Skunks, punks and altruistic drunks
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Holiday season is benefit season
by LORRAINE CARPENTER
We Are the World," "Do They Know It's Christmas?," Live Aid, etc, etc... Yes, the '80s proved that rock 'n' roll 'n' charity go together like green eggs 'n' ham 'n' Pepto Bismol and there's no time like the holidays to dig into your pockets and shell out for a benefit show.
Well lucky you: there are at least three of these babies coming your way, including a Dans la Rue benefit at Jailhouse on December 22. Bloodshot Bill & the Hubcaps, Flounger, Rosebuddy, Ottawa's the Fiftymen (formerly Crash 13) and Disciples of Ursula will all do their thing for this local organization that helps street kids, but the event also doubles as a memorial/reunion of sorts for a pack of old buddies.
Jailhouse co-owner and Hubcap Dominic Castelli explains: "We started a gang 10 or 11 years ago called the United Drunks of Stanley. We would drink a lot at Stanley Pub--the only pub that would let us drink 'cause we were underage--and listen to punk and ska music all night long. We organized a shitload of ska dance parties, Sunday football games in the snow, you know, stuff that kids would do to have fun. John and Charlotte met through UDOS--John was a really good friend of mine--and they both passed away in a car accident in Calgary in '94 or '95." Charlotte was involved with Dans la Rue and John also worked with kids at a group home so the UDOS gang holds annual benefit parties in their memory, always with the help of some goodhearted local bands.
"We have a long tradition of doing benefit concerts for all sorts of good causes. Being a musician, it's the least you can do at this time of year," says Rosebuddy's Neil Briffett. "The Fiftymen are doing their first concert in Montreal, Flounger are getting back together for this show. It's an eclectic bill, it'll be fun."
If you're still into giving the following night and the West Island is your scene, come support Sun Youth at Clydes on December 23. Graham Checkland, M1 (that's Golden Mean's Mike Nash), Nostar (featuring golf pro Craig Matthews with members of Rail) and CHOM L'Esprit winners Pigeon-Hole make up the bill. This show has special-event status as M1 and Nostar will be making their stage debuts and Pigeon-Hole will be returning to their roots as a duo, shedding their rhythm section--and male half--for this one show only (the boys are going out of town to be with their families for Christmas).
Further off on the horizon, on January 3, is a night for Grim Skunk's Joe Evil, who survived a serious apartment fire earlier this month. He and his roommate made it out, but many of their belongings, including valuable musical instruments, didn't. Plus, he's, like, homeless. Members of Grim Skunk will join compatriots from Overbass, We Da People, Vulgaires Machins and more will do their part to ease the hassle for Joe.
Dans La Rue benefit at Jailhouse on Friday, Dec. 22, 9pm, $5. Sun Youth benefit at Clydes on Saturday, Dec. 23, 9pm, $5 or $2 with a non-perishable food item. Joe Evil benefit at Café Campus on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 8:30pm, $8
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