starboarders

ATLANTA — Most up-and-coming bands hope one day to hit it big, to play large arenas, make million of dollars and to have people across the globe singing its songs.
The Starboarders hope for all those things, but the band's top goal isn't one of those. It's to provide the world with clean drinking water.
"This is the crazy thing for me," singer Matt Simpkins told Nelson's News on wsbtv.com. "The price of an extra value meal at a fast food restaurant could save somebody's life. And for us, that was really important because we started thinking, we could spend our money differently and change the world. And just in little ways. We could do things to make the world better."
GALLERY: Starboarders on the stage at Vinyl
Nelson's News on wsbtv.com caught up with the Starboarders at a recent concert at Vinyl inside Centerstage. The band is made up of Simpkins, drummer Bill Porter and Greg Larose on bass.
To help change the world, the band decided to donate all the money raised in sales of its 2011 album "Chroma" to Rotary International. Rotary Internternational takes that money and purchases Lifestraws with it.
Lifestraws are a personal filtration device that people can wear on a lanyard around their necks. The Lifestraws help prevent common diarrhoeal diseases by filtering unclean water as people drink through it. It's estimated that 43 percent of the world doesn't have access to household safe piped water.
Every album that the Starboarders sell buys 1 1/2 Lifestraws.
"We're not looking to make a ton of money," Porter said. "We're just looking to make some good music and enjoy doing what it is that we do."
The band's intentions are different than most and so is its musical message. Simpkins called the band's music hope rock. It's a blend of arena rock, 90s music and today's tunes, but with a positive message.
Check out Starboarders on the Web at Starboarders.com.
- WSB Atlanta News

Starboarders & Mission Impossible
Pop Culture King
The first show of 2012 drops with a bang. A pair of members from Atlanta-based rock trio Starboarders visit the studio. Unlike many musicians out there with rock star aspirations, this group is doing the unique act of giving its music away to help others. The purchase of each copy of its debut disc “Chroma” provides a LifeStraw water purification device for a person in a Third World country in need of clean water. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Simpkins and drummer Bill Porter talk about the project and their music. We also hear from acclaimed motion picture director Brad Bird. Although he’s been the guy behind some of the best contemporary animated films (“The Incredibles,” “The Iron Giant”), Bird recently directed “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” starring Tom Cruise. Bird talks about putting this action opus on the big screen. Music includes tracks by Starboarders and U2's take on the “Mission: Impossible” theme. - 1690 AM Atlanta (The Pop Culture King Show)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT)-- Every year 3.5 million people die of water related illnesses across the world; most of them under the age of 5 years old. However, a local band is trying to change that by donating their album sales to provide clean drinking water through LifeStraw.

They're called Starboarders; a local band with a different take on music.


Bass player, Greg LaRose told us "We classify it as Hope Rock. It's uplifting. It's guitar driven. It's rock and roll music but lyrically it's based on giving people hope."

To learn more about Starboarders: Click Here

To buy the CD through iTunes: Click Here

To buy the CD through Amazon: Click Here

The band just released their first album "Chroma" and all the money they make from the album will go to a life saving project called LifeStraw.

Lead Vocalist, Matt Simpkins told us "Life Straw is a personal water filtration system. It goes around your neck and you can wear it as you walk. Plus it gives you clean water no matter where you drink from."

It's a cause they hold close to their heart as they feel it's more important to use their talents to help others in need.

"We're not looking to be a band that goes out and tours the world. We're trying to start a movement of people that want to do something different, something better and want to change the world." said Simpkins

They hope their music will inspire us all to do something better and make the world we live in a better place.

The CD is on sale on iTunes and Amazon. It also makes a perfect last minute Christmas gift! - Volunteer TV - CBS affiliate

Established in 2009, Starboarders was created with the hope that music makes life better. Matt, Greg and Bill formed the group and a new genre of music. They call their style of music Hope Rock defined by the musical rhythms and its message. Over the course of 2010 and 2011 they worked to record their debut album CHROMA which is now available.
Their brand of music can be be heard for free here: starboarders.com. The desire to spread hope is not only present in their music but also in their act of charity.
Starboarders is giving away all their proceeds from the sale of their new album CHROMA through Rotary International to pay distribute LifeStraws to impovershiped indivuals. LifeStraw is used to clean water that’s filled with disease. Lack of safe drinking water contributes to the staggering burden of diarrhoeal diseases worldwide, and nearly one in five child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – is due to diarrhea. Diarrhea kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. - Knight News

You have probably guessed by now that I’m a huge fan of independent musicians. Especially those who write meaningful music and live meaningful lives. Today’s Music Monday features band made up of incredible people and dear friends to me and D. Known as Starboarders, they are changing the way we think about music.

They aren’t just a band that gets together to play music. They are a band that believes in changing the world. They believe in communities of people working together to really BE THE CHANGE. And their music is just the medium with which they work!

Starboarders will be releasing their first full length album sometime in October or November of this year. And get this … 100% of the proceeds from the album will be going towards providing clean water for those who have none. Partnering with Lifestraw, each album purchased will provide clean water for someone for a year. Talk about changing the world through music!

Here’s a sneak peak of the new album, found exclusively at Soul Munchies. Come listen as much as you’d like … it won’t be available anywhere else for a while! - soulmunchies.com

Every once in a while I come across a band that knocks my socks off. You know the one … great music, incredible lyrics, and just all around good people.

Recently, I came in contact with a band that does more than just knock my socks off. They aren’t just a band that gets together to play music. They don’t even make music to simply glorify God. Instead, they are a band that has committed to changing the world. They believe in empowering communities of people to really BE THE CHANGE. Their music is just the medium with which they work!

Meet Starboarders. Just this week, they released their first full length album. And get this … 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the album goes towards providing clean water for those who have none. Partnering with Lifestraw, each album purchased will provide clean water for someone for a year. Talk about changing the world through music!

Take a look:


When I asked the band why they do what they do, this was their response:

We are all about the idea that we CAN change the world by doing little things over and over. We CAN move mountains, even if just one scoop of dirt at a time.

So spread the word … the more albums sold, the more people get clean water. Remember – they are giving ALL album proceeds away, so the more people spread the word, the better.

Go ahead … meet the band, buy the album, and change the world! - bibledude.net