anyroad productions

Dan Bern at Old Brick July 7th

Monday, June 30, 2008

flood pants

Well, I figured it was just business like usual, finish up a little run of one-nighters and head back out west, stop in Cedar Rapids, see Ma for a few days. Heard something about some floods, was too busy fiddling with the setlists and stealin Paul's cigarettes to notice much. Ma was OK. So things probly weren't too bad.
Time we hit C.R., the water had been and gone. Left its mark though. Hoo boy. Wreckage. Downtown is all generators and tubes and face masks. War zone. All the neighborhoods along the river, blocks and blocks and blocks from the river, no more. Empty houses with stickers on em. People's lifelong crap piled on the curb. Mud and crap.
You wanna do something. What to do? Ain't much good haulin' sandbags. Even with my bionic shoulder.
So someone asked, you wanna do a benefit? Play some tunes? Flood benefit?
That sounded good. Never bad, a little music. So, gonna play at the Old Brick in Iowa City, Monday the 7th of July. 7/7/08 if you're counting. It's a big old church, so it should sound pretty good. Doors are at 7 and the tunes start at 8. $18 at the door, $15 before.

Then this director called. Said hey if you're in town we're doin this play, getting it together fast. It's flood relief and the play's about the flood, we just wrote it. Wanna write a song? So I read it and it was pretty great. I was gonna write a song but there was a lot to say, so I kinda kept goin and wrote about 10 songs one night. They said, too many for the actors, unless we make a part for a balladeer and he sings em. I said well, ok, that'd be me I guess. So I'm the Balladeer.
The play's called "Moving Home" and it's at Brucemore in Cedar Rapids, July 10-12 and July 17-19. It's at 8 pm.
Brucemore's a big old mansion place with acres of nice lawn and ponds and flowers and stuff, so someone might wanna come early and prance around and junk. It's $13 for students, $15 in adv and $18 if you wait. You can call 'em at 319 362 7375 or look at www.brucemore.org. It's all going to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, which established the Flood 2008 Fund. Even if you can't see the play you can send em some dough at P.O. Box 9, Marion IA 52302, or do it online at www.gcrcf.org

Update July 3rd 2:00 pm: Advance tickets ARE available at www.iowatix.com

some things you might want to know about the 7-7-8 Monday 8 pm concert
by DAN BERN:

1. Old Brick is located at 26 East market Street, which is to say at
the top of a hill high over the river. Market Street is one way going
west (toward the river). If you are on Market Steet and you start
going down hill, you just passed an old brick church.

2. It is an historic church whose pews have been removed. The open
space is used for various events Seating is unreserved but advance
purchase tickets get slightly more advantagous seating. for 3 bucks
less it's such a deal, plus you can feel good inside yourself for
helping to relieve a little bit of anxiety on the part of the concert
producers. Thanks! We don't like anxiety.

3. Ordinarily we'd tell you to take the Dubuque Street exit of
Intersate 80 and then hang a right on Market and look for parking, but
DO NOT do that as the DUBUQUE STREET EXIT IS NOT ONLY CLOSED BUT UNDER
SIGNIFICANT WATER.

Exit safely at interstaate 80's #246. Proceed south and downhill, but
not all the way down. Look for sign's on your right for MERCY HOSPITAL
and for a one way right. That's Market Street. That's your turn. Take
it.

4. legion arts is a 501(c)3, so your donation is tax deductable. If
you feel that the ticket price is too low feel free to give more.

5. Tickets were supposed to be available at IowaTix.com, but we
haven't seen any sing of this event there yet.

6. If you are a rare biped without a credit card, fear not. You can
still get a seat in advance. write to:

anyroad65@yahoo.com

by midnight sunday with the subject line RESERVATION and tell us who
you are. We will put your name on a list just like it's done at a fine
restaurant. Don't worry. you're in. Print yourself a copy of your note
to us and you have a receipt.

7. At the door we can only deal with cash or checks.

8. anyroad productions is an independent and obscure entitiy deputized
as full fledged legion arts volunteers for the purpose of this legion
arts 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit fundraiser.

9. Old Brick is an independent venue that is generously giving its
space to us at a greatly reduced rate for non profits and we thank
them enormously. They have been a pleasure to work with.

FYI they make their space available FREE on thursdays to certified non
profits. Contact them about use of the space by calling 351-2626.

Keep in mind that we as a watershed community inundated by floods will
need ongoing fundraisers and benefits as well as indoor and outdoor
spaces in which to gather and discuss WHAT HAPPENED and WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE and WHAT IS MOTHER EARTH TELLING US and HOW DO WE WANT OUR
WATERSHED TO EVOLVE AS WE REBUILD. Take these questions seriously.
Take them home. But on 7-7-8 at 8 set your own thoughts aside and
listen to those of SINGER SONGWRITEIR EXRAORDINAIRE MR. DAN BERN, aka
bernstein.

9. This gig is totally "off the tour." This bernstein guy is
incredibly and generously donating his time and talents for this flood
relief concert. Also HE DID THE POSTER. Check out his other art on
his web site, or buy his cd's and stare at the covers while listening
(or in silence).

11. In Iowa City real cd's and records has a good selection of dan's cd's.

12. Share this information with everyone you know. invite your pals.
thanks for coming.

13. If you are from out of the area and you are clueless re: where is
Iowa, where is Iowa City, take out a map. Find New York City. Look at
the George Washington Bridge. Cross the Hudson. Follow the road west
one thousand miles and take a left. Here we are!

14. In the event of questionable weather, flood alerts, etc. tune your
dial to one of the local talk radio stations that did such a great job
keeping us all connected during the flood. Someone might call in and
give an on the scene report about your route. Also, remember what the
invisible machine voice in the weather radio says:

"Turn around;
don't drown."