The Fugazi Covers Project

Q: Huh? What benefit?
A: Braking the Cycle is a 275 mile benefit bike tour which supports HIV/AIDS services provided by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City. The ride itself takes place at the end of September. You can find out all about the ride, and the services it supports here: http://brakingthecycle.com

Q: What do you mean, “we”?
A: Christina Da Costa, Jeffry Opdyke, Michael Sowiski, and myself will be participating in the ride with about 100 other folks. The four of us are acting as a fundraising team (team name: The Rims). All proceeds from sale of this cover album will be going to the benefit via this fundraising team.

Q: Covers Album? Wha?
A: Ah, in this case, I’m guessing you don’t know Daniella. On several occassions, folks have participated in putting together covers records, usually as birthday presents for friends. These projects have generally been pretty fun for everybody involved (right?). So the only big difference here is that we will be selling the resulting album for charity, rather than just giving it away.

Q: So does Fugazi know you are going to be selling a Fugazi covers album?
A: In fact, yes! Fugazi has given their blessing to go ahead with this project and they’ve even asked for some copies of the final product. Pretty cool, right?

Q: Why Fugazi?
A: Um…because Fugazi is totally awesome? That, and we had the sense that Fugazi/Dischord they would be more approachable about doing this sort of project than many other bands/labels, while still being well-known enough that people would be interested in paying for a CD of covers.

Q: Who can participate?
A: Anybody and everybody who’s interested. PLEASE send this e-mail to anybody who you think would be interested.

Q: If I’m interested, what do I do next?
A: Just leave a comment telling me what song you want to cover and who is participating. Once we start getting participants, I will probably be setting up a website where folks can be kept up to date.

Q: What is the time frame?
A: Tight. We want to have a list of all participants and the songs they are going to cover within the next two weeks (ok, three at the maximum). You will then have until August 4th to arrange, rehearse, dust off your 4 track, whatever, and get us an MP3 file of your final product. At that point we will be putting together the physical CDs, which will be available starting at a listening party to be held shortly thereafter (place and date TBA). Please note, there will be VERY little flexibility in this schedule because all sales must be over and done with by the time the benefit is done.

Q: Are these CDs going to look all professional, with liner notes and nice artwork and all that?
A: Oh, hell no. We’re talking CDRs, stencils, paper sleeves, and probably online liner notes to let everybody know who was involved. These details aren’t really ironed out yet, but expect serious DIY – it’s for charity after all.

Q: If you’re fundraising, how come you’re not asking me for money right now?
A: Oh, not to worry. We’ll ask you for money later.

Q: What if I have other questions or suggestions?
A: Just ask via comments and I will tell you all I know and don’t know.