A Tribute to Blink-182 Pt. 2 Available Now

A Tribute to Blink-182 Part 2: Fight Cancer, Fund Music is out now!

I wanted to let everyone know that A Tribute to Blink-182 Part 2 will have the same charitable goals as Part 1. All Spotify streaming revenue will go to the Cancer Research Institute. All other revenue will be going towards paying bands for this project and the next. Also, I have a mini update about my family's cancerous affairs. My mom had successful surgery on her skin cancer and the lumps on my dad’s lungs turned out to be non-cancerous. Wins all around!

The Unfortunate Reality of Charities

I thought I’d briefly touch on why I chose the Cancer Research Institute for donations:

I tried to establish a relationship with several smaller charities and research groups in hopes that I could work with them in a more collaborative way. I was instantly shot down by almost every charity. Apparently, the art of simply donating money to these causes is a trying endeavor unto itself. Several organizational reps instantly rejected working with me simply due to the project involving the name Blink-182. Being associated with an artist that has a sense of humor is seemingly bad for charitable business. The other factor that I was unaware of was that they wanted nothing to do with any kind of fundraiser pertaining to music. The very medium that every human being on earth relates to is apparently taboo when it comes to cancer research/charity.

That’s why I ultimately chose the Cancer Research Institute. They at least didn’t say no to donations. They also have somewhere around 86% of every dollar go to actual non-administrative purposes. A reasonable management to patient ratio.

I’m incredibly disappointed in our society that we have reached the stage where donating to charity and general kindness is rejected in favor of exclusively working through corporate events. Artistically oriented charity endeavors seem more genuine than Walmart trying to grift money off customers for tax purposes.

End rant.

A Tribute to Blink-182: Fund Music, Fight Cancer

My mom has cancer, my dad had cancer, three of my four grandparents died of cancer, and now Blink-182 front-man Mark Hoppus has been battling cancer. This bullshit has dramatically impacted my personal and professional life. That’s why I’ve changed up the way Pacific Ridge Records will do business. I want to generate a tiny amount of positivity to other people experiencing the same shitty medical issues that my family and families around the world have been dealing with. I mean, Mark Hoppus is the reason I’ve been in this business since I was in high-school. He’s the reason I love the music I love, and more importantly, he’s the reason Pacific Ridge Records exists. That’s why I know I have to contribute something more.

The way I’ll do my part in battling this awfulness is Pacific Ridge Records (Fund Music, Fight Cancer) will give talented and highly vetted artists money to create new music that falls into genres similar to bands like Blink-182, New Found Glory, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday and all bands like them both newer and older. On top of funding new music, all Spotify stream revenue from this new content will go to the Cancer Research Institute in an attempt to do some good. The rest of the revenue will go back into funding the recording of additional new songs by unsigned but highly vetted artists. This process allows for indie artists to get a little extra cash that they may not have received otherwise, all while doing a project that results in some positivity being injected into what is an awful reality for most people. I don’t know if this is the best move, or the right move, but I do believe putting new music out into the world and helping those in need is a positive force in a world that needs a little more positivity.

A Little Love From NFG

This is all I hope for. I just want New Found Glory and all of the other artists I've produced tribute albums for to know that they've made a difference in my life. It may seem like hyperbole, but New Found Glory had an impact on my life, my style, my love of music and my friends. Thank you Chad for dropping a little love on the project and making the whole endeavor worthwhile.

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A Tribute to New Found Glory is Out Now

It's been 11 months; I'm tired, I'm relieved and I'm indescribably appreciative of every single band that took the time to participate on this project. Please support indie bands. They don’t have a money machine propping them up, they have genuine love for music and are doing it for essentially free. Stream this comp, their tunes, or both, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Also, New Found Glory, I went to at least a half-dozen of your shows. I was with my best friend for every single one of those shows and I will cherish those memories because of it. You guys are the best and I hope all of us did you the justice you truly deserve. You guys are the best.

Something I Call Personality

On everyone of these comps there’s a band that I believe could absolutely go from indie to next level. On the Scene Vol. 6 it was Gold Steps, on the Senses Fail tribute it was Forever Starts Today, on the NFG tribute it’s NU-95. These guys have the soul of old school The Used while having a top notch visual style that’s all their own. They also have impeccable taste, considering they chose a top three New Found Glory song in ‘Something I Call Personality’.

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On My Mind

Bernard Cozy has by far the most diverse sounding catalog on the comp. He ranges from hip-hop to alternative. That’s why it makes sense that he chose what’s arguably the most eclectic song in the NFG discography in ‘On My Mind’.

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Ready and Willing

The range of talent by Steven Neevs is absolutely off the charts. A solo artist that covered Ready and Willing by New Found Glory, by himself, full band style, with Smoking Popes-like vocals, layered with hardcore vocals. Words don’t do talent like that justice.

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Truth of My Youth

Sit down and listen to a short story about how Dusty Miller became a participant on this tribute. I had honestly never heard of Dusty Miller. I initially reached out to a separate artist entirely. Eventually that contact evolved into this relatively new artist asking to do a song. I’m not going to lie. I’m always skeptical at first. New bands are always risky propositions. After one spin of their tune ‘Catchphrase’ I concluded that their home country of Sweden is the pop-punk epicenter of the world and that I was in musical love. They then recorded this absolute jam and got me pumped about their growing legend and discography. Goddamn I wish all stories ended this happily.

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Singled Out

Atlantic Wasteland has the most distinct sound of any participant on the comp. They’re not rock, pop-punk, hardcore or alternative. They can’t be pigeon-holed. They just make goddamn good music. They were also the very first band I wrote down when scouting bands for this project. They absolutely did not disappoint either. The first two-thirds of the song is awesome, but the last third just rocks so hard.

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