Good Band Alerts!

Good Singer Alert: James Morrison

British pop-soul singer, James Morrison has two reasons to celebrate this year. He's the proud new father of a baby girl and has a hot new CD, Songs For You, Truths For Me. With all the great things happening in his life, James recently took time out of his busy schedule to perform his hit single, "Broken Strings" on Children in Need, a fundraiser sponsored by the BBC. The event raised nearly 21 million pounds to give grants to organizations that help change the lives of disadvantaged children in the UK.

James is no stranger to helping those in need. He's supported Peace for a Day, an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence and performed at a benefit for Mencap, an organization that supports people with learning disabilities. In addition, James has donated personal items and created artwork for auction to benefit a number of charitable organizations.

We love James' raw, passionate vocal style and deeply personal lyrics drawn from the hardships he experienced growing up in England. His father, an alcoholic, left the family when he was four, leaving his mother to raise three kids on her own, they moved around a lot and he saw childhood friends become adult addicts. While growing up, he helped support his family with variety of after school jobs. It's easy to see why at the age of 21, his music evokes the emotions of a man three times his age.

CGG became a fan of James after hearing "You Give Me Something" from his first CD, Undiscovered and saw him perform during his last tour. He's an engaging and charismatic performer and we can't wait until he crosses the pond next year for some live dates in the US.

As on his last CD, Songs for You embraces several different music genres. Highlights include "Broken Strings," a duet with Nelly Furtado, and our favorite, "Once When I Was Little." As James told to Scene magazine, it’s a really touching song about "reminding you of the good things about being a kid and the sad fact that you don’t think like that anymore.” Click here to read the inspiring lyrics.

CGG gives James our golden seal of approval. Definitely check him out; you won't be disappointed.

Good Singer Alert: Shontelle

Shontelle via Plan A

Chances are you've already heard of diva-on-the-rise Shontelle, thanks to a little ditty called “T-Shirt” that’s making its way up the charts as we type. Plus, her song “Battle Cry” is featured on the new album Yes We Can: Voices of Movement, a collection celebrating Barack Obama’s leadership and vision.

And you’re likely to be hearing a lot more about this chanteuse, a 23 year-old talent from Barbados. Yep, that’s the same Caribbean paradise that Rihanna hails from. Actually, the two are good friends! In high school, they both attended Cadets camp, where the older Shontelle was Rihanna's drill sergeant. Shontelle has recalled Rihanna being “a good cadet . . . though there was one occasion when I had to make her drop and give me ten push-ups! We laugh about it now . . . I think she’s forgiven me.”

CGG is loving the name of her new CD, Shontelligence, which features tracks that are heavily dosed with pop, R&B, soul and reggae; it drops November 18. The title is a perfect fit for the singer/songwriter, who has her own publishing company, Sholay, in Barbados and plans to start her own label.

"I hunger for knowledge – it feeds my life and my music,” Shontelle has said. “The more I learn, the more I want to learn...the more I grow as a person and as an artist.” We particularly dig the tunes that tout the power of women. Holla! One of our favorites, "Life Is Not An Easy Road," addresses a major social issue: poverty. But it’s not a total downer – even as the song recognizes the suffering and hardship faced by people the world over, it also reminds everyone to have hope, to "just trust you will survive and keep your dignity."

Check out more from Shontelle and inspiring lyrics after the jump.

All Time Low sells toys to give toys

via buzznet.com

CGG recently rocked out to a sold-out All Time Low concert in NYC. The punk band drew a jam-packed audience who went wild with mosh pits, crowd surfing, undergarment flinging, and shoe hurling all night long! What an amazing night.

But as the holidays are drawing nearer, All Time Low has taken the time out to create a limited edition vinyl toy set with a portion of the sales going to Toys for Tots. The charity is a program run by the US Marine Corps Reserve that donates toys to kids whose parents can't afford to buy them Christmas presents.

The mini versions of band members Alex, Jack, Zack, and Rian-- which are set to release at the start of next month-- depict the unique personality of each punk rocker. And with only 1,500 of the four-piece sets created and hand numbered- they're sure to fly off the shelves. These little guys are sure to be collectibles.

And to learn more about how you can donate toys to children, check out some awesome Christmas Toy Drives .

CGG MUST-READ: A singer opens up about Doing Something in Africa

via Lucy Woodward

Last June, CGG told you about the “sassy singer with a big heart” Lucy Woodward upon the release of her genre-defying CD, Lucy Woodward is...Hot & Bothered. Lucy has since returned home to New York City following a humanitarian visit to an orphanage of children who’d lost their parents to HIV-related illnesses in Nairobi, Kenya, and a shelter in Rwanda, where she her visit touched the lives of women who are still traumatized by the country’s 1994 genocide.

Over lunch in Manhattan’s Union Square – not far from the Canal Room, where Lucy will be playing a gig on September 24 – the singer couldn't wait to tell CGG all about her "enlightening and rewarding experience." She smiled a lot as she shared tales and photos of her time in Africa.

Soon after our meeting, Lucy followed up by emailing some outtakes from the journals she wrote during her trip. The result: A beautifully crafted view of what it’s like to Do Something for those who really need love, companionship – even something as simple as a hug or a smile. We here at CGG were truly touched by Lucy’s story; we know you will be too. Get inspired after the jump .

Singer Danielia Cotton is glad she never had to audition for American Idol

via danielia.com

CGG fans will recall Danielia’s Good Singer Alert back in March where we high-fived the fab singer for raising $22,500 in concert proceeds for a man who spent 24 years wrongly imprisoned in Florida before being exonerated. Since then, Danielia released her second CD, "Rare Child," an amazing mix of rock and soul with a little gospel and blues that has also been called a throwback to ‘70s rock. "Rare Child" has received rave reviews from critics at the New York Times and Billboard magazine to the L.A. Times and National Public Radio.

When CGG sat down to chat with Danielia, we found her to be really down to earth and gracious (she wouldn't even let us buy her a cup of tea!) And although she's petite, if we were to describe her in one word then we’d have to use powerful.

If you haven’t heard of Danielia, consider her our little secret – she wouldn’t mind. In fact, she told us “Creating music is not about being a star.” Read her interview – and her feelings about American Idol – here.

Good Singer Alert: Simon Spire

CGG recently attended a sweet performance by Simon Spire, a transplanted New Zealander currently living in NYC. (We'll spare you the Flight of the Conchords references.) Okay, just this one. Unlike, Brett and Jemaine, Simon has competent management (sorry, Murray). He was discovered by Lenedra Carroll. You may have heard of her daughter, Jewel. Simon has received guidance and support from Lenedra's organization, Artist Advance, which supports and mentors emerging artists.

Simon stopped by the CGG office to tell us about his new CD, "ALL OR NOTHING" and the causes that concern him. We have to admit we found his accent charming (or chaaaa-ming, as he would say.) Read the interview here.

Good Band Alert: Creation

They started the band when they were each 12 years old, and cool new band Creation is now only in high school, but they've got a sound and message well beyond their age.

Taking musical influence from the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen and Janice Joplin; this rock band is more than just jammin' beats and killer guitar riffs. They're also about spreading a message of peace and diversity to youth everywhere.

Creation members Raechel, Derek, Sam, Tory, and Josh sing songs encouraging youth activism, but their efforts don't just stop with their music. They also accomplished their goal a couple years ago of raising enough money to build an entire school in Mali, Africa, and have most recently contributed in raising funds for the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in Maryland-- a park donated to a boy who died of a neuromuscular disease and whose legacy as a poet moved Creation to action.

Last year, Creation even set one of Mattie's poems "Stop Be Silent" to music and played it at the We Are Family Foundation's first Just Peace Summit.

CGG had the pleasure of seeing Creation perform last weekend in Manhattan, and also caught up with the band after the show. Click here to read our exclusive interview!

Also, to find out ways how to promote peace and diversity in your own communities, click here !

Jonathan Jackson: from sexy actor to activist musician

via darkhorizons.com

CGG's latest music craze involves one smokin' lead singer, his homegrown band, and their message for female empowerment . By "female empowerment", we mean a song to support the Just Yell Fire organization written by cool band Enation, and by "smokin' lead singer" we mean a guy who's been on People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive list. Oh... you may recognize him from the silver screen too....

We first fell in love with actor-turned-musician Jonathan Jackson in Tuck Everlasting, then Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights came along and we knew we were hooked. But this three-time Emmy winner has more to offer than just his good looks and some awesome acting skills.

He's also been a passionate musician his entire life too, and has now decided to turn his passion into a new career path aside from acting.

But it wasn't until Jonathan met one of Do Something's own awards winners, Dallas Jessup, that he really got inspired. Moved by Dallas' campaign which teaches girls to fight back against sexual assault, Enation is now coming out with a new song "Permission to Dream" dedicated to the organization.

Available to download soon on iTunes, along with their new album "World In Flight", all the proceeds from the song will go to Just Yell Fire.

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Jonathan, and here to read the "Permission to Dream" lyrics!!

And when you're all done reading those two pages, click here to get 11 facts about domestic and dating violence.

Good Band Alert: Flobots

Flobots, a funky six member hip-hop group from Denver, CO is making waves in the underground music scene, with their killer line-up (viola, guitar, bass, drums, and two smokin MCs) mixed with socially conscious songs. But before you think they’re just another activist band with a message to drill into you, you’ve got to hear their tracks. We haven’t heard anything this musically innovative in a long time. And it’s still in a musical package that’s accessible to all. The dance tracks are fun and playful, and yet full of history and sass.

Their first major label release, “Fight With Tools” drops on May 20. Our favorite track is, "Stand Up,” a song about our government's failure to respond to the hurricane Katrina disaster:

"We still don't understand/thunder and lightening/flashback to when we didn't fund the damn/didn't fund the damn levy no wonder man/now a whole city's torn asunder man/underwater but we still don't understand/we've seen hurricane spills overrun the land/through gaps you couldn't fill with a hundred tons of sand/no we still don't understand."

And these guys put their money where their mouth is, with their own nonprofit flobots.org, which seeks to advance civic engagement, volunteerism, and creative expression through their music community. Current projects include "Live at DCH" where several band members teach music classes at the Denver Children’s Home, a nonprofit which shelters and supports abused kids. How cool is that? We love people who lead by example. CGG has a serious band crush!

The band has blown up in recent weeks; their first single, "Handlebars" has been named the Most Added at Alternative Radio. Be sure to check them out when they come to a town near you and listen to their tracks at http://www.myspace.com/flobots.

Flobots rock for social change!

Last month, CGG clued you into the hip hop band Flobots with a Good Band Alert, so you already know we're obsessed with them.

Now, much to our delight, one of the founding members, Jonny 5, took time out from his crazy schedule (from appearing on Last Call with Carson Daly to planning the Bots' upcoming US tour) just to talk to CGG! So let's get to it. . .

CELEBS GONE GOOD: How long has Flobots been in existence?
JONNY 5: Since January 2005.

CGG: And how did you come up with the name Flobots?
J5: About 12 years ago, I was hanging out with a totally different group of people from the band I'm in now, and we were throwing some names around. Someone said, Gobots go, but Flobots flow. The name stuck with me.

CGG: You're not only an artist, you're an activist too -- and usually at the same time. What inspired you to do this?
J5: In high school, Kwame Ture [aka Stokely Carmichael, a Black activist in the 1970's] came to my school. He talked a lot about socialism and racism. Most of the rich white kids didn't want to hear what he was saying, but I was intrigued. I went up to him and asked what I could do as a middle-class white person. In 1999, I participated in the WTO [World Trade Organization] protests in Seattle and was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned for a few days. It taught me that people in power can do whatever they want. I also realized that we the people don't exercise OUR power. It all turned out ok; I received financial compensation from the city of Seattle and I reinvested it in our non-profit organization, Flobots.org.

CGG: Tell us about Flobots.org
J5: Currently, we have two programs. The first is Live at DCH, where several band members teach music classes at the Denver Children’s Home, a non-profit which shelters and supports abused kids. We received funding to build a recording studio in the basement and we conduct music and theory lessons and show the kids how to write lyrics. The other program is our activist street team. We're building a new model. It's different than the standard street teams that most bands have. Instead of just promoting the band, they promote doing good things in the community. We have about 1300 members so far. We're still building the infrastructure for our organization and are hiring staff who will maintain and grow these programs while we're on the road.

CGG: Are there any other causes or charities that are of particular concern to you?
J5: I'm very interested in finding ways to create peace through non-violence and innovative gang intervention programs. There's an organization called the Nonviolent Peaceforce that I support [a nonpartisan unarmed peacekeeping force composed of trained civilians from around the world. In partnership with local groups, Nonviolent Peaceforce members apply proven nonviolent strategies to protect human rights, deter violence, and help create space for local peacemakers to carry out their work]. The Palestinian conflict is also a concern of mine.

CGG: Is there anything you'd like to add?
J5: Yes. I have a lot of respect for everyone involved with Do Something. People know best what they need in their own communities, and it's cool that you're there to support them.

Thanks, Jonny 5!

Do yourself a favor and check Flobots out. You won't be sorry! Their new CD, Fight with Tools, is available now and they're gearing up to hit the road for a ton of live dates. Make sure to check out their web site to peep their tour schedule and also find out about their street teams. We'll be standing right up front and rappin' along with them when they come to NY! Look for Flobots' upcoming appearance on The Tonight Show on Thursday, June 5.

Now, check out these cool shots, below, of the band doin' what they do best in Los Angeles!

Images courtesy of the band

Great Big Sea spreads the love

via CGG

Cool Band Alert!! Platinum-selling Canadian band Great Big Sea has already made record-busting success north of the border, but now their transition over to the States is finally paying off with plenty of long-overdue popularity.

And nothing could have portrayed their American fame and glory better than the cult-like audience who horded around the stage during their Friday night concert at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. Fans of all ages across the spectrum waved Newfoundland flags to pay homage to GBS’s hometown, raised their arms in praise to the melodies, and belted out the joyous Celtic folk-rock tunes. The concert was a no frills, pure music extravaganza; and the audience devoured every second of it.

Which should come as no surprise, considering that GBS admitted exclusively to CGG how close they are with all their fans. They’ve even practically met all of them! But their purely personal and honest touch doesn’t just end with their music.

via CGG

Great Big Sea also extends their hearts out to Newfoundland’s Daffodil Place —a charity which benefits cancer treatment for patients. So far, GBS has been able to collect nearly $6 million for the charity house!

No wonder their fans are so crazy about them. Not only does Great Big Sea pour out their hearts in their music, they also distribute the love in their daily lives as well.

Make sure to click here for Great Big Sea’s interview, which will reveal their environmental inspiration for their music, the one thing they want their fans to take away from a GBS experience, and advice on how to make it in the music industry!

via CGG

Good Singer Alert: Alex Woodard

Who's athletic, tan, hot, has a voice of gold and a giant heart to boot? CGG had the pleasure of California native Alex Woodard and his band mate Ike Marr visit our offices. This amazing duo serenaded our staff and wowed us over with what makes them move. To find out more about what these guys are passionate about, click here for the exclusive CGG interview!

The new album is out now, and trust us, it will make you swoon!

And stay tuned for videos as we let Alex serenade YOU!

CGG is Push Play's No. 1 fan

Derek Ries, Nick DeTurris, CJ Baran, and Steve Scarola. CGG

We’ve been seriously crushing Push Play ever since they visited our New York offices. Even then they had screaming fans waiting outside.

The five boys proved to be the ladykillers of ZVillage. The crowd was swarming with girls covered in homemade Push Play bandanas, T-Shirts, and even painted jeans. The boys were dodging girls all day who were screaming their names and crying tears of joy.

One Do Something exec slapped stickers on all the boys, we think just to have an excuse to get near them. Why do we love them? These young boys are some of the most energetic, passionate rockstars we’ve ever met. They’ve got serious talent in music but also serious heart in all of the charity work they do. We can’t wait to see what they do as their fanbase continues to grow. We heart you Push Play!

CGG: Did you expect this kind of reaction today?

Derek:Well not being on a major record label I couldn’t imagine this. It’s crazy that we even got on this show, it’s unreal.

Steve: This is really like a dream come true.

Derek: DIY- Do it yourself!

CGG: So what causes have you been working with?

Steve: Actually I’ve been working with Habitat For Humanity, so I’m going to be talking about what I did in New Orleans, and what you can do to volunteer in your area. I’m really excited about it- I wish I knew about it in high school, and I’m leaving it very soon, so… very cool.

Derek: And I’m going to talk about how just being in a band can do so many things, like let alone, we raise 90 grand just playing high school shows and throwing all the proceeds towards it, it’s insane. Like think about what any band could do if they raised 90 grand.

Push Play rocks the crowds. CGG

CGG: How did you raise 90 grand when you’re not on a major record label?

Steve: We just… all our fans came, we promoted on MySpace, advertisements, and just threw all the proceeds and charities.

Derek: We’re not even on a major record label, and we raised this money basically just by having charities come to us, and getting involved in some as well, and just donating all the ticket sales to various charities.

Steve: We even do out of state charities, if the charity is willing to pay for our airfare we’re more than happy to play. It’s an awesome experience- you get to travel the country and just do the right thing.

Derek: And already we’ve raised about 90,000 dollars for charities. 90,000 dollars!

ALL: 90,000 dollars!

CGG: Who are you most excited to see at Zootopia?

Derek: well we actually just saw Metro Station, I’m a big fan of theirs. They were unbelievable. But I’m also excited to see Jonas Brothers. They’ll be great up there. Very excited, we cannot wait.

Nick: The band I’m most excited to see has got to be Simple Plan, we just met them over there by the Z Village concert stage, and they’re playing in the arena soon. I’ve been fans of them ever since I was very young, and I can’t wait to see them.

CGG: You guys have gotten so far, so quickly… on your own! What is some advice to people who want to be rock stars?

CJ: The best advice that we can give to any kids who want to be rock stars is just to follow your dream, first off. That’s the first and most important thing. Second thing would be get some friends, make some music, and then make a MySpace, ok? Because that’s going to help you boost like crazy. Sit there and street promote, hand out pictures of yourself, papers, it doesn’t matter. Just tell everyone you know about you and eventually it’ll come.

CJ stands tall. CGG

Nick: My biggest advice for people who want to follow in our footsteps is definitely, definitely, I mean, we give back a lot, and people have given back to us. I mean, being able to play here was such a great gift to us. It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe how many people are here and it’s going to be crazy. I can’t wait to go on. So I say give back and people will give back to you.

Good Band Alert: Varsity Fanclub

From left:Spy Kids actor Bobby; surfer and yo-yo champion (?!) Thomas; comedian Drew; dancing phenom David;and brooding vocalist JayK via Capitol Music Group

2008 is witnessing the return of the boy band!

You may have heard of this lil old group called Jonas Brothers, performers at this year's Zootopia (along with old-school boy band New Kids on the Block!). CGG personally witnessed the commotion the Bros caused simply by breathing while at the White House Correspondents Dinner last month.

Then there's Jonas' Nickelodeon-mates, the Naked Brothers Band.

And just last week, CGG gave you the lowdown on the cause-concerned Push Play, who will be on stage at Zootopia's Zvillage (in which Do Something is a partner) the afternoon of May 17 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ.

Now, get ready for the Varsity Fanclub (below), five guys who idolize and are out to become the next 'Nsync. They even have the Orlando superstars' dolls on display and a photo of Justin Timberlake hanging in their shared Los Angeles home as inspiration! Among the five teens, they run the gambit of positive causes.

Chosen from a country-wide talent search, Varsity Fanclub members Drew, Jayk, Thomas, Bobby, and David, range in age from 17 to 21, and all have had a hand in writing their own songs. CGG's fave, "Future Love," was submitted by One Republic singer and Timbaland protege Ryan Tedder, who wrote the smash "Apologize". We caught up with the band to bring you the first-hand scoop on the future pop phenomenon. Click here to read our exclusive interview after the jump!

Ferras is the new boy of summer

CGG

With the release of Ferras’ hot new latest single, “Liberation Day,” we just can’t stop listening to this guy. He made waves with “Hollywood’s not America,” and is popping up as the favorite new act of the summer everywhere.

We had the chance to speak with the 25-year-old singer/songwriter after he worked the young crowds at Save the Music last week. And meeting him in person, we discovered that he was every bit the poised young man on the road to superstardom we had imagined. He even took some time out of his schedule to spray-paint some ecobags with us and record a rant/rave at our booths in ZVillage.

CGG: What drew you to music?
F: I just love being in front of so many people, it’s a rush being on stage. You know, you can live life and have so many exciting things happen to you but when there is a crowd of people screaming your name, it’s unlike anything else. And just the ability to go out and touch people and inspire people, I think that’s probably the main reason why I do what I do.
CGG: Why do you love to work with kids?
F: I love to work with kids, like, we just did VH1 Save the Music, which was amazing, sort of knowing that you’re inspiring little lives to go on and do something big. I mean I remember one of the first things that happened to me when I was younger in my music class at school, there were these people who came and they played like every instrument on the planet. And I just remember being there and I was like five years old bawling. My teacher would come over and she would be like ‘aw you’re so cute, you’re crying’ but it was one of the first times I realized that music has such a power to strike something within us, to move us. And seeing little kids when you’re playing with their eyes all big and staring at you, you know that in some way you’re affecting their life, and so that’s a really awesome thing.
What organizations do you work with?
There’s two things, of course the VH1 Save the Music Foundation which donates tons and tons of money and instruments to bringing and preserving music programs and schools throughout the United States.
And also Housing Works which is an organization that donates money and all of their proceeds and everything go to helping out homeless families living with HIV and AIDS. So that’s another thing that I’m extremely passionate about because we need a cure. It’s there somewhere.
As your career continues to grow, will your charity work grow as well?
I continue to grow and evolve, and if I become somebody that really has a voice, I plan to use it to help as many people as I can. I mean that’s why we’re all here really, in the end.