Flint water crisis sparks rock benefit album striving to ‘make a difference’

With nearly 70 Michigan and national acts — Taking Back Sunday to Fine Fine Titans — on board, the compilation led by a Flint musician will raise money for affected children with ‘diversity and dynamics.’

 

Nearly 70 Michigan and national bands are lending dozens of tracks for a new digital release, with proceeds going toward a fund for the troubled-water city of Flint, proving that punk has heart.

“Not Safe to Drink: Music for Flint Water Crisis Relief” is a collection of songs from bands in the genres of alternative metal, pop punk, pop rock, punk, post-hardcore and emo, including Taking Back Sunday, Anti-Flag, We Came as Romans, and Grand Rapids’ Fine Fine Titans.

The money raised will be donated to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund, part of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. (See more at flintkids.org.)

The CFGF fund will be used to support Flint children with crisis response, healthy food access, safe and healthy home environments, and integrated social services, according to the website.

The download will be available at notsafetodrink.bandcamp.com starting Feb. 20, but fans can pre-order the compilation now. The suggested minimum donation is $5, with higher amounts gladly accepted. Listen to tracks online here.

Jonathan Diener, a native of Flint, and a member of pop-punk band The Swellers, said he wanted to find a way to help. He came up with the idea of putting together a collection of songs from local Michigan acts and national artists. Together, the artists came up with a digital release and the title, he said.

“Originally I was thinking maybe 20 bands, but right now we’re pushing 70,” Diener said. “The goal was to mix international touring artists with local Flint bands and back it with diversity and dynamics.

“Taking Back Sunday, a band that draws thousands of people, is right next to a band that plays for free and draws 20 people. It’s about raising awareness in music fans, giving them a tangible reason to donate and showing that musicians can be informed enough to encourage involvement. You don’t need millions of dollars to make a difference.”

For Grand Rapids’ Fine Fine Titans, contributing a track to the project was the least the band could do.

“Upon learning of the Flint water crisis, we felt the shock and anger that the community also felt,” said Jennifer Bartlett, the post-hardcore band’s frontwoman.

A ‘MAN-MADE ABOMINATION’ SPARKING A RESPONSE FROM ROCK BANDS

“This wasn’t just bad luck or a natural disaster. This was a man-made abomination constructed by careless and selfish individuals that left no regard for human decency or compassion, and the long-term issues that it will create for the children, the most affected victims, is abhorrent.

“This is our community and the people have to come together now,” she said.

The city of Flint has been experiencing water contaminated with lead since 2014, when its water system source was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit Water and Sewage Department to the Flint River, in an attempt to save money. Officials declined to order an additive into the water that would have prevented lead in old pipes from leaching into the potable water. The situation has affected everyone in the area, from schools and businesses to neighborhoods and homeowners.

But no one faces longer term and more devastating consequences than Flint’s children, who are most vulnerable from infants to 6-year-olds, according to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Lead poisoning can severely affect mental and physical development in children, and even small amounts of lead can be serious, according to mayoclinic.org.

Bartlett said the community owes whatever it can muster to help the children of Flint.

“These children need us,” she said, “and if we can even create the smallest gesture of support, we have to start there.”

Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC