Dave Chamberlain

It's an idea that can't go wrong--okay, maybe it can, but it's a great idea nonetheless.

On Sunday, July 13, the Empty Bottle hosts the first of two reflexive benefit concerts for Pink Bloque, a self-dubbed radical feminist dance troupe. More accurately, the benefits are not two separate events, but one event spread out over the course of two weeks.

But instead of simply taking the traditional benefit route, the members of Pink Bloque came up with the Rock Lotto. The idea is that random, local musicians sign up for the Lotto (by 10pm that night), and at 12:30am, the Pink Bloque members will randomly assign five-person bands--by the end of the night, the just-formed bands will be required to think up a band name. These grab-all bands will then have two weeks to write one song, to be performed during the second night of the Lotto (until Sunday, July 27). The Pink Bloque invites every conceivable type of musician, from laptop noodlers to straight vocalists.

Formed approximately two years ago, the Pink Bloque goes a little further than existing as a dance troupe (radical feminism notwithstanding). "We organize street dances," says Pink Bloque member Lauren Cumbia, "that are actions taken on the street meant to educate and engage people about political issues." The fifteen members come primarily from arts administration and social work backgrounds, which, when combined with the title "radical feminist," might lead to the belief that the troupe uses overly aggressive tactics. "Not at all," replies Cumbia. "The idea is to make politics more approachable--much of the time we co-op pop culture, take a Top 40 hit and work from there."

Those familiar with William Upski's "Bomb the Suburbs" and "No More Prisons" won't have trouble drawing a parallel between his idea (spelled out a few years ago in "No More Prisons") of multi-issue activism and the idea fueling the Pink Bloque. "Our long-term goal," says Cumbia, "is to re-energize creative resistance." To such an end, proceeds from the dual Rock Lotto benefits are earmarked for a five-city tour, on which the Pink Bloque will hold educational seminars.

As for the Rock Lotto, the Pink Bloque isn't taking full creative credit. "I actually saw one done in Richmond, Virginia, and it worked well," says Cumbia. And in respect to taking the chance on holding it in Chicago? "We all thought it was a good opportunity to hold a benefit--involving dance--that was a little more creative."

In addition to the Rock Lotto, the Pink Bloque benefit nights include a number of video screenings and discussions with like-minded art collectives Streetrec and AER, as well as three DJs (for dance party purposes) and a bake sale. The dance troupe is counting on creating ten five-person bands, but things don't always go as planned--what if there aren't enough people for complete bands? "Well," says Cumbia, laughing, "that's when I get on the phone to all my musician friends and tell them to start getting creative."

Por favor:

Bloodshot recording artist Alejandro Escovedo is in a bad way--something astute music fans throughout the city might have deduced since the announcement of two benefit concerts, the first, July 31 at the Abbey Pub, and another the next night at FitzGerald's. It seems Escovedo, whose musical career started in the seventies with punk rock bands The Nuns and Rank and File, collapsed at a concert in Phoenix, last April, due to what has been diagnosed as advanced cirrhosis of the liver, a complication of Hepatitis C. As a touring musician--predominantly in the underground--Escovedo naturally has no health insurance and is already under the crushing weight of extensive medical costs.

Bloodshot isn't alone in coming out to help Escovedo: last month, Austin's Cactus Club held a two-day benefit, and more are planned in San Diego, Seattle, Raleigh and, locally, The Hideout. Additionally, a tribute album, "Sweet Relief," is in the works.

Don't expect any surprise performances by the man himself though. According to Bloodshot tour publicist Stolie, on doctors orders Escovedo "has cancelled all planned performances and tours until next year's South by Southwest." For more information on other methods of helping Escovedo, check out alejandrofund.com.

Three's a charm:

Local rock band Pinebender celebrates the release of its third full-length (and first away from Ohio Gold), "The High Price of Living Too Long With a Single Dream" (on the DC-based Lovitt Records), July 12 at Schubas. And yes folks, it's slanted towards the indie-rock angle--but don't hold that against Pinebender. Despite the lack of a bass guitar, the record stays astonishingly low-end and murky, with a few tracks out-dueling Dead Meadow at its own game. The pacing never gets past sonorous at its most amped, but the record--even the more sensitive tracks--are juiced by a very noticeable undercurrent of heaviness that sets the record apart. There are some moments along the way during which Pinebender relies on empty space a bit too much, unfortunate considering how strong the songs are when the band really lets loose. But that's a nitpicking complaint that hardly detracts.

(2003-07-09)

Also by Dave Chamberlain

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The project of former A Convocation Of member Guy Blakeslee, Entrance takes a guitar from the left side and proceeds to pound, strum and pluck out whatever he damn well pleases, depending on mood.
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Tip of the Week
(2003-05-21)

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