A Non-Profit Band?

December 6, 2007

Sarah and the wee’un are out of the house for the next couple of days looking after Grandpa and Grandma as Grandpa is having some outpatient surgery tomorrow. That leaves me somewhat alone and with flexible evenings. Although I missed my girls tremendously (Sarah texted me a pic of our sleeping baby), I put my flexibility to good use by heading over to Oliver’s Twist (awesome chill place with funky food and stools which lack enough cushion for 3 hours of sitting) to check out the non-profit band Jubilee.

livejubilee.org

In a city full of bands just trying to “make it”, Jubilee stands out from the crowd as a band who is trying to make a difference. You see, Jubilee puts 10% of their booking fees and 50% of their merch sales straight into the International Justice Mission. They are registered as a nonprofit and exist not just to rock (which they did), but to change the world.

From the website:

JUBILEE is a non-profit band, seeking to live life to the fullest. Our fundamental desire is to understand reality, and make the best of it. We desire that our individual, collective, and artistic lives be a pursuit and expression of truth, goodness, and beauty – Health.

We recognize that the world is one interconnected biological and cultural ecosystem – we are all part of one common body. Therefore, when one part aches, we all suffer in due time. We recognize the reality of injustice and inequality experienced both locally and globally. Therefore, we seek to promote ideology and action of justice, equality, and health through our music, and the conscientious sharing of wealth via our 501-c(3) non-profit status as LIVE JUBILEE. Our aim is to praise and award exemplary organizations that help others to help themselves.

We are all human, prone to both glory and shortcoming. We ask for your support, wisdom, and accountability in this communal journey towards the high life.

They played two sets of all original material (save the cover of “The Girl from Impanema”, which was done very well in both Portuguese and English) and entertained the crowds at Oliver’s for 2+ hours. The music was groovy and ranged from straight-up Latin to jazz and funky folk. Although the band’s website doesn’t reference her, Grace brought *a lot* to the sound with her vocals. I hope she is a regular part of the line-up.

The band was tight and although the particular sound was a bit out of my “normal” listening tastes, it is the perfect music for a party - with a few tracks that deserve to be put on your iPod’s regular playlist (I for one would love a live “Easy To Love” cut). The CDs sold well and everyone had a great time.

It makes me wonder though - what if we did see that what we do can actually change the world? Would we be willing to live “non-profit” lives? Would we write non-profit books? Program non-profit software? Take home non-profit paychecks? I think that this is what the gospel calls us to do. To use the resources that are placed in our hands to usher in “good news to the poor…to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovering sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

Thank you Jubilee for cutting through the crap and trying to make a difference. It’s inspiring. And thanks for the jams too.

Posted in seattle, shows