February 12, 1999 Calvin College Chimes

Eight bands to play annual benefit concert By Nathan VanderKlippe News Editor Despite several scheduling problems, the upcoming Donemus concert is ready to hit the stage on Saturday, Feb. 27. Donemus is an annual benefit concert put on by WCAL and Progressives that has been going on since the early 1990s. Before that time, WCAL put on a multi-band concert, which did not include a benefit aspect, under the name RadioActive. DONEMUS BAND SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 27 4:00 Infamous Pachzi 4:45 Books and Comics 5:30 ebb and flow 6:30 Dusk 7:45 Airplanes Are Fast 9:00 Swing 78 10:00 Wireless Green 11:00 Mission Orange Lab Theatre Tickets $4 on-campus, $5 others Eight bands are set to perform at this year’s show: Airplanes Are Fast, Books and Comics, Dusk, ebb and flow, Infamous Pachzi, Mission Orange, Swing 78, and Wireless Green. With the exception of Books and Comics, each of these bands has at least one member who is a Calvin student or alumnus. Looking over the list, Blonn related some of the difficulties he hadin scheduling the bands. Gone to Amsterdam for interim, Blonn returned to find that two headlining bands, Knee Deep Shag and Troll For Trout, had cancelled. When effforts to book nationally-renowned artist Shawn Mullins failed, other arrangements were quickly made and the band roster was filled with the addition of local band Books and Comics. The bands are scheduled to play in succession from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m., and all proceeds from the show will be given to Urban Produce. Urban Produce is a local charity which works with younger children to provide them with real life skills along with academic tutoring and career development. One of their primary projects is urban gardening, which, according to their literature, has participants transforming “vacant city lots into vibrant, colorful, organic gardens.” The produce is then sold to area residents. Last year, about $1,000 was raised and donated to Camp Tall Tuft. “This year we hope to raise even more than that,” said Blonn. Trish Vanderkooy, the chair of Progressives and co-coordinator of Donemus, noted that there will also be 15-20 area vendors at the concert this year. “We’re really excited because we’re going to have a lot of local artisans and vendors,” she said. The bands are not paid for their performances, although Blonn said that Donemus operates on a budget of $2,000 which is used for advertising and to cover a portion of the bands’ operational costs in playing at the concerts. Responding to the fact that the bands are not paid, Tom Zeyl, bass guitarist in ebb and flow, acknowledged that “it’s nice to make money and all.” Even so, “I think playing for a benefit concert is great to help out those who need it. ... It’s a good change to give back some of what we’ve been given,” he said. The concert is to be held in the Lab Theatre, and tickets are $4 for Calvin students, $5 for others.