In these tough economic times, it’s hard to find a silver lining. Local arts especially have taken a hit, and that includes venues and artists alike. The reality is that local bands across the city are struggling to bring their fans out to support live 
music.
Enter the Chicago Roots Collective.
The collective—also known as the CRC—is a group of ten highly motivated, independent, local bands who have defied the urge to step on the other guy to get ahead. Though their genres range from reggae to pop to Americana, the CRC has banded together to form a community of musicians. The premise is simple: by working together, each individual band benefits.
The history of the CRC traces back to last year’s Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, where members of the collective performed at the Congress Theater along with The David Grisman Quintet and The Avett Brothers.
Mike Raspatello, one of the founders of the festival, and current friend of the collective, explains how it all got started. “It was a really exciting night for local music. We had independently thrown this festival, and it allowed area bands who had been carving out separate niches in the Chicago music scene to connect with each other and realize there was a shared experience among them.”
Peter Manhart of Molehill explains: “We share the struggle of independent musicians, but we also share the dream. And in that sense, there is a genuine respect and appreciation among the bands for each other’s music, and a desire to help each other along the journey to success.”
Matt Hartgering of Cobalt and the Hired Guns agrees. “The spirit of the CRC is really about collaboration and a cooperative spirit, and when you’ve got ten bands who are highly talented and driven, it’s easy to embrace those qualities.”
“When you have ten bands attending each others shows, there is a large group of supporters in the audience that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.” says Donnie Biggins of The Shams Band.
In fact, the next CRC show will feature all ten bands for $10. The event will take place at 6pm on Saturday, September 19 at The Cubby Bear – Wrigleyville. While the undertaking is ambitious, there are no mysterious benefactors, booking agents, or promotional companies funding or organizing the show.
“It’s just us. We’re a group of bands that believe our destiny is in our own hands, and the only way we reach our goals is by working our butts off,” says Danny Surico of The Future Laureates.
In planning for events such as this, band representatives meet once a month to discuss ideas and share resources. It’s a sort of “tribal council” of local indie bands, where veterans like Mike Mangione, How Far to Austin, and Todd Kessler have become mentors for upstarts like Goodbyehome, The Future Laureates, and Band Called Catch.
How to book a tour, strategies for contacting media outlets, networking resources, and promotional ideas are all being shared.
One recent product of these brainstorming sessions was the CRC logo design contest. Local artists were given the chance to submit designs and choose from prizes including $200, 4 tickets to the 2009 Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, and a merchandise package from all ten bands. The contest was held as a way to spark interest in the collective, but it was also pragmatic.
“In the most basic sense, we needed a logo for the CRC,” says TateTroelstrup of How Far to Austin. “But at the same time, we were able to develop relationships with other area artists that, long term, can benefit both parties.”
One such artist is Amy Olchowski, a recently graduated graphic design major from Loyola University Chicago. While her logo designs ultimately didn’t earn the top prize, she was asked to use her ideas to make a poster for the upcoming CRC show at the Cubby Bear. “The Chicago Roots Collective gives not only local musicians, but all kinds of artists the opportunity to showcase their talents, and therefore, creating a full community collaborative effort.”
Brian Wise of Jackpot Donnie sums it up “We feel like the world is at out fingertips. Our collective potential is there and we’re moving forward toward the same goal, on the same journey.”
Click here to hear the Chicago Roots Collective
Good for y’all! It’s about time something like this started in Chicago. I see it happening very successfully in Nashville and Birmingham. It’s too bad I found out about this show too late but now I know to watch for the next one!