Fredericton’s blues-rockers Kill Chicago are putting their money where their mouths are, as they pledge to donate $500 to United Way if they can reach their goal of getting 500 likes on their new video for “Carry Me”.
Back in 2015, Shivering Songs, Fredericton’s winter art and music festival, began a project called Songs of the City as they looked for ways to do more for their city while contributing to United Way Central New Brunswick. It connected songwriters with people who had been helped by United Way so that their stories might be told, and from it came a whole concert series.
This year, Greg Webber of Kill Chicago participated in Songs of the City along with Catherine MacLellan, Tim Walker (Grand Theft Bus), Josh Bravener (The Hypochondiacs) and Lydia Mainville.
“The four songwriters all told the story of different persons story that has been touched by the United Way,” explains Webber. “[I met] a man named Dale Kennedy who was helped by Jobs Unlimited, an organization that gets funding from the United Way. Jobs Unlimited gives meaningful employment to persons with an employment barrier. He was hired to help with mail delivery to downtown government offices.”
Of course, those already familiar with Webber’s modus operandi, and Kill Chicago‘s tendency to rail against injustices, student debt, and The Man, won’t be surprised at the end product. “Carry Me” refers not on to mail delivery (Long Live the Postal Service!), but also the important of social programs.
“I’m a teacher because I think that’s how I can best serve the community. And I see the difference that social programs make in many people’s lives. But I’m really impressed by the people who volunteer and work for these programs. It was a big challenge to not navel gaze for this song and write about someone else’s experience.”
“I had about a month to write the song and it’s rare that I write about someone other than myself. I guess it was nice to be trusted with the task of writing a song specifically for someone. It was also very rewarding to play with a different group of guys for the event. The Olympic Symphonium was the house band. Anytime you can do something using a different process it helps you grow.”
The song was performed at Fredericton’s Playhouse Theatre, with The Olympic Symphonium as the backup band and, for a while, that was that.
But Kill Chicago have been hard at work lately. They’re in the midst of recording a new album at The Recordery in Fredericton. They have already been geared up, the screws have been tightened, and things are getting honed. So why waste a good opportunity?
The band made plans to visit CHSR Community Radio Station for one of their Live Session videos and made hay. Then they took it further. When the video went out on Facebook the band made the generous offer that should the post reach 500 likes they would donate $500 to United Way Central New Brunswick.
“It’s been a hot minute folks!
We’ve got a new tune, new vid and some shows coming soon!
The song #CarryMe was written for Shivering Songs & #SongsoftheCity.
#500likes = $500 donated United Way Central New Brunswick #letsdoittogether”
“I just though that likes usually don’t mean anything in real life. But if my liking something you were donating a dollar than likes could actually change something real by putting money in people’s hands,” says Webber.
So go give the video a like, or if you’re really keen you can donate directly to United Way Central New Brunswick by visiting them here.
Kill Chicago, in the meantime, are still putting the finishing touches on their yet-to-be-named album, but say to expect a late summer/early fall release.
Tour Dates:
April 27th, 2018 – The Capital Complex, Fredericton, NB
April 28th, 2018 – Tide and Boar Gastropub, Moncton, NB
May 3rd, 2018 – East Coast Music Association, Halifax, NS
August 5th, 2018 – Area 506, Saint John, NB