Wilderness And Space
The Contribution To Release New Album
Tim Carbone, Phil Ferlino, Jeff Miller, Keith Moseley, Sheryl Renee, Matt Butler and Duane Trucks, Join Musical Forces To Release Their 2nd Album, Wilderness And Space, on LoHi Records.
When Relix magazine announced the The Contribution’s debut record, Which Way World (2010), and called them a “jamband supergroup,” they also recognized, “the band serves the songs first and foremost.” Although the band is comprised of some of the scene’s heavy hitters, the first listen to their music reveals their love of 60s pop and soul coupled with their ability to flat-out shred. It’s is what makes the band appealing to music lovers from all walks of life. In 2017 the band released seven tracks from their upcoming LoHi Records album, Wilderness and Space, with full proceeds from each single going to a different non-profit organization.
The Contribution is the brainchild of Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth (violin, guitar, vocals) together with Phil Ferlino (keyboards, vocals) and Jeff Miller (guitar, vocals) of New Monsoon. Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident), has been the bass player from the band’s inception along with vocalist Sheryl Renee (The Black Swan Singers). The drum chair was previously occupied by Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), and currently Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic) who both appear on the band’s new record.
The first song was released in February, 2017 with all proceeds donated to Rex Foundation. Consecutive songs came out monthly, each paired with unique artwork and all proceeds benefitting a different non-profit partner. Others taking part include Conscious Alliance, HeadCount, and a handful of other organizations that support the arts, environment, and health. The full ten-song album will come out on vinyl this Spring.
Releasing records and touring is a cycle that is a part of each member’s individual careers. Initially conceived as a studio project that would play select live shows, the emphasis for The Contribution was always on writing and recording. Rather than releasing a full record with expectations of touring to support it, Carbone wanted to find a way to live up to the band’s name and this is what they cooked up to keep going and give back in the process.
How could the creation of music be leveraged for the betterment of the world at large? A lofty goal. The band has never been about personal profit and individually the members have been advocates and activists for various environmental and social causes. Now they have thought of a way to meld the two worlds the band holds dear. They are The Contribution, after all. Carbone says, “We feel blessed to be able to make this music and have it help people in need… and we would like to empower those who share our passion and provide a resource for them to take action with us.”
Wilderness and Space will be released on LoHi Records, of which Carbone is one of the partners along with singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Snider, Hard Working Americans’ Chad Staehly, who is also with Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville, and entrepreneur and marketing veteran Jim Brooks. All songs written and produced by Tim Carbone, Phil Ferlino and Jeff Miller.
In the News
The Songs
The first 7 songs released monthly to benefit individual non-profits. Buy all releases at cdbaby
Back This Way is a duet sung as a conversation between a man and a woman whose relationship is suffering because the man is always away from home. He could be a musician or a traveling salesman (kind of the same thing) or in the military. It’s an argument that somehow, through love, turns out well.
Musicians:
Tim Carbone – lead vocals and percussion
Jeff Miller – electric guitars, background vocals
Phil Ferlino – piano, Hammond organ and background vocals
Sheryl Renee – lead vocals
Keith Moseley – bass
Matt Butler – drums
Recorded at TRI Studios – San Rafael, CA
Engineered by Rick Vargas
About The Rex Foundation:
“For more than 30 years, the Rex Foundation has funded organizations most people might never have heard of, but all of whom do meaningful work that we find important. I believe that these same groups need all of us now more than ever, and I doubt there could be any better way to celebrate their work than by coming together with songs in the air and spirits held high,” says Rex Foundation Executive Director Cameron Sears.
Carbone says, “We feel blessed to be able to make this music and have it help people in need… and we would like to empower those who share our passion and provide a resource for them to take action with us.” For more information visit rexfoundation.org
The Great Boot is a song about remembering to take the time to love and appreciate those that love you. Scars to your soul can be the hardest to see and overcome.
Musicians:
Tim Carbone – violin, strings and lead vocals
Jeff Miller – acoustic and electric guitars
Phil Ferlino – Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond organ and synthesizers
Sheryl Renee – harmony and solo vocals
Keith Moseley – bass
Matt Butler – drums
Recorded at Silo Sound Studio – Denver, CO
Engineered by Todd Dival
Additional recording by Tim Carbone at Black Lotus Studios, Delaware Water Gap, PA
About Conscious Alliance:
Conscious Alliance, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports communities in crisis. Based in Boulder, Colo., Conscious Alliance operates through a three-tier approach: emergency food relief to communities across the United States; empowerment programs for youth in impoverished regions of the country; and nutrition, exercise and gardening education for youth in economically isolated Native American reservations. Conscious Alliance operates ongoing grassroots food collection and hunger awareness programs by organizing food drives at concerts and music events. The donations collected benefit local food pantries nationwide and economically isolated Native American reservations. Conscious Alliance works with myriad companies and organizations to further its mission of providing life changing and life enhancing programs to the communities they serve. For more information visit consciousalliance.org
While Passengers of Darkness does explore trauma suffered in a relationship, with two people confronting challenges to their love and trust, it could also be a metaphor for the trauma some people are feeling over our recent presidential election. The lack of transparency and trust in an election, as well as a relationship, can be destructive and almost always leads to chaos.
Musicians:
Jeff Miller – acoustic guitar and lead vocals
Phil Ferlino – accordion, glockenspiel and background vocals
Sheryl Renee – solo vocal and background vocals
Tim Carbone – violin and background vocals
Keith Moseley – bass
Matt Butler – drums
The band – claps
Recorded at Silo Sound Studio – Denver, CO
Engineered by Todd Dival
About HeadCount:
HeadCount is a non-partisan, non-profit, organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy. It is best known for registering voters at concerts – having signed up 450,000 voters since its launch in 2004 – and for the Participation Row social action villages at concerts and festivals which have raised over $1 million for various non-profit organizations.
“The Contribution is a brilliant concept and we were honored when Tim asked HeadCount to participate. Seeing Tim and The Contribution elevate and amplify the voices of so many incredible organizations is a real example of how music can change the world.” –Andy Bernstein, Executive Director, HeadCount
For more information visit headcount.org
Fourth Release:
To benefit Rock The Earth
It Ain’t No Sin
This song is about addiction, shame and the inability to own your mistakes.
Musicians:
Tim Carbone – electric guitar and lead vocals
Jeff Miller – electric guitars, slide guitar and background vocals
Phil Ferlino – piano and background vocals
Sheryl Renee – background vocals
Keith Moseley – bass
Matt Butler – drums
Recorded at Silo Sound Studio – Denver, CO
Engineered by Todd Dival
Additional recording by Rick Vargas at TRI Studios – San Rafael, CA
About Rock The Earth:
Rock the Earth is a national environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and defending natural resources through partnerships with the music industry. Rock the Earth is an advocate for individuals and communities whose environment or natural surroundings have been adversely affected by others.
For more information visit rocktheearth.org
Fifth Release:
To benefit The Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Dream Out In The Rain
This song is about having the courage to dream and believing in yourself.
Musicians:
Tim Carbone – lead and harmony vocals
Sheryl Renee – lead and harmony vocals
Jeff Miller – electric guitars
Phil Ferlino – piano and Hammond organ
Keith Moseley – bass
Matt Butler – drums
Jay Rattman – saxophones and horn arrangement
Rick Chamberlain – trombone
Sean McAnally – trumpet
Recorded at Silo Sound Studio – Denver, CO
Engineered by Todd Divel
Additional recording by Don Sternaker at Mix-o-Lydian Studios, Delaware Water Gap, PA
About The Delaware Riverkeeper Network:
Over 17 Million people rely on the Delaware for drinking water including in New York, Philadelphia and South Jersey.
The Delaware River, its tributaries and watershed, are under a number of assaults. Individually each does damage, but cumulatively these impacts may be irreparable. Development projects that contribute to sprawl, the aggressive extraction of resources, floodplain, habitat and wetlands destruction, new and increased pollution discharges, proposals for development projects, over-harvesting of species, blasting, dredging, damming, dumping, catastrophic events and spills all combine to harm our watershed and the communities (both human and non human) that rely upon it.
Established in 1988, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network is a nonprofit membership organization whose staff and volunteers work throughout the entire Delaware River Watershed area with the ultimate goal to protect and restore the Watershed for the benefit of all. They also work throughout the four states that comprise the Watershed including: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. At the federal level, they work on the issues, actions, regulations, legislation, policies, programs and decisions that impact the health of the Watershed.
For more information visit www.delawareriverkeeper.org
Sixth Release:
To benefit The Breast Cancer Emergency Fund
This Too Shall Pass is about the pain of losing someone you love. It’s a plea to heal yourself.
“The BCEF, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund is a non-profit that has special significance to me as my mother, Joann D Miller, passed away in 2012 from breast cancer. My family and I found out when it was already stage 4, so we could do nothing but support her in her last months of life on this plane.
The song ‘This Too Shall Pass’ was written as a reference to the cathartic idea that even in our darkest days, with a loved one passing, there is hope. In writing and recording this song, I forever have a way to remember my mom and bring her into being whenever the song is played… a true blessing.” –Jeff Miller
Musicians:
Sheryl Renee – lead vocals
Tim Carbone – electric guitar, background vocals and percussion
Jeff Miller – electric guitars and background vocals
Phil Ferlino – Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond organ and background vocals
Keith Moseley – bass
Duane Trucks – drums
Recorded at Silo Sound Studio – Denver, CO
Engineered by Todd Divel
Additional recording by Don Sternaker at Mix-o-Lydian Studios, Delaware Water Gap, PA
About The Breast Cancer Emergency Fund:
Since 2001, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) has been the only San Francisco Bay Area organization dedicated to providing emergency financial assistance to low-income women and men battling breast cancer. To date, they have delivered over $3,000,000 in quick, compassionate care to help reduce financial hardship, improve quality of life and enable people focus on their health and their families.
Many people with breast cancer have inadequate or no health insurance. Most will be unable to work throughout their treatment, adding a huge financial toll to an already difficult struggle. BCEF’s fast and early intervention prevents financial deterioration and provides a sense of security during a devastating illness. BCEF helps people in need continue life-extending medical treatments, avoid utility shut-off, prevent eviction and maintain stable housing while they battle breast cancer.
BCEF is a tax-exempt non-profit organization and does not receive City, State or Federal funds. 100% of their funding is from private foundations, corporations and individuals.
For more information visit www.bcef.org
Seventh Release:
To benefit Piedmont Land Conservancy
Wilderness and Space is a stream of consciousness tone poem about dealing with life like a compassionate warrior.
Musicians:
Tim Carbone – lead vocals, electric guitar and oramics machine
Jeff Miller – electric guitars and background vocals
Phil Ferlino – piano, organ, synthesizers and background vocals
Sheryl Renee – background vocals
Keith Moseley – bass
Duane Trucks – drums
Linda Kistler – violin
Christopher Souza – violin
Marsha Cahn – viola
Agnieszka Rybska – cello
Jay Rattman – string arrangement and conductor
Recorded at Silo Sound Studio – Denver, CO
Engineered by Todd Divel
Additional recording by Don Sternaker at Mix-o-Lydian Studios, Delaware Water Gap, PA
About Piedmont Land Conservancy:
Piedmont Land Conservancy protects our region’s natural lands, farms and waters for present and future generations. PLC connects people with nature. To date, PLC has protected nearly 23,000 acres of North Carolina’s Piedmont.
“Piedmont Land Conservancy is very excited to partner with The Contribution to help raise awareness of the importance of land conservation in North Carolina’s Piedmont, but also throughout our beautiful nation” – Kevin Redding, Executive Director.
Tim Carbone tells Shows I Go To about how the nonprofits were selected, “I put it to the band at large and asked them, ‘What do you feel strongly about?’” LoHi Records labelmate, Jim Brooks, suggested Piedmont Land Conservatory as he has held events to raise money for them in the past.
Brooks says, “When Tim approached me about LoHi releasing The Contribution I loved the idea of combining great music to support great causes. By way of Piedmont Land Conservancy’s annual LandJam concert featuring the very best names in live Americana roots music (this year’s event features Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn) to further its cause of protecting the Piedmont’s treasured natural spaces, it was a no brainer. I mean, the title, ‘Wilderness and Space,’ couldn’t be a better fit for PLC’s mission and legacy, right? I appreciate Tim inviting PLC to be part of such a unique and worthy musical endeavor.”
For more information visit piedmontland.org
