2008 Woodie Awards
OK Go lets Katrina victims know "You're Not Alone"
Meghan Driscoll
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Arts&Entertainment
OK Go's popularity has risen greatly following their choreographed treadmill routine to their song "Here It Goes Again." With 29,433,633 views on YouTube, the band may have some bragging rights, but it's their involvement in community service after Hurricane Katrina that's worth bragging about.
The Chronicle spoke with Damian Kulash, the 32-year-old singer and guitarist for the band, about Hurricane Katrina, politics, and what makes the band so unique.
OK Go recently teamed up with the trombone group Bonerama and collaborated on the album, "You're Not Alone," available exclusively on iTunes. Profits from the sale of the album will go toward Sweet Home New Orleans, a non-profit organization that helps musical and cultural communities within New Orleans access resources and obtain affordable housing after Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds from the record will also go toward building a house for Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, a New Orleans legend who lost everything after the hurricane.
OK Go first connected with Bonerama at a benefit show in New Orleans. The band thought they were playing alone but soon realized that there were other artists on the bill as well. They were offered to play with Bonerama that day.
"That sounded like an awesome opportunity to me," Kulash said. "We didn't really have a chance to practice or anything, we just got up on stage and did it."
Performing with Bonerama was also a nice change of pace for Kulash, who had been used to playing their normal songs. "I had been on tour for two years, playing the same songs," he said.
Kulash has since become smitten with the musical scene found in New Orleans, stating that New Orleans is "one of the greatest music towns in the world." "In New Orleans, people do still parade in the streets, dancing and playing songs," Kulash said. "Every Sunday people are out in the streets playing music together, it's an incredible thing. It's shocking to behold actually and it's actually sort of in danger because the people that keep that tradition alive are stuck in temporary housing."
The Chronicle spoke with Damian Kulash, the 32-year-old singer and guitarist for the band, about Hurricane Katrina, politics, and what makes the band so unique.
OK Go recently teamed up with the trombone group Bonerama and collaborated on the album, "You're Not Alone," available exclusively on iTunes. Profits from the sale of the album will go toward Sweet Home New Orleans, a non-profit organization that helps musical and cultural communities within New Orleans access resources and obtain affordable housing after Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds from the record will also go toward building a house for Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, a New Orleans legend who lost everything after the hurricane.
OK Go first connected with Bonerama at a benefit show in New Orleans. The band thought they were playing alone but soon realized that there were other artists on the bill as well. They were offered to play with Bonerama that day.
"That sounded like an awesome opportunity to me," Kulash said. "We didn't really have a chance to practice or anything, we just got up on stage and did it."
Performing with Bonerama was also a nice change of pace for Kulash, who had been used to playing their normal songs. "I had been on tour for two years, playing the same songs," he said.
Kulash has since become smitten with the musical scene found in New Orleans, stating that New Orleans is "one of the greatest music towns in the world." "In New Orleans, people do still parade in the streets, dancing and playing songs," Kulash said. "Every Sunday people are out in the streets playing music together, it's an incredible thing. It's shocking to behold actually and it's actually sort of in danger because the people that keep that tradition alive are stuck in temporary housing."
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