Rock N Renew

Rock ‘n Renew Presents THE PIEBALD FAREWELL TOUR: Boston and New York

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:01:23 -0500

On April 17-19, beloved indie favorite Piebald closed out their 12+ year existence with three final shows at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA and the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Piebald teamed up with Rock ‘n Renew to make this sold-out final tour a memorable event that reflected the band’s long-time green ethics. As drummer Luke Garro explained, “These events were more than your typical live show. The goal was to create a unique experience that was as entertaining as it was educational.”

The band donated $1 from every ticket sale to Rock ‘n Renew, and the event included an eco-fashion show each night to entertain the fans. This unusual show featured karaoke singers (selected from posted youtube audition tapes) decked out in sustainably-made clothing and shoes from ethical brands Topo Ranch, Autonomie Project, Birdhead, and Macbeth.

The founding members of Piebald — lead singer/guitarist Travis Shettel, guitarist/vocalist Aaron Stuart and bassist/vocalist Andrew Bonner — cut their teeth while still in high school in the suburbs of Andover, Massachusetts, debuting with the 1995 EP, Sometimes Friends Fight. The band was joined in 2001 by drummer Luke Garro, and recorded many well-received releases throughout its fruitful career, including When Life Hands You Lemons (1997), If It Weren't For Venetian Blinds It Would Be Curtains For Us All (1999), The Rock Revolution Will Not Be Televised (2000), We Are The Only Friends We Have (2002), All Ears, All Eyes, All The Time (2004) and Accidental Gentlemen (2007). For those that missed the shows, the entire event and live set will be released as a DVD documentary and live CD next fall by Sidehatch Entertainment/Bampf! Media/Circumvision Productions.

Throughout the band’s existence, Piebald executed numerous US tours in a bus that ran on 100% straight vegetable oil (SVO), avoiding petroleum and saving significant money on band transportation costs. These tours were accompanied with an alternative energy education campaign and live demonstrations of the vehicle to encourage fans and other bands to take action. Rock ‘n Renew would like to thank Piebald for their commitment to the environment, their support for Rock ‘n Renew, and for producing great music for over a decade.

L.A. FASHION TRADE SHOW: Santa Monica- Green is the new black!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:02:20 -0500

With the motto “Green is the New Black,” Rock ‘n Renew stepped in to make the LA Fashion Trade Show CLASS in Santa Monica an eco-friendly, sustainable event. Hosted by CLASS, the three-day show brought buyers and press together with 60 of the best brands in the business, including sustainability pioneer Linda Lowdermilk and other environmentally-conscious labels like Topo Ranch, Pure Play, and Re:Volve. All participants were given the option to offset their CO2 with a donation to True Offsets, Rock ‘n Renew’s own carbon offsetting program, with the goal of making the show a carbon-neutral event.

Rock ‘n Renew helped implement green initiatives into every aspect of the tradeshow, including:

•   A green-powered generator to power outdoor tents
•   Canvas bags and reusable water bottles for distribution to each guest
•   Healthy, filtered water provided on-site by I love my H2O, eliminating the need for wasteful plastic bottles
•   Fresh, organic meals from FOOD+LAB served on biodegradable dishware
•   Recycled carpet and reusable signage at the venue
•   Recycling of all paper, glass and paper waste
•   Hybrid vehicles made available for rental with a special trade show discount
•   Fruit smoothies made on-site with bikes powered by 100% renewable, human-powered energy
—and much more.

The show’s eco-initiatives generated a lot of press attention and praise from the fashion community. (Click here for characteristic coverage of the event.) With Rock ‘n Renew’s help, the trade show proved that being good to the environment is also good for business.

The Rock 'n Renew Foundation begins work with True Offsets on ecological restoration in Hawai'i, N.Y.C, and L.a

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:37:30 -0500

Carbon Offsetting in collaboration with The Rock ‘n Renew Foundation-
Our planet’s resources are diminishing rapidly, and the effects of global warming are no longer in question. As we work on more permanent solutions to carbon emissions and alternatives to fossil fuel, there is a way to take responsibility for your impact on the planet today.

True Offsets are an essential part of the transition towards a sustainable planet.

In partnership with ecological and botanical experts, True Offsets implements the world’s most efficient natural carbon absorption model on the Hamakua coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i. True Offsets fulfills your carbon offset by planting fast-growth, native species trees every month. Our mission is three-fold: to ease the burden on our warming planet, to restore the health of a damaged local eco-system, and to provide job training and mentoring for inner city youth interested in a green career.

The CO2 burden on our planet is increasing daily, and the consequences are dire. Take responsibility for your carbon emissions with a method that is responsible, immediate, and real.

You can’t save the world all by yourself, but together we can be true to our future.

For more information, and to offset your impact on the planet, go to www.trueoffsets.com
or email jonny@trueoffsets.com

Alternative Spring Break in Honaka'a, Hawai'i March 2008

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:37:02 -0500

The Rock 'n Renew Foundation will be hosting an Alternative Spring Break Sustainability trip to the Big Island, Hawai’i. Participants will work with a number of experts and leaders in a variety of fields including carbon absorption, sustainable forest management, science, art, music, natural resources, architecture, business management, marketing, alternative medicine, culinary arts, and more. The Alternative Spring Break will show the next generation of thinkers, artists, business owners, and leaders, how to be sustainable in their work and their life. The college students will then apply these methods and sustainable systems towards helping the local community in Honoka’a further develop their own sustainability efforts. Local students will work with the college students and mentors, as well as with other local experts to begin a lasting connection between generations and locations.Over the course of the two week program, we will plant 150,000 native trees!Stay tuned for more details.For more information email info@rocknrenew.com

Mahalo!
Jonny Dubowsky

Jonny Dubowsky to lecture at C.W Post Jan 30th- Focus The Nation Kick-off, Chlorine Free Products Association and Focus The Nation @ The University Of Miami

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:45:20 -0500

It's going to be a busy two days! Focus The Nation takes place on January 30th and 31st. Jonny Dubowsky is giving a lecture and performing at C.W Post at 7pm on January 30th (Long Island, N.y) to coincide with this incredible two day event. On January 31st The Rock 'n Renew Foundation will be running the awareness activities at The University Of Miami Coral Gables (At the Student Center Patio) for The Chlorine Free Products Association "Greening The Supply Chain" event, and a full day of Focus The Nation participants will have the opportunity to clean up the local beaches and communities through a series of art and music activities that also highlight the power of our collective purchasing power. For more information or to take part in the beach clean-up efforts and art show, contact ben@rocknrenew.com

The Movement Begins- Bring Global Warming Solutions To Your Town

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:51:29 -0500

We are looking for middle, high school, and college students to join our Student Board Of Advisors.
To find out more, email info@rocknrenew.com

Powershift 2007

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:55:26 -0500

6000 College Students- United to inspire sustainability.... The movement has begun.

The Start of a Movement- Reports from Powershift and Step It Up

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:46:24 -0500

The call to action, "Green Jobs Now!" still is filling my ears, and my thoughts. I will be posting full reports from Powershift and Step It Up 2007 in the next day. Over 5000 college students came together this weekend to talk about Global Warming Solutions, and to demand action from our leaders. We're launching a movement...

POWERSHIFT 2007- Step It Up- Rock 'n Renew w/ The N.R.D.C's ITSYOURNATURE.org @ The Download Festival w/ Modest Mouse, Snoop Dogg, The Shins, The Yeah Yeah Yeah's and more-

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:10:52 -0500

I am very excited as I depart NYC and head to Washington D.c, and College Park, M.d for Power Shift and Step It Up..
I will be meeting with a few members of congress, and some of the most interesting folks in the Green Movement to bring Rock 'n Renew students questions to the leaders that we count on. Stay tuned for photos, videos and more.

Go to www.powershift2007.org for more information.

Workshop: The Power of Art & Music in the Classroom

Description: The lead singer of the band Jonny Lives will highlight the role of art and music in campus organizing. This workshop will also address the efforts of the Rock n’ Renew tour to bring messages of renewable energy, conservation, and sustainability to music lovers and educators around the country, and how this type of advocacy can be replicated by others.

Date: Sunday, November 4, 2007

Time: 11:00am-12:15pm and 1:15pm-2:30pm

Location: Susquehanna 1123

When The Rock 'n Renew Foundation gets called upon by The N.R.D.C's (Natural Resources Defense Council) ITSYOURNATURE.ORG to join forces on an event, it feels like getting a call from THE JUSTICE LEAGE OF AMERICA. The N.R.D.C goes after the bad-guys,the toxic-dumpers, the coal burners, the whale killers, they TAKE-EM-DOWN and we LOVE to help!

At this years Download Festival, we got together to launch:
THE DITCH THE BAG CAMPAIGN-

We rocked out with Snoop Dogg, The Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Modest Mouse, The Shins, Brand New, and tons of other bands.
Stay tuned for interviews with Modest Mouse, Guster, and to see all the Rants and Raves that the fans posted at the shows.