations like Wexley School for Girls, City Arts Magazine and others. So really, if you think about it GIVE is like a gift that, um, keeps on giving.
GIVE was conceived by Caffé Vita and can be purchased at all Caffé Vita locations as well as Easy Street Records, Sonic Boom Records, University Book Store, The Crocodile, Experience Music Project, Neumos, and Sorrento Hotel. These outlets will carry GIVE packages that include physical cards with a redemption code for the download as ready-to-give presents. As an added bonus you'êll get a coupon good for a complimentary cup of Caffé Vita Farm Direct coffee if you buy a physical copy of the album. You can'êt get more Seattle than indie musicians and a cup of joe. If you prefer to sip your coffee at home, you can also download GIVE directly at the Give Seattle website.
Most all of the work behind GIVE was done pro bono, so there is a GIVE concert slated for Dec. 3 at The Crocodile to recoup some of the costs. The lineup includes Grand Archives, D. Black, Grant Olsen of Arthur & Yu, Gabirel Mintz, and The Tea Cozies, and it is hosted by Tilson of The Saturday Knights. Tickets cost $15.
