Maura Judkis (from U.S. News & World) managed to catch up with Maroon 5 while attending the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball in D.C. Usually, we hear from lead singer Adam Levine on the various ways the band is trying to go green — but this interview is refreshing because it features other members chatting up their eco-friendly ways instead. Here are some highlights:
On reducing their impact with air travel: “We offset everything we do. We don’t ever take a flight without offsetting it,” keyboardist Jesse Carmichael said. He added, however, that his transportation to Washington was a jet. “That conflict of interest is big.”
On their personal green additions: “At home I’m working on a huge overhaul to my house, with solar panels and water systems and a greenhouse, and growing food,” said Carmichael. Said Valentine: “I’m unplugging appliances, setting the thermostat at a reasonable level, and wearing a sweater instead of getting it blazing in there. All that kind of stuff that I learned from my anal frugal dad. If his voice was in everybody’s ear, we would save a lot of energy. For the rest of the great interview, jump here! Thanks to Ecorazzi for this find!

Operation Aloha bringing Hawaii to CD… Members of Maroon 5, Gomez and Phantom Planet, among others, convened in Maui to form Operation Aloha. The band’s album is due out May 12th. The members were drawn together by a love of blues inspired rock and Hawaiian folk music, and the album attempts to recreate the feel of Hawaiian living sonically. A list of the band members is below.
Operation Aloha Musicians:
Dajon Everett (Gomez)
Ian Ball (Gomez)
James Valentine (Maroon 5)
Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5)
Olly Peacock (Gomez)
Sam Farrar (Phantom Planet)
Christopher Wray-McCann (Photographer)
Charles Danek
Fil Krohnengold (All Spots To Black)
Mathew Chaney
Maureen Wray-McCann
Nadav Kahn (Kahn Brothers)
Saam Gabbay
Will Nash

On January 19, Maroon 5 performed at The Green Inaugural Ball 2009 at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. One day later, they were seen at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington , D.C.

On January 18, the guys attended the Tropicana Pre-Inauguration Party and the “A New Birth Of Citizenship” Inaugural Party at Renaissance Washington Hotel in Washington , D.C.

Maroon 5, big proponents of the recent Obama / Biden presidential campaign, are extremely honored to be performing at the following events in celebration of the Inauguration of our 56th president.
Sunday – January 18th
Declare Yourself Inauguration Kickoff Party
Jessica Alba Hosts with performances by DJ Sam Ronson, John Legend and Maroon 5
Monday – Jaunary 19th
The Green Ball: Inauguration of a New Green Economy
Al Gore Hosts with performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Legend, Melissa Ethridge, will.i.am and Maroon 5
Tuesday – January 20th
The Neighborhood Ball – Tune in on ABC and www.abc.com as this event is broadcast and streaming LIVE starting at 8:00pm EST (Check Your Local Listings)
Performances by Beyonce, Jay Z, will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keyes, Shakira, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5
And Later that evening…
Biden Home States Ball – Delaware and Pennsylvania Invited Guests
Performances by James Gerrard Orchestra and Maroon 5