To make “The Movement,” Rusted Root got creative — more creative than usual.
“[The forthcoming disc] was pretty much fan-funded. We had a campaign called Fortunate Freaks Unite, and we have a bunch of different packages from the website, and you can actually still donate at rustedroot.com,” said bass player Patrick Norman.
“And with the donations, you get various things, like you get your name on the credits of the album thank-yous. The packages range from that to we’ll come and play a show for you at your house if you want.”
Norman said it was nice to not rely on a record company and added, “We feel it’s a good way to reconnect with the fans, to help the fans feel more involved with the band.”
The Pittsburgh group has a reputation for fusing all kinds of music.
“We all are pretty much audiophiles. I’ve listened to music my whole life, and there’s no particular style of music that I’m into,” Norman said during a call from the Steel City. “It’s natural to take what you hear and what you are inspired by through life and listening to music and incorporate them in songs. A lot of times, it happens subconsciously.”
Rusted Root is best known for the song “Send Me on My Way” from 1995.
“It’s a really innocent song with a very positive message. And the fact that it was used in a couple of famous movies didn’t hurt, being on the soundtrack for ‘Matilda’ and ‘Ice Age’ was a really big thing because it keeps young fans coming,” Norman said.
“They’ll grow up and share it with their brothers and sisters, and they grow up and share it with their children or brothers’ and sisters’ kids; we’ve been very blessed to be part of some great art.”
The band — Norman, singer and guitarist Michael Glabicki, percussionists Liz Berlin and Preach Freedom, and guitarists Colter Harper and Dirk Miller — is on its way to Maumee, where it’ll play an Acoustics for Autism…Plugged In! show at the Shops at Fallen Timbers on Sept. 21. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Special guests will be Arctic Clam, Dave Carpenter and Kyle White. Tickets are $10 in advance at the Village Idiot, Doc Watson’s and Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull Tavern and $15 at the door. All proceeds will benefit Project iAm, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for local families with autistic children.
“Michael had done some solo shows with [Project iAm], and he introduced [the band] to the cause, and we jumped right on board,” Norman said. “It helps families with children with autism; it helps get them some money that they might need because there’s special needs for autistic children and some thingsthat most people wouldn’t even think about. And this way, somebody’s going to get a little bit of help directly.”
