Your Help Needed: Venomin James Drummer Critically Ill
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Musician Jared Koston, drummer for Cleveland-based metal band Venomin James is currently battling stage 4 melanoma cancer. Diagnosed with two brain tumors stemming from the cancer, Koston and his family are struggling to make ends meet financially while they fight Koston's illness. Auburn Records president Bill Peters recently released the following statement regarding Koston's condition, with helpful information on how people can help:
“Jared and his family need financial help immediately", says Auburn Records president Bill Peters. "Jared has four beautiful children and a wonderful wife by his side. The heavy metal community is always very generous and supportive when it comes to good causes.
”Anything you can contribute to the Koston family during their time of need is greatly appreciated. This family is doing everything they can to keep things going but can’t do it alone. Jared and his wife Michele are both hard working people but had to leave their jobs while they continue to battle this illness. All of the money raised will go directly to Jared and his family to help cover medical and travel expenses. Please take a few minutes to contribute if you are able. No donation is too small. You can make a difference."
Download a hi-res flyer of the above graphic - please share the flyer and repost these graphics on your website/blog/etc.
Donations can be made in several ways:
Cash, checks and money orders (payable to Jared Koston) can be sent to:
The Koston Family
3060 Princeton Drive
Madison, Ohio 44057
USA
PayPal donations can be sent to: jaredkoston@rocketmail.com
(Be sure to mark ‘personal’ then select ‘gift’)
There also is a Koston Cancer Fund page setup on Facebook.
Michele Koston has organized two spaghetti dinner fund raisers at the Stadium Grill in Mentor, Ohio on May 3 from 6-8 p.m. and at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Madison, Ohio on May 24 from 5-8 p.m.
More info from Venomin James:
"Jared’s started radiation therapy, but his doctors have basically said that we should prepare for the worst", says Venomin James guitarist Joe Fortunato. "I don't even know where to begin. It has all happened so rapidly that it took us all by surprise. He had been getting chemotherapy, but a bad reaction hospitalized him, which is how they found more going on. Originally, it was only in his shoulder but has now spread to his spleen and brain. It may happen that he doesn't survive too much longer. We were planning to have a benefit concert for him and for Melanoma charities, but it looks like he may not even be around long enough to see it, let alone play at it. The fundraiser is at a very early stage. I have several bands willing to donate performances. We’re praying he makes it through this okay”.
Additional information, including a statement from Michele Koston with extensive details regarding Jared's condition can be found here.
With no current income or health insurance, anything that you can do to help will be very much appreciated by the Koston family.
Show of the Week: Two Shows Are Better Than One!
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
I couldn't pick just one show for this week's Show of the Week, so I went out on a rebellious limb and picked two!
Right off the top before we get to those shows, you should know that Stephen Stills at the Kent Stage on Friday night is completely sold out (EDIT: Good news - a second show at 10:30pm that same night is on sale now). You might also be interested to know about the newly announced Kris Kristofferson show happening at the Kent Stage on June 9th - I'm already working to grow out a sweet Kristofferson beard for the show!
Which brings us to this week's Show(s) of the Week, which actually have nothing to do at all with sweet Kristofferson beards. Assembly of Dust are headed to town for a show that will surprisingly enough, allegedly be their first Northeast Ohio appearance. I'll share more details regarding that show in a second.
In the interest of time, you should know first about Chris Duarte's pending Cleveland show, happening tomorrow night (Monday) at The Winchester. Ever since I heard the slinky sounds of "Cleopatra" (from the most excellently titled Tailspin Headwhack), I've been meaning to get out and watch Duarte do his thing. Duarte has been sharing out his bluesy guitar driven funk for a number of years, beginning with his debut release, Chris Duarte & The Bad Boys in 1987.
View CommentsShow of the Week: Radio 92.3 Bands Together Haiti Benefit
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
This week's show of the week was an easy choice to make. While my good pal CB sat at Melt, gorging himself with one of their signature half ton sandwiches, he sent me a quick text message.
"mmmmphshowmmmmripofmmmmph*interrupted*"
*belch*
I realized that he was letting me know that I should pick this week's show of the week.
No problem.
Radio 92.3 has put together a very cool show happening on Saturday evening at 6pm, featuring a boatload of Cleveland's most talented bands and artists, all united to help raise money for Haiti relief. A minimum donation of $5 will get you in the door to see SEVEN great bands. Of course, if you can spare more than $5, it will be very much appreciated.
Feast your eyes on the lineup:
Chuck Mosley and VUA
Leah Lou
Leo
Random Stereo
2nd Half
The Suede Brothers
This Is A Shakedown!
All of the money raised from this event will go to the Red Cross, and all ages are welcome. The event will be held at the Saddle Ridge in Parma, located at 5100 Pearl Road.
Click here for directions and more information about the show.
Speaking of the Suede Brothers, they've got quite a bit going on at the moment - they're currently in the studio working on a new album AND they're also about to release a live album recorded at the Beachland Ballroom. I've heard tracks from that live disc, and let me assure you that you will not want to miss it - it's a rocker!
Mark it down on your list of new music to acquire, and in the meantime, make your plans to join me on Saturday evening for a good evening of rock and roll, Cleveland style!
Founder of Crawdaddy! Magazine needs your help
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
After seeing quite a few blog items/news entries on the web about this, I wanted to chip in with a personal note of support for Paul Williams, founder of legendary music mag Crawdaddy!.
A biking accident in 1995 left Williams with a brain injury and subsequent disabilities that have escalated to the point that his family are no longer able to care for him alone. In 2008, his family made the painful decision to move Williams into managed care outside of his home. To help offset the accompanying financial challenges of the full-time medical care, a page has been established where friends and fans can donate to help Paul's cause.
I first became aware of Paul's situation in the mid-90s after becoming a fan of his significant other (and future wife,) singer-songwriter Cindy Lee Berryhill. In the liner notes of her 1996 album Straight Outta Maryville, Berryhill included a note thanking everyone that helped during Paul's recovery, and a personal note to Paul for "coming outta the hospital the same great boyfriend."
They're good folks who would be grateful for any assistance that you might be able to provide. Surf on over to the website here for more information.
I dug up the following old interview with Paul Williams titled "The Godfather of Rock Criticism" that is good reading for fans, and anyone that might want to know more about his career over the years.
View CommentsSo what does Paul have to brag about, but doesn't? The man started the first real rock music magazine, Crawdaddy!, while still a teenager--a year-and-a-half before Jann Wenner started Rolling Stone. Via Crawdaddy!, he gave a lot of other "legends" their first writing outlet: Sandy Pearlman, Peter Guralnick, Jon Landau, and Richard Meltzer, to name just a few. He also hung with Tim Leary and sang with him on John and Yoko's "Give Peace A Chance" single, recorded in a Montreal hotel room in 1969. If you ever get a chance to see the video from that day, Paul's clearly in it...I could go on all day. He's the man. Long may he run.
Record Store Day in Cleveland and beyond….
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Getting stoked for Record Store Day? We're barely a month away from RSD09, and news continues to stream in regarding all sorts of exclusive releases that are planned for April 18th.
Make sure that you're following the official Twitter feed which recently had news regarding vinyl exclusives including a Beck/Sonic Youth split 7", and exclusive 7" releases from Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and our man Bruce Springsteen.
Esquire Magazine has a list of "75 albums that every guy should own."
What about the girls? Who cares about the girls! Just kidding, Mel - please don't hit me!
Among those 75 albums, it looks like our man Bruce nabbed a well-deserved spot with Darkness On The Edge of Town....just in case you don't own that one, for some strange reason.
Esquire also has your bitching about the list covered with an additional list of "Glaring Omissions" - 30 Records You Probably Want On This List.
What the hell? Bring me the head of the bastard that left The Joshua Tree off the main list. And Purple Rain. And Thriller. We really need to talk about this.
Backstreets has more info on the Bruce 7" (Thanks to Blogness for the tip!)
A new Springsteen seven-inch is being pressed for Record Store Day, featuring "What Love Can Do" as the A-side and "A Night With the Jersey Devil" as the B-side. It'll be available exclusively not from Wal-Mart, not from Amazon, but from indie stores.
So if you're here in Cleveland....where can you go to be a part of Record Store Day on April 18th?
C'mon, you know that Music Saves is at the top of the list, with additional retailers including Record Den in Mentor, Spin-More Records and Turnup Records in Kent, The Joy of Music on Lee Road, and Ultrasound in Willoughby. Find more participating stores in your neck of the woods using the store locator.
Here in Cleveland, we'll have team coverage for Record Store Day. "CB" aka the Cleveland Bachelor will be at his home away from home, Music Saves. I'll be making a midday visit to bring him food from Melt to tide him over during the long shift. Truthfully, Record Store Day falls on the normal day that CB visits Music Saves anyway...but you don't know that!
After I drop off the care package to CB, I'll head out to Mentor and lose myself in the stacks at Record Den for a minimum of 8 hours during my quest to become the first person to get thrown out of Record Den on Record Store Day. Use the PayPal button on the right hand side to donate to the "get Matt out of Jail" fund. All donations are appreciated.
Jose and Kelly will be working crowd control at Music Saves to help make sure that CB's rare appearance doesn't cause public pandemonium.
The above picture was taken during CB's appearance at Music Saves during last year's Record Store Day.
Brian from Broken Headphones already told me that he has the stores in Kent covered, where he will be live-blogging the event from both record stores simultaneously. Which sounds complicated.
The best part about it all, is that our good friend Burgo will be coming in from Australia to capture the entire day of Cleveland events on video.
Our comrade Mel will enjoy pre-game at an undisclosed bar where we will all wind up to celebrate a victoriously successful Record Store Day.
There are portions of the above Cleveland information that might be exaggerated just a tad. But all of the venues mentioned above are participating in Record Store Day.
No matter what zip code you're in, get out there and support your favorite local indie retailer....and buy me something while you're at it!
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