Lacey P. Morris
writer
Local punk shack DV8 Tavern on 99 Street and 83 Avenue will be holding its first annual Youth Emergency Shelter Society (YESS) benefit show on Friday, Feb. 25.
The benefit show features a lineup of feisty local punk acts, including Wainwright quartet Punktured, Edmonton-based Psychobilly outfit Hellpreacher and DV8 regulars Zero Cool and SlippyFist.
Tom Lacey, guitarist and vocalist of SlippyFist, has taken matters into his own hands and is organizing the YESS benefit show for the first time on his own.
As for his desire to get involved and take charge of the event, Lacey mentioned that contributing to the youth homelessness cause is of significant value to the punk-rock community.
“It kind of struck home after hearing a lot about the funding getting cut from (the shelter) and them just struggling with money year after year,” Lacey says. “It really is an integral part of the community and there are a lot of people in the punk community that either know somebody or have had to use the shelter themselves.
“It’s just kind of heart-wrenching to hear about a 15-year-girl or boy being turned down at the door at the centre because they can’t be accommodated there.”
Similar shows have been held during the past few years, but this is the first time it will be taking place at DV8.
“The couple of years that this bar has been in existence, it’s really catered to the punk-rock community and helped keep it thriving,” says Lacey.
Manager Rod Gillis is an advocate of the fundraiser.
“Rod loves the idea. He was gung-ho about it since the beginning, He’s really into the idea,” Lacey says. “It hits home with a lot of people. It’s a real cause. It’s right there in front of us.”
Cover charge is $10 at the door, with every dollar going directly to the shelter.
Jim Nowhere of Zero Cool also mentioned that there is going to be lot more going on in terms of raising funding for the shelter.
“Cover charge proceeds go to YESS, as well as $5 from every t-shirt sale,” Nowhere says. “There’s also a good chance that there will be some sort of raffle.”
“(Youth homelessness) is something that always needs money,” says Nowhere. “It’s a big problem here.”
“The local hip-hop scene does a lot to contribute to community causes. Bands of every genre should be helping out,” he continues.
Edmonton has a vibrant local music scene, with punk being one of the leading genres, and members of the scene being deeply involved in community-oriented fundraising events.
Zero Cool hosted the city’s fourth consecutive Punk Rock Food Fight food bank drive in December at the Mead Hall, and although terrible winter road conditions and -30 C weather contributed to a lack of attendees, the show was still a success and the band managed to raise a fair amount of food and cash donations for the Edmonton Food Bank. Lacey says if the show turns out to be a success, he hopes to make it an annual event.
“This is the first year that I’ve held it. If it does well this year, then I plan on doing it annually,” he says. “Everybody wins in this scenario. The bands get exposure, the venue makes money and the money goes to a good cause.”
DV8’s doors open for the YESS benefit show at 9 p.m. Punktured will be kicking it off at 10 p.m., as they take the stage as the opening act.
What better way to wrap up reading week than with some awesome local music and a meaningful contribution to the homeless community?
