NEVADA CITY Calif. Apr. 6, 2009 - Musician Saul Rayo says his four back-to-back "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" concerts at the Miners Foundry are really intended to be a "re-gathering of the tribes."
He's performing for free, and has designated a separate non-profit for each of the 4 performances to be the beneficiary of the $15 ticket. Rayo feels that we all need a sense of community now more than ever, and he wants to be a small catalyst in making that happen.
"We all need each other... and it's kind of ambitious, but it's all about community in these rough times," Rayo said.
He likens this effort to pebbles in a pond, feeling that the ripples will be felt here.
Rayo was born and raised in the Bay Area and wants to re-create a night at the Filmore, with different opening bands each night to expose people to other music they may not have heard. It will have a multi-generational appeal.
* The first concert is Thursday, April 9, and those tickets benefit the newly-formed Nevada City Community Garden. The opening act is Justin Ancheta & Friends. This concert will be filmed and broadcast by Comcast. Prior to the 8 p.m. concert, there will be an event from 5-8 p.m. in the Miners Foundry called the "Stone Soup Collective" that will benefit the Nevada City Farmers Market. Bring a bowl and a spoon and enjoy soup prepared from local farmers' bounty.
* The second concert, Friday, April 10, and the third, Saturday night April 11, are a benefit for the Miners Foundry Cultural Center. Friday night's opening act is Perry Mills Project and Saturday's is Sabroso.
* There is a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday (Easter) and that benefits The 13, a music program for middle schoolers , who play with a rock band called The Band.
Tickets are $15 for all concerts and there is limited reserve seating for $20. The reserve seating is available only at BriarPatch. Tickets are also available at Gold Rush Records and at the door. Except Thursday, doors open at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon they open at 1.
Rayo says the show is very high energy, with 21 band members including backup singers. They will do a lot of Joe Cocker favorites like "Delta Lady," and Beatles tunes like "A Little Help From My Friends" and "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window." Rayo says with this benefit, the people and things you are giving to are in your own community. "With Farm Aid and Live Aid, you never knew where the money went. Here you can see you are making a difference."
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