Every so often an event or even a CD release happens in my little world of Innocent Words Magazine that makes me remember why I started doing this in the first place.
Last night was one of those moments, even if I was 2,179 miles away - according to Google Maps - that showed me once again how special music can be. The event was the much-anticipated, well at least in the Greater Northwest Area, Hootenanny for Haiti benefit held at the Showbox at the Market in Seattle, Wa., on February 28.
The line up was rich with local talent, new and old, legends and fans coming out to raise money for the devistation of the earthquake that nearly destroyed Haiti in January.
To be honest, I am not exactly sure who headed up this event, but the amazing hard-working Debra Heesch, along with Ashley McCready, Mike McCready and Duff McKagan, were major contributors.
I wanted to be at this event, just like every other Seattle music event so bad, but couldn’t make it. I was there in spirit hoping my friends would rock the house, which they did. But one special friend – Julie Mains – took it a step further for me. She called me on her cell phone from the club and left her phone on so I could hear the nearly three-hour show. She did hang up during the intermissions to save her battery, but promptly called back at the beginning of each set.
I heard Mike McrCready talk with the audience clear as a bell like I was there, and once the music began, it was a little muffled because of the crowd and static because of the phone reception, but all in all well worth it.
I sat up in my bed like a little kid listening to his old AM raido waiting for the next Elvis song. I couldn’t get enough, I was grinning ear to ear bursting with excitement hearing all these fabulous cover songs played by some of the finest musicians I’ve ever known.
I knew of the event weeks in adanvce thanks to the wonderful love of Kim Warnick, but swore to keep my lips sealed as she told me what song she would sing alongside Mike McCready, Duff McKagan, Mark Pickerell, Jeff Rouse, Gary Westlake and Kim Virant. She was nervous and made no bones about it. I knew she would knock them dead and when McCready introduced Kim, who is technically “retired” from playing music, the crowd roared and I got nervous for her. She cracked wise like her cool punk self and then the band started to play. Kim picked one of the more unique songs of the night, “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle. The band and Kim were flawless, the crowd took a few notes to figure out the song, but once they did, thet went nuts singing so loud that the cell phone which was on the other end could barely pick up Kim’s vocals.
When the song was over, the crowd erupted and it was time for the first intermission. I was thrilled for Kim and I wanted to call her….no, I HAD to call her knowing she would most likely not pick up the phone, but I’d leave a crazy message. Much to my surprise her phone did pick up and there were a lot of voices in the background and one was Kim’s “pick up the phone and talk, that’s my friend Troy.” Crackle, crackle, the phone cut out for a second then I hear “Hey Troy, this is Stone, Kim was great, you should have been here.” The Stone in question was Stone Gossard, guitarist for Pearl Jam; one of Kim’s long time friends and one of my favorite guitar players
“Hey Troy I gotta go on stage and play a song with my band brad, but we love you and will dedicate this song to you,” he said.
I hear Kim laughing and she takes the phone, “How’s that for a wet dream.” She knew my undying love for Pearl Jam and always seems to rub it in when she is hanging out with Stone or Mike or Eddie or whatever killer rocker she knows.
Kim was stoked! She had so much energy we kept talking in unison. I had to remind her what she said on stage to the crowd. I knew she would nail the song and sound great and she did. She had to go play bass on “I Wanna Be Your Dog” so we hung up.
After we hung up, shortly after Julie once again called me and I got to hear the rest of the show, even though I fell asleep and missed a few songs. I was like a sleepy kid who couldn’t make it all the way through the “Ed Sullivan Show.”
There were no egos, any stylish hipster clothes or pretentious personas at this show. Just a bunch of friends from all different genres of music getting together, having fun for the sake of their love for music and a good cause. You can’t get any better than that.
Even though I wasn’t physically there, it was a damn good time and I felt inspired. Thank you to Julie, Kim and Debra for all your kindness and friendship. And to all the musicians who came out to play.
Here’s a run down of who preformed, the songs which were played and some links for the local Seattle writers about Hootenanny for Haiti.
A partial list of players from the Hootenanny for Haiti:
Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver, Fastbacks)
Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden)
Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam, Green River, Brad)
Shawn Smith (Satchel, Brad)
Kim Warnick (Fastbacks)
Star Anns (Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs)
Kristen Ward
Mark Pickerel (Screaming Trees)
Jeff Rouse (Loaded)
Rick Friel (Shadow 86)
Rebeqa Rivers
Justin Davis (Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs)
Tim DiJulio (North Twin, Flight to Mars)
Ty Bailie (Dept. of Energy, Flight to Mars)
Chris Friel (Sweetwater, Goodness)
Kim Virant (Lazy Susan)
Gary Westlake (Kristen Ward, Maurice & the Cliches)
Set List:
“Wild Horses”
“Too Far Gone”/”Send Me Back Home”
“I’ve Just Seen a Face”
“Even the Losers”
“Sunday Morning Coming Down”
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
“Never Take the Place of Your Man”
“Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory”
“That’s How Strong My Love Is”
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
“Jolene”
“Dead Flowers”
“Oh La La”
“River of Deceit”
“Heaven is a Place on Earth”
“Buttercup”
“Helpless”
“Under My Thumb”
“A Ghost In you”
“Killing Moon”
“Love Hurts”
“Won’t Back Down”
“Paint It Black”
“Don’t Let Me Down”
“The Cross”
“Cown Of Thorns”
Knockin’ On Heavens’ Door”
“I Wanna Be Your Dog”
“Fly Away”
Links to more Hootenanny for Haiti:
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2010/03/duff_mckagan_hootin_it_up_with.php
http://www.earcandybeat.com/?q=node/557
http://www.earcandybeat.com/?q=node/558