The kindness of Treasure Valley music fans is shining brighter than ever this holiday.
The season’s two major charity concerts — the Xtreme Holiday Xtravaganza and Concert For Cause — set new records for funds raised.
Simultaneously, the latest edition of “IdaHo Ho Ho with Moxie Java” — a benefit CD for the Idaho Foodbank — has been the top-selling album at the Record Exchange since early December.
Final numbers haven’t arrived yet, but singer Curtis Stigers estimates that his sold-out, three-night Xtravaganza generated about $85,000 for homeless shelter Interfaith Sanctuary on Dec. 16-18. That’s up from $71,000 in 2011.
“My mantra has always been before that humans are a nasty little animal,” quipped Stigers, who hosted the Xtravaganza for the sixth straight time. “But I’m impressed every year by this thing — how generous people are.”
Concert For Cause, 94.9 FM The River’s shindig at the Knitting Factory, was headlined by Portland indie-folk Blind Pilot. The event raised about $22,000 for the Women’s and Children’s Alliance.
“We feel that it’s a great representation of just how much the community supports the efforts of the Women’s and Children’s Alliance,” says Journal Broadcast Group promotions manager Josh Schlaich. “It’s also testament to the hard work and care that the WCA gives to provide services to local women, men and their children that are healing from domestic and sexual assault.”
“Oh yeah, and the band was pretty cool, too,” he adds.
Concert for Cause and the Xtravaganza depend heavily on auction-item donations and volunteer work from citizens and organizations.
But it’s not all sacrifice. The dozens of local musicians who perform at the Xtravaganza mingle in a festive green room at the Egyptian Theatre stocked with food and drink. It’s akin to a yearly high school reunion for area singers, guitarists and saxophone players.
“It’s like a party,” Stigers said. “But that said, it is really very generous of them.”
Stigers, singer-songwriter Bill Coffey and local band the Frim Fram Four were among the acts who performed three straight nights. In the coming months, Stigers and Coffey will play six additional house concerts together; their performances were auctioned off.
It all adds up to months of effort that, thanks to the private-home shows, drags into summer.
Stigers shrugs it off.
“I go to somebody’s house, I drink their wine, eat their food and hang out with some cool people — and get to play music at the end of the night,” he says. “It beats working for a living.”
PAULY SHORE IS COMING
“Hey, bud-dy ...”
If the memory of that catchphrase (or “grindage” or “nugs” or “weasel”) makes you want to punch yourself in the Adam’s apple, stop reading.
Pauly Shore is headed to Liquid Laughs, 405 S. 8th St., Boise, to perform four shows Jan. 25 and 26 (8 and 10 p.m., $25).
Shore, 44, is best known as a slow-witted MTV character of the early ’90s. (He wasn’t just a VJ or the host of “Totally Pauly,” either. The strangely punchable comedian even had a music video: “Lisa, Lisa, the One I Adore.”) Shore gained even more fame by starring in a handful of movies including “Encino Man,” “Son in Law” and “Jury Duty.”
Then it all went away, and Shore returned to comedy clubs.
Shore’s first love is stand-up comedy. His mother, Mitzi, founded The Comedy Store in West Hollywood when he was a small child.
Tickets go on sale Jan. 1 at 941-2459 or liquidlaughs.com.
ALEX CLARE, MORE CONCERTS
Boise’s Knitting Factory unleashed a mini-barrage of concert announcements days before Christmas. Here’s a catch-up list.
All shows are on sale at Ticketfly:
- Down, Jan. 24
- The Expendables, March 8
- Flyleaf and Drowning Pool, March 16
- Sevendust and Lacuna Coil, March 21
- Alex Clare, April 30
Clare is the most intriguing show of the bunch. His breakout song, “Too Close,” has become near-ubiquitous thanks to a TV ad for Windows Explorer 9.
The fact he dated the late Amy Winehouse doesn’t hurt the Brit’s attention-getting potential, either.
CHANGES AT K-HITS
There’s a new voice between ELO and Tom Petty songs on ’70s/’80s station K-Hits 107.1 FM.
On-air personality and program director KJ Mac was let go Dec. 27.
The departure is part of restructuring at Journal Broadcast Group of Boise’s radio stations, according to vice president and general manager Marie McGlynn.
Some of Mac’s duties will be handled by recently hired radio station manager/general sales manager Roy Williams. Others — including the 3-to-7 p.m. weekday “afternoon drive” on-air slot — have been taken over by Variety Rock 105.1 FM program director Jim Allen.
Mac was a staple for about a decade at K-Hits. He has worked at other Treasure Valley stations including KFXD-AM, KGEM-AM and KQFC-FM.
His voice is instantly recognizable to fans of Boise State basketball. He’s the P.A. announcer at games, where he’s known for a signature traveling-violation proclamation: “Wwwwwaaaaaaallllllking.”
Mac was unavailable for comment.
BENEFIT SHOW
Hip-hop and dance music will fill the Revolution Center in Garden City on Jan. 4.
Headlined by local rapper Young Eurnii, the event is a fundraiser for Bronson Brown, a young man fighting aplastic anemia. Also on the bill: Big Ups, Rough Draft, Prentice, DJ Techstep and DJ Tucci.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $10 at Ticketfly. You must be at least 14 years old to attend.
IN SCENE MAGAZINE JAN. 4
- Matt Damon stars in “Promised Land.”
- Looking back at the best albums of 2012.
Michael Deeds’ column runs Fridays in Scene and Sundays in Life. Email: mdeeds@ idahostatesman.com. Twitter: @IDS_Deeds
