Benefit Shows to Aid Hurricane Sandy Victims

Will Sheff is one of many artists appearing at Thursday's Brooklyn benefit.

Aaaand we're back. Although Podcast Party HQ has power and heat, a lot of people in the tri-state area are still suffering. So instead of our usual early-week post detailing streaming albums for the week, we'd like to spotlight some upcoming shows and events to benefit those affected by Hurricane Sandy. (More will be added as we hear about them.)

[UPDATE, Nov. 6th: Oh My Rockness has put up a list of Hurricane Sandy benefit shows, which will no doubt be growing; you may want to bookmark it. Among the shows added: a Bad Brains tribute tonight, Tuesday, benefiting Amnesty International and the Red Cross featuring H.R. (of the Bad Brains), Jesse Malin, Vernon Reid, Steve Earle, and others at Bowery Electric.]

This Thursday the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn is hosting East Coast Relief, which features a diverse lineup of great performers: Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Jared Evan, Kevin Devine, Jennifer O'Conner, Jean Grae, Holly Miranda, Geoff Rickly (Thursday), Bird of Youth, Jaymay, Brian Bonz, Zumo Kollie, Sonya Kitchell, and DJ Rajni Jacques. Tickets are $40 here, with all proceeds said to be benefiting the Red Cross. [Update, Nov 7th: see set times here.]

Blues guitarist Gark Clark Jr. is playing Brooklyn Bowl Tuesday night (tomorrow), Spinner says, with admission being a minimum donation of $20. Attendees are also urged to bring items such as nonperishable food, bottled water, blanket, clothing, and other similar items.

Dean Ween of the recently broken-up The Weens is playing a benefit show at The Saint in Asbury Park on Nov. 11th, says Brooklyn Vegan. [Update, Nov. 7th: Brooklyn Vegan says the show has now been pushed back to Nov. 28th.] Ween says the gig is to benefit "my good friend Nick Honachefsky who lost his home and all of his worldly possessions in the storm."

The show, called "Dean Ween and Friends," will include Claude Coleman, Glenn McClelland, Chris Harford, Dickie Moist, and others, and Ween says, " The evening will feature new music and old music by Moistboyz, Chris Harford, Jimmy Wilson, members of Ween, etc." Check the website of The Saint later for details; the show doesn't yet appear on their calendar.

There will no doubt be more benefit concerts announced later; we'll post these as we hear about them.

Also: Jersey Shore native Nicole Atkins talks with the Village Voice about the devastation in her home territory. She's planning on re-recording "Neptune City," the title song from her debut album, and donating the proceeds to relief efforts. [UPDATE, Nov. 6th: You can download "Neptune City (for the shore)" here for a minimum donation of two dollars.]

Concert Notes: Tinderbox Fest Sat.; Dave Matthews & HMag Festivals Rescheduled, & More

Holly Miranda and a host of established and up-and-coming female bands will play Saturday's Tinderbox Music Festival in Brooklyn.

This edition of Concert Notes is all about festivals, including a Brooklyn fest of female rockers and new dates for two events postponed by Hurricane Irene.

* the Tinderbox Music Festival takes place tomorrow, Sept. 10th, at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. (I wrote about the inaugural Tinderbox fest last year.) The headliners on the main stage are Eternia and the Band (10 p.m.) and Holly Miranda (9 p.m.), but there are plenty of other musicians going all day long starting at 1 p.m., including XYLOS, Alyson Greenfield, Charlene Kaye and The Brilliant Eyes, The Debutante Hour, Still Saffire (representing Brooklyn's own Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls), EULA, and more. (Get Tinderbox Music Fest tickets.)

* the HMag Music Festival in Hoboken has been rescheduled for Oct. 16, at its original venue at Pier A Park in the Mile Square City. The headlining bands, The Walkmen and School of Seven Bells, are still on the schedule, along with Inner Party System, The Kickdrums, 7Mornings, Kangaroo Jones, Christina Alessi, Helloradio, and the Blaire Reinhard Band. The HMag Music Festival starts at 12 Noon and runs until 10 p.m.

* the Dave Matthews Band Caravan will now take place next weekend, Sept. 16th, 17th, and 18th, but will take place on Randall's Island instead of the original site of Governors Island. DMB will play a full set each night, and other musicians including Dispatch, Warren Haynes (solo), Brandi Carlile, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band.

* and finally, a note of very local interest: the 2011 Hoboken Italian Festival is underway, and besides the usual zeppole and cannoli there's old-time music. The festival runs from Sept. 8th to the 11th and, while you've already missed the NJ American Idol and the "Freestyle Friday" events, still to come is stage MC Johnny Maggio, music from Molfetta, Italy, opera singing, the Bronx Wanderers, and more. (See the Hoboken Italian Festival schedule.)