Clubland: Musicians to help fire victims with series of benefit concerts
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On Sunday, Dec. 27, mere hours after Northampton resident and singer/songwriter Ella Longpre heard about that morning's rash of arson fires in her city, she decided to get a benefit show together to quickly raise funds and collect goods for those affected by the fires, and she asked friends for help.
Three days and hundreds of emails later, the one benefit show turned into five (with even more planned for the coming month), with more than 40 bands expected to play, and at least that many local photographers, artists, designers, radio DJs, comedians, writers and residents coming forward to donate their time and energy.
"What has been primarily apparent is how much this community cares about this community. Northampton loves each other," said Longpre in an interview last weekend. "Someone took something from our friends, our neighbors, from us, and we're taking it back, positively and aggressively."
The first of the benefit concerts organized by Longpre happens this Saturday at the Elevens. Entitled "A Cosmic Night of Indie Rock," the show features The Fawns, The Thungs, Friends Of Yours, The Plastic Higgins Band (featuring members of The Novels), Sitting Next To Brian, Philip Price, Henning Ohlenbusch, Thomas Matthew Campbell, Brandee Simone, Jon Bartlett and more, all starting at 9 p.m.
The money raised at the event - and all of Longpre's benefits - will be deposited in the Northampton Neighbors Relief Fund, which was established by Northampton resident Michael Kusek with the hope of raising $20,000 to donate to the families affected by the fires. Kusek and Longpre are two of the administrators of the Facebook discussion group "Friends of Northampton Arson Victims."
For constantly updated information on the series of concerts being organized by Longpre, visit the official Web site at www.simpletexts.org/northampton.
Drummer Brian Marchese, whose group Sitting Next To Brian will play at Saturday's benefit, is also a member of countless other Valley bands, many of whom are appearing at a Tom Petty tribute show at the Iron Horse tonight - an event that, thanks to Marchese's suggestion, is now an American Red Cross benefit for the fire victims.
Marchese unfortunately has personal experience with house fires - one in 2006 destroyed nearly all of his belongings. "I had no renters insurance, and make a modest living at my day job. Thus, I was financially screwed," Marchese said.
Back then, the Valley music community, led by Dennis Crommett, Henning Ohlenbusch and Mark Schwaber, organized a benefit for Marchese. "I was in a very lucky position. I'm well known and extremely active in the local pop community, and that community consists of some of the sweetest, kindest people you could ever meet. The victims of the recent fires aren't in that lucky position, and I've always wished I could properly pay back all those who helped me back on my feet," Marchese said. "I figured that the Petty night would be a ready-made, popular, upbeat event. Plus, Tom Petty was a victim of arson in 1987. So I feel like, or I hope at least, that the laws of Karma will work in good ways at this event."
"Don't Do Me Like That: A Tribute to Tom Petty," featuring Brian Akey (Winterpills), Erik Alan (from Amity Front), Jim Armenti, Jason Bourgeois, Ben Demerath, Fancy Trash, The Fawns, Golden Bloom, Group DeVille, The Grownup Noise, Bob Hennessy and Carrie Olson, F. Alex Johnson, Frank Manzi, Ray Mason, Matthew Carefully, National Carpet, Orange Crush, Ryan Quinn, Rocky Roberts, Rusty Belle, Levin Schwartz, Sitting Next To Brian, Spouse, SwillMerchants and Thane Thomsen (Goldwater), takes place at the Iron Horse tonight at 7 p.m.
And the number of benefit events continues to grow. Group DeVille, a local pop-blues quartet, has made their show at McFadden's Pub in Haydenville this Saturday at 8 p.m. a benefit for the victims of the Northampton arson fires, with the band donating any compensation to the American Red Cross.
Another way to help
Just as bands and musicians are doing what they can to help out the arson victims, the producers of the popular weekend polka shows on WMUA radio at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst are raising money to help the family of Paul Yeskie Sr. and Paul Yeskie Jr., both of whom died in a fire on Fair Street, as well as the family of WMUA's own administrative advisor Glenn Siegel.
Paul Yeskie Jr. was a big fan of the station's polka programming, often calling up to make requests, and Siegel's home on Union Street was destroyed in the arson spree.
To donate, send a check or money order to the WMUA Fire Assistance Fund, c/o the Bank of Western Massachusetts, 28 Elm St., South Deerfield, 01373.
