For the Kids

Drummer Garrett Sisti of the punk/psychobilly Wrecking Crew played a three-band gig at the Leucadian on October 17 sponsored by No Cover magazine.

“They did it for a good cause,” says Sisti, “and nobody could argue with free booze.”

According to Morning Riot drummer Josh Arend (who organized the event and whose band played), those who paid $10 and were there between 8 and 9 p.m. got free vodka drinks. When the free booze ended, admission was lowered to $5. Arend says more than $2000 was raised for charity.

“It goes to the Electric Hope Foundation,” says Arend. “It helps with music education for kids.” Arend admits that he and No Cover are helping a lady with a nonprofit background get Electric Hope up and running; the foundation exists only as a MySpace page and as a one-page website that’s “still under construction,” says Arend.

Arend says the $2000 will eventually be donated to a music program at a local school, but the school and program have not yet been decided.

Bassist Glen Fisher plays in the Latin jazz band Con Alma. He also operates First Friday Club, a nonprofit he founded two and a half years ago that hires musicians to perform and teach at 60 different public schools.

“I’ve seen groups that keep 90 percent of the money they raise for themselves,” says Fisher. “Any money that becomes available for music education for kids is so precious that if it doesn’t end up there, it’s a fucking shame.… If they implied it was going to the kids and it doesn’t, that is vicious.”

– Ken Leighton