Concert Review: Jim Shaw Benefit

The town came out last night to help out one of their own, and when I say town, I do mean the whole town. The Stick sold out numerous times, I was told something around 800 people were in and out. I’ve seen some shitty benefits, where you kind of feel bad about how weak it is. This was the opposite, this is how you put on a benefit show! Well I guess it only figures, since Eve Doster put it together. It kind of did feel like the blowout pre-party, though, as everyone one was there.

C-Pop was amazing. I placed my measly, all I had on me, $10 bid down on something. But bidding shot up on everything. Last I heard, Meg’s drum set was somewhere around six thousand bucks. It was really nice seeing Detroiters out so early, bidding so generously. Great 8 Meteorologist Neal Chamblice & Live 5 Weatherman Dean Lyman took a break from hosting sounds an spirits to MC C-Pop, they even had Meg White serving drinks.

There was a huddled ”line” of people standing around the stairs at 8, waiting to head up, and it filled up quick. The MC5/Stooges footage was amazing, so high energy, it was great seeing the already hundreds of people in the Magic Stick with their heads jerked up at the screen, in awe of the 2 detroit legends in action.

The Fondas kicked off the night, they were good. No, they were great. That’s really all their is to say. They had the 2 stages set up in there, which is always cool. The Go were sitting down and did 2 mellower songs. I assume those were the ones off of their new 7″. It was cool, I think they did a song in french.

Gardens satisfied my high energy craving I’d had since watching the MC5 footage. Im bummed my band has the competing time slot with Gardens at KofC for Blowout, they’re in the hall, we’re in the lounge. Im bummed because 1) Im gonna miss their show, and 2) They’re amazing! We’re up against them?!

Timmy’s Organism played in place of Human Eye, but were just as good. Even in a short 20 minute set Timmy Vulgar can find time to light off some fireworks on stage. It was my first time seeing this band, they were great, same with Tyvek. I have a demo of theirs, it’s really good, but live they’re so much better. An almost awkward vocal with heavy beats and hypnotizing riffs behind it.

Here’s where my first of only 2 complaints is, the sound. Now, don’t get me wrong, the sound was good, for the big stage. Small stage was pretty good too, mostly. There was one PA speaker that had been cutting out on occasion. And it decided to fully stop working for The Smashed Windows, I feel like the sound guys could have handled this one better. Anyways, besides technical problems, Smashed Windows were really good. They’ve gotten a lot better since the last time I saw them. Rough, fast, punk-garage tunes.

I was happy to see the sound guys frantically working on the small stage while Greg Cartwright was playing, as it seemed they didn’t really give a damn while the Smashed Windows were playing. But despite there (efforts?) the sound for The Dial Tones was awful. However The Dial Tones still managed to be really really good. I couldn’t hear any vocals, but I still really enjoyed it (I’ve been wanting to see these guys for a while). Fast, groovy, garage-punk, did I mention there’s a Farfisa involved?

Second complaint: The 12 people there who like to mosh got pretty annoying. Learn how to dance, or to a lesser extent, learn how to mosh. Maybe more pogoing and less pushing this poor old man down on the ground and spilling beer all over me.

If you’ve ever seen Dan Kroha live solo, you know how cool it is. The one string instruments and such. I didn’t catch much of his set, though. Got a little tired, maybe because I was there since 1pm.

All in all it was a GREAT show, for a great cause. What a great community of people, you can count on them to rally together, to help one of their own. Great! I expect more benefits, the fight has just begun! And Jim & Sandy are ready to fight this thing. Last night they kicked it in its balls and showed it what they’re made of. All the best to ya Jim, get well soon.