Songs in the Key of Life

Since September 11, thousands of artists around the country have played for free or contributed unreleased songs to charitable compilations. Many of these high-profile projects have been well-received; even more impressively, most of them apparently were born from genuine concern and grief rather than a need to seize the PR moment. But such efforts may also have saturated the market, causing to fizzle some events that should have been surefire fund-raisers.

On the local front, a late-September concert at the Westport Flea Market failed to attract a capacity crowd despite boasting a stellar lineup that included Season to Risk, Shiner and Onward Crispin Glover. But Onward Crispin Glover wasn’t soured by the experience. “I thought the turnout was fine considering there weren’t many advertising outlets,” says bassist Kristin. “We’ll continue to do benefit shows whenever we think they’re worthwhile.”

The latest worthwhile project to emerge takes place Friday, November 16, at the Uptown Theater. In addition to Onward Crispin Glover, the lineup includes Corinna Fugate, MeasureXMeasure, SuperNauts, Flybox, King Suckerman, Thulium, Moaning Lisa, Stretchmarxxx, Victoria White, South 71 Degreez, odds-even, Ruskbank and Pomeroy. This concert, which benefits the Families of Freedom fund to assist the children of those who died in the World Trade Center attacks, is the brainchild of Youth Volunteer Corps program director Jim Wisler, who enlisted a team of high-school students to help him plan his first benefit concert.

Initially, Wisler’s wish list included high-rent talent such as The Get Up Kids, Puddle of Mudd, Tech N9ne, Melissa Etheridge and The Urge. But The Get Up Kids were booked already, headlining a Red Cross benefit tour that includes a December 7 stop at The Granada with Appleseed Cast and The Anniversary. From the rest, Wisler received prompt, polite dismissals from management. However, he says, rumors about Tech N9ne’s involvement continue to fly, including a particularly potent strain that claims Nelly will be along for the ride.

Wisler ended up with a roster that plays mostly 21-and-over gigs — a tough sell for an event targeted at an underage crowd. (“For kids, by kids” is the concert’s credo.) But Wisler’s roving volunteers, who have taken to the hallways, report enthusiastic responses, even from people who haven’t heard the groups involved.

“There’s a lot of kids who haven’t had a chance to help out yet, and this is an easy opportunity,” says Andrea Brown, a junior at Shawnee Mission East. “Just pay and go.”

That may not be as simple as it sounds. The bands represented are unfamiliar or anathema to most of the student population, and the event’s radio sponsor, KRBZ 96.5, doesn’t reach much of this audience. Landing South 71 Degreez, an edgy rap ensemble recommended by city council member Alvin Brooks, helped the cause, but it’s still an uphill climb getting fans of urban music to spend $10 for a rock/folk show. Realizing this, Wisler has provided some students with tickets donated by corporations. “We want to have kids there from different environments, kids that wouldn’t be able to come together otherwise,” Wisler says.

This eclectic gathering marks the reemergence of Heidi Phillips, making only her second KC-area appearance since Frogpond‘s demise. The Uptown show offers Philips an ideal forum to reveal her latest work, but she says it’s the cause that inspired her to perform. “I don’t see how we could have too many benefits,” she says. “People still need support and relief.”

However, history shows that the need often outlives public interest. “Everyone wants to show their concern and give what they can, but you can only spread it so far before it becomes monotonous,” says Moaning Lisa singer David George.

Playing at benefit gigs is the most obvious way for local performers to display their feelings about the attacks because most of them aren’t politically inclined songwriters. However, a few possess currently relevant material. South 71 Degreez will dedicate a new track to the late Precious Doe. “We want to keep her name alive until her murderer or murderers are captured,” the band notes in a group statement. And regarding the New York situation, the group adds: “This will give people a chance to see and hear how we Missourians also are hurt by the 9/11 tragedy. As Missourians, it’s our duty to participate and to show the world that we do exist.”

Wisler wishes more people felt it was their duty to contribute. “Some people have more of a profit motivation than I would wish. You’d like to think all these people would just line up and want to help out.”

But while Wisler was met with obstacles at nearly every turn, he has had few problems planning the actual event. The show crams sixteen acts into six hours on two stages, but Wisler reports no complaints about placement or time slots. At worst, the concert will fail to meet its goal of 1,000 attendees, becoming another victim of benefit backlash. But there are far worse fates. “They say that people are getting sick of benefit shows,” Kristin says, “but I think I’d be a heck of a lot more tired of being one of those people who needs help.”