A NIGHT TO REMEMBER AT THE WETLANDS
8/22/00Magical is one way to describe last night's event at NYC's Wetlands. Extraordinary is another. A packed house full of musically addicted, sympathetic people joined forces to raise money in a harmonious whirlwind that began at 9:30pm and continued straight past 3:00am. A $10 suggested donation aided Robert Walter's 20th Congress, whose entire equipment, merchandise, etc... was recently stolen.
When Matt Rubano, guitarist for DJ Logic showed up, all he could say when he looked at the stage was, "There are a lot of people I'd like to make musical love to up there." Dave Hoffman of ulu, DJ Stitch of Electron, Fuzz of Deep Banana Blackout, Hope Clayburn of DBB, Eric Krasno of Soulive, members of Topaz, Justin Wallace of ulu, who was grinning from ear to ear the whole night, and Robert Walter himself were among the first wave of musicians to jam. Since there were two or more players of each instrument, there was never a break. When Walter stepped down, Scott Chasolen of Ulu jumped on the keys, for example, and when Joe Russo from Fat Mama took a break, Stanton Moore of Galactic (A rare Wetlands appearance!) was ready. Boy was he ready!
After the first wave of funk, jazz, rock jams, Baba switched gears with Logic close by, rapping and scratching with screams and cheers from the audience with the jam orchestra behind them, including Rana's guitarist and Dave Holmes of Actual Proof. Later, Clayburn, Houseman of Galactic, and Mark Holmes also of Actual Proof sang Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." Even Wetlands' own Kregg Ajamu sat in. The comraderie and love in the room was extremely powerful. "We all get together and talk about jamming together, but it gets blown off," Mark Holmes said. "Last night it happened. I was stunned when I walked in."
It's wonderful that everyone could all come together in times of need, but even more amazing was that what occured was one of the most intense musical experiences I think everyone had in a very long time. Let's hope this isn't the last time.
Annabel Lukins
JamBase New York Correspondent
Robert Walter Benefit Raises Close to $3,000
8/22/00An all-star cast of musicians took the stage last night at Wetlands Preserve in New York City to raise money for Robert Walter's 20th Congress, whose equipment was stolen last month. In total, close to $3,000 was raised at last night's show. The line-up featured Walter, Stanton Moore and Houseman (Galactic), Hope Clayburn and Fuzz (Deep Banana Blackout), Eric Krasno (Soulive), DJ Logic, DJ Stitch, Scott Metzger (Rana), Joe Russo (Fat Mama), David Hoffman, Justin Wallace and Scott Chasolen (ulu), Marc and Dave Holmes (Actual Proof), Matt Rubano (DJ Logic, formely of Schleigho), Adam Deitch (Average White Band, formerly of Lettuce) and Topaz. "It was one of those nights that will go down in the history of the club as a night where the room just came alive," says Wetlands owner Pete Shapiro. "The room started breathing and everyone just started moving together. Last night was definitely one of the highlights of my five years at the club." The setlist included Lonnie Smith's "Play It Back," Herbie Hancock's "Hang Up Your Hangups," Stevie Wonder's "I Wish," "Sly and the Family Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay" and The Meters' "Cissy Strut."
"It was teeming with energy and creativity," says ulu keyboardist Scott Chasolen. "We played for six straight hours without a break."
Robert Walter's 20th Congress is asking anyone with information about the stolen equipment to please call (415) 642.1117 or email info@20thcongress.com.
Check out Robert Walter's website at http://www.fogworld.com/robert for more info on the band and the 20th Congress' gig schedule. You can also listen to their entire album online, in stereo and for free!