It was overwhelming to witness the devastation of this year’s horrific fires in Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades. In the wake of such unimaginable loss, it was also inspiring to see our city come together to lend support, with the music community especially stepping up to help their own, including countless benefit shows, auctions, compilation albums, and merch items benefiting fire relief. Still, it’s clear that the road ahead is long, and it’s going to take years of continued care, dedication, and resources to recover.
Over the last several months, we’ve been producing our own effort to help raise funds and awareness for ongoing recovery efforts to help our city re-build and re-think as we move forward. We are honored to announce Gimme Shelter: Songs for LA Fire Relief, an 18-song double album collection featuring rare B-sides, remixes, live performances, acoustic versions, and previously unreleased tracks from many of our favorite artists from LA and beyond, produced with support and assistance from Good Neighbor Music and Alliance Entertainment.
With original artwork created by Shepard Fairey, the many unique highlights of Gimme Shelter: Songs for LA Fire Relief include an alternate version of Elliott Smith’s classic “Angeles,” an entirely “rebuilt” version of Les Savy Fav’s “Sleepless in Silverlake,” a “freestyle remix” from Deftones leader Chino Moreno’s ††† (Crosses) project, CSS covering Neneh Cherry's fierce ’80s hit “Buffalo Stance,” J Mascis’ obscure B-side “Say It On,” and Local Natives performing a new rendition of their 2020 hit “Lemon” while overlooking Altadena in singer-guitarist Taylor Rice’s backyard in La Canada. The album also includes two incredible interpretations of Beach Boys classics: Norah Jones’ achingly beautiful performance of “God Only Knows” and The Flaming Lips taking on “Good Vibrations,” both recorded with the Cabin Down Below Band at the Brian Fest tribute show at the Fonda Theatre in 2015.
Along with additional tracks from Chromeo, Dawes with Andrew Bird and Alan Hampton, Until the Ribbon Breaks, Matt Pond PA featuring Anya Marina, Escape Artist Lovers, Daniel Brummel & Rachel Haden, and The Walkmen’s Peter Matthew Bauer, the album culminates with a soul-stirring version of Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” by Quazar and the Bamboozled, the brainchild of songwriter/composer Brandon Jay.
Jay and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, lost their home, recording studio, and countless pieces of equipment in the Altadena fire. Seeing so many of their fellow musicians also lose everything, Jay was inspired to launch Instrumental Giving—an initiative powered by the nonprofit Altadena Musicians—to help those affected replace their lost gear. For this compilation, Quazar and the Bamboozled assembled dozens of musicians and singers that were personally affected by the fires to tackle the new-wave classic, ultimately flipping the literal burning house lyrics to mean something so much more impactful, “fighting fire with fire” to break free of the worst imaginable situation.
All proceeds will benefit the Gimme Shelter Collective, FLOOD Magazine’s sister nonprofit and community of musicians, artists, creators, and nonprofit organizations helping support those impacted by the already desperate housing and houseless crisis in Los Angeles and beyond. 100 percent of the net proceeds raised will benefit LA fire relief with generous support from our partners at Levi Strauss & Co, and will be distributed to nonprofit partners selected by participating artists to those impacted by the fires within our LA creative community, including Altadena Musicians and California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund.
This special EcoSonic record by Good Neighbor Music is injection molded and fully recyclable.
Check out the full tracklist below, and pre-order Gimme Shelter: Songs for LA Fire Relief now here.
Gimme Shelter: Songs for LA Fire Relief complete track list:
SIDE A
Elliott Smith — “Angeles” (Alt Studio Version)
Rilo Kiley — “Let Me Back In”
Dawes, Andrew Bird, Alan Hampton — “Time Spent in Los Angeles (for Altadena)”
Local Natives — "Lemon" (Live in Taylor's Backyard)
Norah Jones — “God Only Knows” (with The Cabin Down Below Band at Brian Fest)
SIDE B
Until the Ribbon Breaks — “I Dream a Highway”
Matt Pond PA — "Heaven or Las Vegas" featuring Anya Marina
Escape Artist Lovers — “Drowned in Blue”
J Mascis — "Say It On"
Flaming Lips — “Good Vibrations” (with The Cabin Down Below Band at BrianFest)
SIDE C
††† (Crosses) — “Cadavre Exquis” ( ††† Freestyle Remix)
Poolside and Satin Jackets — “Pull Together”
Chromeo — "Lost and Found" (Extended Version)
CSS — "Buffalo Stance"
SIDE D
Les Savy Fav — "Sleepless in Silverlake" (Rebuilt)
Peter Matthew Bauer ft. Light Heat & Matt Barrick— “Flowers (2025)”
Daniel Brummel & Rachel Haden — "Going To A Town"
Quazar and the Bamboozled — “Burning Down the House” (featuring collective of fire-impacted musicians)
