November 19: 1st Annual Holiday Benefit With Everclear @ Crystal Ballroom
1st Annual Holiday Benefit with Everclear
The band wraps up its 2009 IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT TOUR with a show in support
of Portland's St. Francis Dining Hall
With special guest Clayton Senne and a local band to be selected via MySpace and Facebook!
Sponsored by Red Bull and McMenamins
Thursday, November 19, 2009 | Crystal Ballroom
7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m show | $20 advance, $25 day of show | All ages welcome
PORTLAND, Ore.—Thursday, November 19, 2009—McMenamins Crystal Ballroom (1332 W. Burnside St.) is pleased to host and co-sponsor Everclear's 1st Annual Holiday Benefit in support of Portland's St. Francis Dining Hall, a local non-profit organization that serves an average of 300 people an evening meal, six days a week, in an atmosphere of respect, dignity and peace. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Crystal Ballroom box office; $20 advance; $25 day of show — $2 per ticket will be donated to St. Francis Dining Hall. All ages are welcome.
The immediate goal is to feed 2,000+ homeless, hungry people for the 2009 holiday season. The ultimate goal is that this annual event gains momentum each and every year — "that's what makes this bigger than all of us involved," says Art Alexakis, frontman for Everclear.
McMenamins Crystal Brewery, located onsite, will brew a beer specifically for the event, dubbed Survive Ale — half of all sales of this special-edition beer will go directly to the charity in need. Red Bull will also donate $1 of every drink sold to St. Francis Dining Hall; if sales exceed 10 cases (240 drinks), Red Bull will double their donation to $2 per drink. In addition to McMenamins and Red Bull, other corporate sponsors are sought to help make this fundraiser a smashing success.
About the Event
Everclear singer/songwriter Art Alexakis has built a solid career and devoted fan base on heartfelt songs culled from real-life experiences about which he's always been open. His father abandoned the family when Alexakis was a child, leaving his mom to raise five kids in a tough Los Angeles neighborhood. Nonetheless, says Alexakis, his mother instilled in him a sense of duty to help those less fortunate. "My mother would have us go and volunteer on Thanksgiving and Christmas, to serve food and to see what's going on in a different life." That desire to give back to his community motivated him to volunteer for years. Unfortunately, as Alexakis's fame grew, his presence became a distraction, and people doubted his motivation. Hence, he decided he'd work his celebrity to his advantage with this 2009 holiday benefit.
"I've done benefits with McMenamins before, like the 9/11 firefighters' fundraiser," says Alexakis, "and there's just a mindset with McMenamins that I love and respect. I thought together we could make this holiday fundraiser big. [Selected charity] St. Francis Dining Hall is not funded. They are not just about feeding people, but they offer medical assistance, check-ups, a place to stay. … It's stupid why we can't figure out how to end homelessness in Portland. It can totally be done. Portland people are community-minded — we give a damn! And that's exciting."
Concertgoers will enjoy a live performance of Everclear hits, both old and new and reprised, with two dollars from every ticket sold going to benefit St. Francis Dining Hall.
Opening act Clayton Senne's sound has been called "bright, blues-flavored pop … that bellows over the sonic landscape of other musicians today." Another as-of-yet-unnamed local band will be selected via a poll on Everclear's Facebook and MySpace pages. "We want to give a local band exposure at the Crystal Ballroom and, of course, draw more people in the door to support the cause," explains Alexakis.
