Rock, Punk & Poetry
Top bands team with youth poets in fundraiser
Several of Denver’s hottest bands will join forces with a group of young poets to benefit Art from Ashes in a March 21 concert at Herman’s Hideaway. Vonnegut, Dead Ringer, Arms Raised, Electric Ordinary and The Paradox are among the groups that will perform that night. Proceeds from the event will benefit Art from Ashes, a Denver nonprofit that empowers struggling youth through poetry and other therapeutic workshops that facilitate expression, connection and transformation. What makes this concert unique is that some of the bands will premier songs they have written that were inspired by youth poets who have participated in the
Art from Ashes Phoenix Rising poetry program. Herman’s Hideaway has been a Denver community music venue and epicenter for emerging
artists for more than 26 years. The Roths, owners of Herman’s Hideaway, say they are “happy to collaborate with any organization that encourages art and music, especially to help the kids,” and are privileged to be working with Art from Ashes. Vonnegut, a Rock/Indie/Experimental band, was voted Best Modern Rock Group in the 2008 Westword Music Showcase Awards.
Dead Ringer is a four piece punk band that plays all original music. Their songs are about struggles in life while not shying away from strong feelings in relation to current events. Arms Raised plays a melodic punk/rock/metal style of music. The band got its name when singer-songwriter Rob Nguyen was taking a break outside his retail job and overheard a woman yelling
at someone over the phone that she was coming over with guns in hands. “Raising our Arms is also the way we show love in the music world. So why not?” Electric Ordinary is an alternative/post-hardcore/slightly-metal band that started in January 2004 and is based in Aurora. They play a gritty, heavy, melodic and surprisingly complex sound. Originally a Hip Hop band, The Paradox started with two MC’s and a DJ over a decade ago, and is now a comprised of musicians, vocalists, writers and producers with multiple styles ranging from rock to soul to blues. AfA Executive Director Catherine O’Neill Thorn said the collaboration between her program’s
youth poets and these four bands made perfect sense. “These bands write their music straight from the heart in a raw and powerful way that is similar to the kind of poetry our youth write when dealing with their own struggles.”
Advance admission from Art from Ashes is $10, half of which is tax-deductible. To purchase, go to the events page on the Art from Ashes website www.artfromashes.org and link to Herman’s or call 303.837.1550. Tickets also will be available at the door.
http://artfromashes.org/events.html#march