Singer-songwriter Jesse Lacy’s tour for his first album didn’t go as planned. He said he spent three months touring and realizing no one really needed his music.
Since then, he said he’s found a reason to perform outside of self-promotion. His #GivingBack Community Series will take place this evening at The Player’s Pub as a benefit concert for WildCare Inc., a Monroe County wildlife sanctuary.
“People don’t need more music,” he said. “There’s plenty music out there already. They need more reasons to listen to music.”
Lacy, 26, said he often performs at events where people can use their money to aid a nonprofit.
“It’s more about making something great for everybody, instead of, ‘Hey, I have these great songs that you have to hear,’” he said.
Today’s show will be the second of the series. The first was three months ago and benefited the Sycamore Land Trust.
The third installment will draw attention to the Monroe County Energy Challenge. Monroe County is one of 50 semifinalists in a nationwide competition sponsored by Georgetown University, which awards $5 million to the community demonstrating the most energy-saving innovation.
“It’s good money, but no one’s heard about it,” he said.
Lacy said his first album was a zero carbon footprint affair. All the merchandise was made from recycled material.
“My branding is pretty green,” he said. “I grew up on organic.”
Lacy said his green mindset made WildCare Inc. a prime choice for today’s event.
“They just do a lot of great things,” he said. “I like to be able to be in a position where I can support them.”
The organization will receive 15 percent of the cover profits.
One of Lacy’s favorite parts about this nonprofit is its specialization in healing injured predatory birds. He said he gets goosebumps thinking about the animals.
“I don’t have any experience with birds,” he said. “I want to help them, but I wouldn’t know what to do. What I can do is I can get a crowd together and I can get them what they need to continue.”
