Help for algernon Fund Their Next Album . . . and Get a Song Written Just for You

Earlier this month, Jason Wells (for algernon; GRAINS) was in a serious car accident.  Though he sustained only minor injuries, he lost a few instruments.  An added kick in the pants:  his lousy car insurance provider denied coverage and left him holding a (large) bill.

Jason is, for my part, one of the best singer / songwriters working in the Midwest today.  At the time of the wreck, he was in the process of writing and recording new projects, but the loss of his instruments and daunting financial responsibilities threaten to sideline the work.  Luckily, we live in an age of altruism at the click of a mouse.

Jason launched a Kickstarter campaign yesterday to attempt to regroup and continue recording the new album.  Among the many perks, contributors can receive anything from a thank you in the liner notes and a free song download ($5 level), an exclusive Kickstarter release mp3 download ($25), signed record ($50) to the opportunity to have for algernon write and record a song about a topic, and in a genre, of your choosing ($100+ level).

Personally, I will be asking them to rap about a man with a disturbingly intense love of old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons.  Or maybe a calypso song about a casaba melon who comes to life, earns a doctorate in immunology and invents a vaccine for herpes?  We’ll see.  Either way, I’m going to make them work for it.

Every year, around Christmas time, for algernon puts together a Christmas showcase — a who’s ho ho ho, if you will, of Cincinnati musicians.  It’s a great show — and Jason has told me that it’s his favorite show to play.  I recall George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life — someone who is a quality individual, upstanding and wants others to be happy, who finds himself in a financial pickle.  And I recall, too,  the ending scene, when George Bailey’s friends each give back a little something.  Maybe Christmas can come a little early this year for    Mr. Wells?  He certainly deserves some goodwill.

Jason will be our in-studio guest on Salina Underground on Monday, Aug 13 (7 – 9 pm EDT on wvqc.org / 95.7 FM-LP in Cincinnati) to talk about the campaign and play some live cuts.  We sincerely hope   you’ll join us in supporting him.

If you can’t donate, please share the link with others.  He has 24 days to raise $6,000 . . . and the clock is ticking.