A Dear Doc

Air Traffic Control documents its years of activism in the Crescent City with "Dear New Orleans."

[Updated] Since 2007, Air Traffic Control and the Future of Music Coalition have brought musicians to New Orleans yearly to help them learn how to use their standing to work for the social activism causes that matter to them. Over the years, ATC has brought members of My Morning Jacket, Tom Morello, Merrill Garbus (TuNe-yArDs), Damian Kulash of OK Go, Indigo Girls, Josh Tillman, Elvis Perkins, Erin McKeown and many, many more for retreats that inevitably brought them closer to the city before the closing night benefit concert. 

During last year's retreat, members of ATC alumni Tim Quirk of Too Much Joy shot footage that became the 18-minute mini-documentary for Google Play Dear New Orleans, which has become the name of the retreat and the download-only benefit album they put together with tracks from retreat alumni. Here's the film, which prominently features Thao Nguyen from Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. She'll return with her band to New Orleans March 17 to play One Eyed Jacks. 

If you want to help ATC continue its efforts, they ask that you make a tax-deductible donation here.

Here's my coverage of a 2008 retreat for RollingStone.com, and a story from 2009 that references the retreat experience and the lessons learned by some of the musicians.

Updated February 14, 2:12 p.m.

The text has been altered to give credit to the Future of Music Coalition and Tim Quirk, both of which were omitted from the original text.