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by Michael LelloWeekender Editor
With 37 different performers slated for “Concert For A Cause 7: A Concert For Karen,” there’s almost as many perspectives on what the show means to each artist. There are bands that have played the benefit since its first year. There are people that will make their CFC debuts next Wednesday, April 22. And there’s even a family member of this year’s event’s namesake.
“It’s strong feelings,” said Nicole Erin Carey, who will perform Wednesday. The event will be held in memory of Karen Greenberg Revit, her aunt. “You have to kind of shut them off in order to play.”
Unfortunately for Carey, this year’s beneficiary — the United Way Leukemia Fund — makes the event even more poignant. Her grandmother — and Karen’s aunt — died from cancer recently.
“You know, it’ll be awesome, because they offered so much money that needs to be raised, and you hope that it’s always going to research,” said Carey, 22, who attended her first CFC when she was 15. “It’s going to be extra hard this year because I just watched my grandma pass away from cancer this year.”
Carey said the passing of her grandmother has worked its way into her songs.
“Ever since my grandma passed away, all I wrote was songs about her, so people will probably hear a lot of that,” she said.
Richie Kossuth is another person with a unique perspective on CFC. His band, Flaxy Morgan, has played at it every year, and his company, Rock Street Music in Pittston, does the sound and lights. For free.
“The main reason that I actually like playing it is Karen,” Kossuth said. “Even though I know we stopped doing ‘Concert For Karen’ and this year we’re back to it, I personally always think of Karen, even if we don’t do it as ‘Concert for Karen.’ She was just an all-around great person, and as Billy Joel sings, it’s only the good die young. To see someone like her, she was such a great person, and you think every day this happens to people, if it’s leukemia or if it’s anything.”
Rock Street’s preparation for CFC starts a few days in advance, with four sets of P.A.s, four sets of lights and four sets of backline (amps, drum sets, etc.).
“When we do benefits, we don’t mind at all helping out, and this one, you don’t think you’re giving up all this gear, because there’s no price on life,” Kossuth said. “If you don’t get paid for it, who cares?”
Kossuth, who plays many benefit events every year, said CFC stands out for a few reasons. It’s on a Wednesday, which means more bands are available and you’re also not competing with showgoers’ weekend plans. There are four stages, making the event run much more smoothly than a one-stage event.
Charles Havira will make his CFC debut next week. To say the singer/songwriter is looking forward to it would be an understatement.
“I’m excited!” he said. “Well, one that I’m actually playing and doing something that is positive and that it’s going to help people, and two, I’m actually going to be the first person to play. I’m excited just to be playing. If I’m allowed to play music, whether it be an established venue and a reputable organization and they actually ask me to play. … I’m just thrilled.”
Havira will perform with his latest band lineup: Jon Novakovich and Dustin Drevitch on guitar, A.J. Jump on drums and Mark Kiesinger on bass.
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“Concert For A Cause 7: A Concert For Karen,” Wednesday, April 22, The Woodlands Inn & Resort (Route 315, Plains Twp.) Doors at 5:30 p.m. Cover: $7, 21 and over.
• STREAMSIDE BANDSTAND
(Stage 1)
Charles Havira - 6 p.m.
The Band Brown - 6:45 p.m.
The Underground Saints - 7:30 p.m.
Bret Alexander - 8:15 p.m.
The Sw!ms - 9 p.m.
k8 & The Borrowed - 9:45 p.m.
The Five Percent - 10:30 p.m.
George Wesley - 11:15 p.m.
Nicole Erin Carey - 12 midnight
Cabinet - 12:45 a.m.
• CLUB EVOLUTION
(Stage 2)
Graces Downfall - 6 p.m.
Destination West - 6:45 p.m.
Fighting Zero - 7:30 p.m.
Iron Cowboy - 8:15 p.m.
Crush - 9 p.m.
Farmer’s Daughter - 9:45 p.m.
Nowhere Slow - 10:30 p.m.
Maybe Someday - 11:15 p.m.
Bliss - 12 midnight
Lessen One - 12:45 p.m.
The Black Orkid - 1:30 a.m.
• GRAND BALLROOM
(Stage 3)
The NonRefundables - 6:30 p.m.
Lemongelli - 7:30 p.m.
40-Lb. Head - 8:30 p.m.
Panacea - 9:30 p.m.
Days Before Tomorrow - 10:30 p.m.
Bad Hair Day - 11:30 p.m.
Ashfall - 12:30 a.m.
Spit Can - 1:30 a.m.
• GRAND BALLROOM
(Stage 4)
Jeanne Zano & Rock-N-Horse - 6 p.m.
Plus 3 - 7 p.m.
Flaxy Morgan - 8 p.m.
The SilenTreatment - 9 p.m.
OurAfter - 10 p.m.
Go-Go Gadjet - 11 p.m.
M-80 - 12 midnight
Absolution - 1 a.m.
