For the last week, Hurricane Harvey has ravaged Houston, Texas, and the hardest part -- the recovery -- is yet to come. After the 2005 devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, some parts of New Orleans are still in the recovery process after over a decade. However, the amount of aid and compassion being exhibited for Harvey victims nationwide shows we’ve learned as a country and that for all of the divisive political rhetoric in recent years, we still know how to unite around a common cause.
Especially inspiring to see is the amount of generosity on display by musicians, including San Diego Grammy Award-winners Switchfoot, who have teamed up with ‘90s/’00s megastar alt-rockers Lifehouse to release a new song called “Shine Like Gold.” All proceeds from sales of the single (available for pay-what-you-want download here) go to benefit flood relief initiatives in Houston. Your donation will help provide everything from emergency food, clean water and hygiene kits to blankets and bedding, medical attention and clean-up efforts.
“Jason and I had always talked about writing a song together. When it finally happened, ‘Shine Like Gold’ became a song about everyday heroes fighting their way through the darkness toward the light. On the day we recorded the song, Hurricane Harvey began wreaking havoc in Texas. Sometimes you don't know what a song is for until after it’s written. In this case, it became crystal clear. As we watched our friends and family in Texas struggle through the aftermath of the hurricane, we knew exactly what we had to do. We love Houston. Houston is resilient and will rebuild. We can’t wait to be in Houston next Tuesday to celebrate hope in the midst of tragedy,” Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman said.
“Shine Like Gold” premiered on People.com on Friday, Sept. 1, and both bands are currently on a joint Looking for Summer tour across the country. On Tuesday, Sept. 5, they will perform the song together at Houston’s House of Blues.
As of Saturday, Switchfoot and Lifehouse are 70 percent complete with their ultimate goal of raising $50,000 for the cause. Let’s help them get the final 30 percent.
Rutger Rosenborg was almost a Stanford neuroscientist before he formed Ed Ghost Tucker. Whoops. He now plays in the Lulls and makes music on his own when he's not writing. Follow his updates on Facebook or contact him directly.
