http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/231638_club08.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=2Friday, July 8, 2005
Club Beat: Noise for the Needy sponsors weeklong festival
By TIZZY ASHER
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Musicians often look at homelessness as a solution, rather than a problem. "Couch surfing" to save money for equipment or recording is a common practice. A working band about to take off on tour may be more concerned with losing its practice space than its permanent housing.
This is one of the reasons why Rich Green decided to start a Seattle chapter of Noise for the Needy, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating social change and supporting local charities through rock shows. Green's brother David founded Noise for the Needy in Orange County in the early 1990s, and Green thought it was time to mobilize the community here in a similar way. He wanted to see musicians and music fans help make change around issues related to homelessness.
Noise for the Needy has sponsored several shows in the past year to this end, but this week, it expands its programming to a weeklong festival to benefit ROOTS, the only shelter in Seattle focused on homeless young adults ages 18 to 25.
Some contend benefit shows don't raise enough money for charities to make the effort worth it, but Green disagrees. "Music and philanthropy are two things in which I truly believe, and bringing them together is a personal dream of mine," he says. "We have an incredible music community in Seattle filled with passionate and charitable artists who care about their city and the people in it."
Green worked in collaboration with various local bookers and the web zine Nadamucho.com to collect a diverse roster of local bands, including Post Stardom Depression, At the Spine, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, Infomatik, Robert Roth and a DJ night. By drawing in a variety of styles, he thinks he'll be able to reach a broader audience and build more awareness of the service provided by ROOTS.
The Noise for the Needy Festival kicks off on Monday night at the Rendezvous with a gala party and "karaoke extravaganza" and solo acoustic performances by Christy McWilson, Jared Clifton and Kim Virant (9; $8 suggested donation). The festival then spreads out over eight different venues, with a show each night through next Sunday.
Tickets are available individually for each show at the door. Check
www.noisefortheneedy.org for the final lineup, show times and costs.
Venue news to use
In other festival news, Knw-Yr-Own Records' annual What the Heck Fest happens in Anacortes starting Thursday. As usual, the roster is chock full of K Records superstars (Saturday's show with Calvin Johnson and Rebecca Pearcy is already sold out), but there are still four-day passes available for the low price of $35. Visit
http://knw-yr-own.com/heck.html for a complete schedule.
And on an administrative note, today is the final day for bands interested in playing the ROCKRGRL Music Festival to submit a showcase application. The festival happens Nov. 10-12 in Seattle. For more information, visit
www.rockrgrl.com.
In venue news, Hidmo East African Restaurant in the Central District is now offering free live African music on Sunday nights starting at 8. This week's entertainer is Ghanaian drummer/songwriter Kofi Anang.
And, finally, a mystery solved! We've recently received several show announcements for performances at a venue with the mysterious and simple name O. The actual name is the O Lounge, and it's actually the bar in Orrapin Noodle Experience at 2208 Queen Anne Ave N. It has been offering intimate, acoustic performances from local singer/songwriters, including tonight's show with former Portland native Scott Fisher (8; free).
If that isn't enough
Listening to Portland's Lion Fever feels like opening the door on an opium den. Swirling psychedelic guitars come in a heavy wave, while Jennifer Pearl's throaty, Patty Smith-style growls hang in low curtains. It's a fascinating mix of terror and seduction. The band plays Chop Suey tonight with Kuma (9; $8).
For a psychedelic experience that's slightly earthier (think Bevis Frond's quieter moments skewered by Gram Parsons), check out Puppet King at ToST (9; $6). The band is led by Charles Beene, whom you may recognize as the trumpet player for the Long Winters.
Most of us have at least one friend whose behavior occasionally borders on self-destructive. That friend is embodied musically in New York City-based Gogol Bordello, which plays Neumo's tomorrow (8 p.m.; $10 at TicketsWest, $12 at the door). Described by mustachioed frontman Eugene Hutz as "Gypsy punk cabaret," the band combines old school punk with Ukrainian folk music, Gypsy jazz and klezmer with tightly controlled chaos.
Another cross-cultural melange comes to El Corazon tomorrow in Naïm Amor, a French singer/songwriter who's spent the past decade basking in the Arizona desert with Calexico and Giant Sand (9 p.m.; $6).
You may not recognize the name Leslie Feist, but you'll probably recognize her voice. The Paris-based singer/songwriter has appeared on records by Broken Social Scene, Peaches, Kings of Convenience, among others. It's a soft, sultry voice that captures the nonchalance of Astrud Gilberto and the playfulness of Bjork. Her debut, "Let It Die" (Cherry Tree), sets the voice against a hodge-podge of sounds, including a few unsuccessful attempts at neo-soul. Still, it's definitely worth ending the week with her show at the Triple Door on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.; $15).
Tizzy Asher welcomes your feedback, comments and juicy gossip. Reach her at
tizzyasher@gmail.com.
