While more musicians are known for playing the blues, a few are getting some notice for playing green. Cobalt & the Hired Guns, a Chicago-based band, is getting attention for their eco-aware shows.

Some big name musicians — Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band among them — have been promoting sustainability on their tours for a while now. But it’s the fact that they’re so well known that has given them easy ways to do so. Cobalt & the Hired Guns don’t have that sort of name recognition, but are still managing to do well.

The band’s second album, “Jump the Fence,” was released in May. It’s carbon neutral, and the release show was an exercise in environmental education. Along with plenty of music, the audience got to hear a speaker from Urban Habitat Chicago, a sustainable living group.

“We focused on educating people about green products as well as alternative energy,” said Mike Roth, bassist, in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. “We had a table that had everything from reusable SIGG bottles, to energy-efficient light bulbs, to vegan cake, to eco-friendly soaps and T-shirts.”

If you want to hear Cobalt & the Hired Guns changing the music industry, live and on stage, you’ll have to go to Chicago. They’ve got several shows scheduled around the city in the coming months.

Image — Cobalt & the Hired Guns