Ive contributed to two so far.
First one: Shael Riley and the Double Ice Backfire. Help us get our new album properly mastered. Or something like that. I paid 35 bucks. I was supposed to get posters, art books, cds, etc... lots of stuff. Two years later, nothing. Then i update my address in the system after an email, 6 months go by and nothing. I contact Kickstarter, and they say im essentially out of luck. So i finally have a back and forth between Shael, he blames his live drummer, and I end up getting a refund. There seems to be almost nothing one can do if they get screwed over, so even though you like a band, be careful.
Second one: Wasnt kickstarter (cant remember the name). Ringo Deathstarr needed money to record album in a proper studio. I sent money, am supposed to get digital album and t shirt. My fingers are crossed that they dont leave a bad taste in my mouth, because I am about done with the kickstarter style funding. I would much rather buy a shirt at a show or a poster at a bands webstore, to help them out, than to just pledge money that I might get rewards for.