"Rise Up" is a rock opera written and recorded by Brandon Floerke's Stuffed Animal Baby. Help us launch this eclectic double-disc CD.
Stuffed Animal Baby has spent the last twenty months writing and recording a rock opera titled "Rise Up." It has been an incredible experience.
The cost of printing a double disc is a bit more than we budgeted for, so we are looking for some support. Please pre-order the CD and help us promote this behemoth.
I have always loved ambitious projects, and this is definitely that. In my formative years, I was drawn to rock operas. I have realized that "Jesus Christ Superstar," "The Black Rider," and "Hair" have been every bit as important to me as the Pixies, Spiritualized, and Led Zeppelin. I wanted to recreate the experience I had when I was about eleven and I discovered old rock opera LP's at a friend's house. I was utterly unfamiliar with the story of the actual plays. I loved that experience where the songs reference a plot and characters that I did not know. It was so evocative.
So for this record, I did not write a libretto, and I have avoided thinking too deeply about the plot. It has been fun to watch as this has taken form and to hear everyone's theories about how the songs and characters fit together and relate. Since this is an album first and foremost, I also sang most of the lead male characters.
Also, for those who get this reference, the recording is spilling over with allusions to the Quiney Whines.
One of my priorities for this project was to make it very collaborative. To that end, I brought in roughly twenty different musicians. One of those musicians, Amy Shrack, became a regular member of the band through this process. I am forever in debt to the amazing people who were willing to help me make this crazy dream into an reality.
Stylistically, this work has stretched us in every possible direction. We have learned a lot and grown as musicians. You will find the recording to be outrageously eclectic, culling from genres that I never imagined would work for our little band.
The CD will look very professional. The artwork is going to be in a propaganda-art style, and I have a very talented local artist working on the design.
We are all very proud of this project. Please support our efforts by pre-ordering your copy right away.
FAQ
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That is not correct. We could really use more pledges. Because...
1) The initial financial goal was not set to cover the complete costs of printing a high quality double-disc CD. Since Kickstarter only pays out money if you meet your goal, we set the bar low, in the hopes that we would at least get enough help to off-set some of our out-of-pocket expenses.
2) Many of the rewards that backers will receive for pledging include additional costs (tee-shirts and so forth). The pledge amount covers those costs, but it means that some of the pledged money will not go directly to the CD production.
3) The main thing is that we want people to be excited about our music, and we simply cannot wait to get people a copy of this CD. We hope that people will continue to pledge and pre-order CD because it makes us really happy to know that people will be out there listening to our record in a few short weeks. After all that is the point of printing CD's, yes? So I would love to see 200 or 1,000 more people watch our video and get excited enough about this project to pre-order the CD.
4) We would love to a limited run printing of this on vinyl LP, which is the preferred media for concept albums. I love how big the art is on LP's, and the way they really invite you to sit down and give the music your full attention. If we raise enough money through pledges we can put this on vinyl where it belongs, and we will gladly give a free LP to all of our kickstarter supporters. However, the cost of printing a double-disc LP is significant.
So please continue to pledge!
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Funding period
Apr 16, 2012 -
May 13, 2012
- First created · 3 backed
- Brandon Floerke 741 friends
- Website: stuffedanimalbaby.band...
Pledge $10 or more
43 backers
CD pre-order package: The professionally packaged double-disc recording of our forthcoming rock opera "Rise Up"; An invitation to our record release party in May.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $20 or more
17 backers
The Stuffed Animal Baby discography package: The professionally packaged double-disc recording of our forthcoming rock opera "Rise Up"; Stuffed Animal Baby's other two CD's: "Ruckus in the Barn" and "How I Sing Now"; An invitation to our record release party in May.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $35 or more
0 backers
Holiday Miracle Package: The professionally packaged double-disc recording of our forthcoming rock opera "Rise Up"; A limited run all-digital release of SAB performing three Halloween-and/or-Christmas-themed songs (available only to those who buy this package on kickstarter). An invitation to our record release party in May.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $40 or more
18 backers
Tee-Shirt Package: The professionally packaged double-disc recording of our forthcoming rock opera "Rise Up"; SAB discography; A high quality (American Apparel 50/50) blue "Ruckus in the Barn" tee shirt; Additional tee shirts can be ordered for an additional $20 each, (include this amount in your donation); An invitation to our record release party in May; ***Note: you can add a "Ruckus in the Barn" tee shirt to any package for an additional donation of $20.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $60 or more
4 backers
"I Helped Stuffed Animal Baby Rise Up!" Tee-Shirt Package: The professionally packaged double-disc recording of our forthcoming rock opera "Rise Up"; The SAB discography; A high quality (American Apparel 50/50) "I Helped Stuffed Animal Baby Rise Up" tee shirt (this limited tee shirt is only for people who buy this kickstarter package); an invitation to our record release party in May.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $120 or more
3 backers
The Benefactor Package: The professionally packaged double-disc recording of our forthcoming rock opera "Rise Up"; A high quality (American Apparel 50/50) "I helped Stuffed Animal Baby Rise Up" tee shirt; The SAB discography; An invitation to our record release party in May; Your name mentioned in the liner notes of the CD as a "benefactor"; (note: in order to get your name in the notes, this has an earlier deadline of April 24); Eternal gratitude.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $500 or more
2 backers
The Private Concert Package: This includes all the perks of the "benefactor" package(please note the April 24 deadline), but the band will also play at a private event such as a party. You will need to book the event well in advance and confirm the date with the band.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
Danny is Your Personal Slave Package: Danny will do your laundry for one year.
Estimated delivery: May 2012
