The M.O.B. Project

From WWR

Cover art by Eric Drooker

The M.O.B. Project is a CD compilation project of independent musicians and artists compiled and distributed by Petaluma-based music producer and musician Benji Nichols.

One day in 2004, Benji was suffering from the corporate radio doldrums and decided he needed to do something real. "I got frustrated, because I feel like I'm doing work for other people, but I'm not doing anything creative for the people I know--artists, musicians. So I was thinking in the shower and I came up with this stupid acronym of the M.O.B., which is Musicians to Oust Bush. But I kind of ran with it. I realized that if I didn't do something, I'd go crazy." So, Benji begged songs from his friends and favorites. "I'm taking anybody who will donate a track that's kind of decent and to the point," Nichols said. He got donations from artists across the country, including Jamaican-born singer-songwriter Owen Plant from Boston; Sacramento underground cult figure Anton Barbeau; and upstate New York-based Americana-tinged rockers the Mammals. He got a track from Greg Brown, Molly Mason and Jay Ungar, and a couple from Utah Phillips. Cover art was designed and donated by Eric Drooker.

He got enough tracks to produce 2 CDs, but only the time and money for one, since he produced and paid for the CD himself. He made 2000 of them, He gave them away free through a network of friends, family, and contributing artists. He also mailed them on request, for the cost of two 37c stamps to cover postage. Much like Whole Wheat Radio, it was a labor of love. He gave them away until they were gone, with no intention to produce any more.

Even though George W. Bush was reelected, the album still maintains its relevance, and is a showcase of a great number of the indie musicians familiar to WWR listeners. Check out the links to the songs and the contributing artists in the table of contents below, as they are incredible and giving people.