LiveWire Encourages Artists Everywhere to Get Involved With Tornado Relief Causes
NASHVILLE, TN (April 9, 2012) — On February 29, Country band, LiveWire, was scheduled to debut a 60 second Public Service Announcement on The Country Network. The group and their label, Way Out West Records, had created the PSA to focus awareness on the continuing needs of the residents of their tornado ravaged hometown of Joplin, Missouri, which was struck last May by one of the most deadly tornados in U.S. history.
But on the morning of the 29th the members of LiveWire changed their plans and made a decision to pull the PSA after they awoke to the news that a severe weather system had unleashed another series of tornados in Kansas the night before, hopping across Arkansas and Missouri and crashing into nearby Branson before continuing to gain strength as it raced across the country wreaking death and destruction in communities in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio.
“At the time, we felt like it was best not to air it,” states LiveWire band leader Bobby DeGonia about the PSA. “Even though we had planned the spot for several months, we did not want it to seem like we were being insensitive to the losses in the other communities, so our label contacted The Country Network and asked them to pull the PSA before it aired.”
But after more deadly storms occurred on March 2nd and 3rd in Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio, LiveWire and their label began to rethink things. Band member, Danny Bell, who wrote the song “Miracle Of The Human Spirit” last year to benefit Joplin says, “We started thinking, ‘Wait a minute. Our PSA is to help Joplin. Our own band members, families and friends have suffered from the tornado there. But people are in need all across the country. Maybe our message will help to raise awareness about tornado victims in general and more people will help. So our manager had a conversation with the folks at the Country Network and they agreed, and the spot began airing a few weeks ago.”
In light of the tornados that hit the Dallas/Ft. Worth area last week, impacting over 6 million people, the members of LiveWire are convinced that they made the right decision and have released the following statement:
“Tornados are becoming more widespread and many people are hurting, everywhere. The needs go on long after the news cameras go away. As a band, we can use our music as a platform to get the message out. We commend Taylor Swift and Sheryl Crow for their recent donations to tornado victims, and Lady Antebellum for getting involved with their upcoming private prom party and public concert to aid in the rebuilding of Henryville, Indiana. We also want to recognize Joplin-native Kenny Foster and other artists for their great songs about what happened to our town. Those are all wonderful contributions. But it will take everyone doing something to help all of the affected victims. We should all try to do as much as we can to help those in need and we encourage other artists to join in the cause. Together, we can make a difference.”
Click here to watch LiveWire’s PSA for Joplin which includes footage from the group’s video “Miracle Of The Human Spirit.” Purchase the benefit single at iTunes. All proceeds go to rebuild Joplin.
Donate to help Joplin:
Donations are accepted here by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks on behalf of Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri. Please note “Joplin Tornado First Response Fund” in the Fund/Program box.
Donate to help victims of Texas storms:
World Vision has set up a fund to help victims of the Texas tornados. Donations can be made here or by calling (888) 56-CHILD (24453), or by texting “GIVEUSA” to 777444 to make a $10 donation to World Vision’s disaster response.
Donate to help domestic disaster victims everywhere:
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ABOUT LIVEWIRE:
LiveWire features lead singer/acoustic guitarist Andy Eutsler, lead guitarist Bobby DeGonia, drummer Adam Hagerman, fiddle player Cory Shultz, rhythm guitarist Danny Bell and bassist Landon Rolfe. LiveWire’s unique Ozark Mountain firebrand sound blends working man’s Country and rootsy Southern Rock. Edgy and passionate, their original songs are infused with the kind of lyrical integrity and expert musicianship that can only be forged through years of shared personal experiences and hardships. Themes of the common man resound – it’s music about real life: good times, hard times, poverty, love, loss, family, spirituality, death and redemption.
Since forming in the mid-90s, LiveWire has forged a reputation as one of the top-draw live acts in the Midwest by regularly packing venues in their home state of Missouri and in the surrounding areas of Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. Along the way, their homegrown talent has taken them across America where they have opened for a “Who’s Who” of the music world, and experienced a brush with the “big time” as finalists in the 2009 Colgate Country Showdown, where they performed on the hallowed stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
LiveWire released their debut single “Tater Fed” in May 2001. The song climbed both the U.S. and European charts and was supported with a video shot by Nashville director Flick Wiltshire (Jason Sturgeon/Tracy Lawrence). The group self-released a self-titled debut EP in June 2011. After signing with Nashville-based Way Out West Records in late 2011, LiveWire released a single via iTunes entitled “Miracle Of The Human Spirit,” with proceeds going to benefit the rebuilding efforts in the band’s hometown of Joplin, MO, which was devastated by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. The powerful video for the song was directed by Mark Nicolosi (Stealing Angels/Mark Wills) and gave an International platform for the band to help raise awareness about the needs in Joplin by gaining airplay on CMT Pure, The Country Network, and GACTV.com,among other outlets.
LiveWire is currently in pre-production for their full-length debut album slated for release in summer 2012. The album’s lead single, “Gone (Remix),” is at radio now.