CHARITY CONCERT A SELL-OUT BUT NOT A SELLOUT - SOUTHEAST: The glitterati of DC were out in full force at the dually-sponsored Charity Concert hosted by Web of Night's NSA Productions and MC Nomad, and The Phantasm's Sean Brennan. Washington music venues Web of Night and The Phantasm banded together with numerous local and national artisans and acts to present a summer spectacular, all-day and night event, the proceeds of which will be donated to support DC charitable organizations. 

Brennan, Nomad, and many of the other personalities helping put the event together, acknowledge that while Washington is a wonderful city to live in and be a part of, it is also becoming increasingly troubled in recent months. Crime of all types appears to be on the rise, and they feel that a lot of it comes from lack; lack of money, lack of material needs, lack of education, lack of health care, lack of self-esteem, lack of stability, relationship, family and community.

In between sets, music was provided by The Web's newest regular, DJ Mini-Me.

First up was the meek of demeanor, but not of talent, violinist Osrel, heretofore unknown in the DC music scene. The young man superbly performed an original, unnamed piece on Violin, accompanied by M. Louis Delacourt on piano. (OOC note: Os had a 5 succ perf; Louis had 4). An excellent start to what was to prove to be an almost never ending chain of Magnus opii in the name of altruism.

Following this introductory act, the first item of the auction went up for bids, and did things ever heat up. In fact the vying went on so long that the remainder of the auction had to be postponed for running overtime (DC law required the venue to close at 2 a.m.). A personal, private tour by plane courtesy of Ashar Grey of Clear Skies Charter Flights, started bidding at $50.00, but the stakes soon skyrocketed in a fierce three way bidding war. Up and coming Rap crew 1200 Murdered Brothers put in the winning bid of $3250.00 for the tour, and then secretly turned around and resubmitted the tickets for re-auction, simply allowing the money to go in toto to charity. Front-man Oakley has been on a recent shift in the direction of the band, leaning to more benevolent uses of the power of music. 

Following the heated competition of the auction, came the prestidigitation of Professor Aephestus, Stage Magician & Mentalist. Lady Helen Fairfield, there with her reunited band Box O'Rocks, volunteered to help the Professor through a handful of fairly pedestrian mind magic tricks involving magnetism. After her assistance, Aephestus was joined by local theologian and Smithsonian staffer Adam Joseph, in an attempt to discern information from Joseph's ID that did not seem to go off as planned. The act soon ended to lukewarm applause, but the mood of the crowd was so buoyed that it did not detract much. 

Since Lady Fairfield already was testing the proverbial waters, next up was her royal self, reunited with her old Punk Rock Band, Box O'Rocks (as in dumb as a...). But these ladies: Fairfield, who went by "Ripple" back in the day, on bass; with Kim, DeLaRose, Suzie and Jake, are nothing but dumb. The Rocks can still rock. Dressed in matching variants of leather and denim, the girls started off with a song called "nameless," a raw instrumental piece that got the friendly crowd on their feet and thrashing around. Following that, the Rocks' Jake wrote a new tune for their reunion, called "Baby Blue This is a Red Letter Day," which was a killer song in its own right but especially amusing was hearing Fairfield scream "F*ck" in the course of the lyrics. Such language from such a dainty, well-bred mouth... was a lot of fun!

Next up after the girls, came local rap crew Sultan Homicide & the 1200 Murdered Brothers, with MC's Rickety B and Ali Boombaya. The stage reminded us of a more rehearsed, polished version of the old school Detroit Rap Battles eulogized in the movie "8 Mile," but the crowd was into it. The Sultan and founding crew member MC Rickety B (who is not just female, she is a sistah following in the church of Latifah and then some) took the stage in a traditional free-style battle, with Rickety B starting off. Both her and the Sultan flowed some smooth, well-crafted lines, swiping at each other's personal lives of course, but that's how it's done. (OOC was a 4 succ perf.) The crowd was laughing with them by the end of the diss-fest, eating it up. The pair almost seemed like beloved siblings play fighting. It ain't NWA, but then again what is these days.

Changing the flow significantly, we next went back to the more dignified offerings, returning Monsieur Louis Delacourt to the stage, solo this time, at least for the moment. He began with one of Mozart's lighter piano sonatas (OOC: 3 succ perf.), not one of his best but still pleasant, decently done. Perhaps he was just warming up for his charming partner in crime, Aki Oshii, who joined him for the next number, a vocal duet, "Without You" from Larson's  musical "Rent." (OOC: Aki = 4 succ perf., Louis = 6 succ.) The pair gave us an inspiring reminder of why Broadway, Blues and Jazz are the meat and potatoes of their frequent appearances in the Nation's Capital, and inspiration that the French used to be good for something besides the Statue of Liberty and wine. Delacourt then leaves the stage, segueing Oshii into another duet, this time with recently discovered (at The Phantasm) Romani guitarist Jorsca Loupyn. They performed a song that at first glance seems a departure for both parties; "Bloodletting" by Alt Rock alumni Concrete Blonde, but the dirty Delta-blues riff and predatory lyrics were a treat, and a good fit for them both. (OOC Aki = 5 succ, Jorsca 6 succ performance). Then, as if this wasn't enough of an experimental evening, the duo move into an even more unusual offering: their own rendition of The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes," taking a lesson from the errs of Fred Durst and refraining from rewriting what did not need it. It's unusual coming from a contralto but the original key is well in Oshii's range, and Loupyn is right at home with classic rock. (OOC: Aki and Jorsca both had a 6 succ. perf.) 

Keeping in the rock vein, next up was new Web of Night bartender Jason MacGrey and his side project band, Deep Reign. They presented an Alice in Chains cover, "Down In A Hole." MacGrey's vocals were nothing to write home about (OOC: 2 succ) but his guitar work was holding the high bar of excellence set by those gone before him tonight (OOC: 5 succ). 

Settling things back down once more, rising street poet Scotty Goldman gave a brief reading from the collection that was soon to be accepted for inclusion in "Beltway" Quarterly Anthology. (OOC: Brett wasn't able to stay but that is what he declared would happen).

Lightening the mood, not that this is hard after such an intense recitation, is none other than Web regular, Goth-rocker Loki. He opens with an oldie from his first album, Fire. (OOC: 6 succ on both guitar & vocals). For his closing number, he did a new piece recently completed called "Gold", though he seemed to be showing signs of the lateness of the house. By no means unpleasant, but not the breathtaking rendition of more familiar work (OOC: 4 succ vocals & guitar). 

And speaking of breathtaking... We really don't have words, at least in English, to describe the incredible experience of the final act. Taking the stage finally is none other than co-host Sean Brennan of the Phantasm... and whatever the makeup and costuming people did, please do it again, because he hasn't looked this completely and unabashedly edible since that famous debacle tryst with Gabby Wildwood at Bound. Brennan, clad all in skintight black, his almost violet, dreamy eyes visible even from stage, glided the audience as gently as a lover's hand into his first number, a violin instrumental that plucked our heart strings at first, then lifted us up into a rousing Celtic-influence medley that had the building shuddering with the thunder of feet and hands keeping time. This was far more magnificent than Riverdance, than any musician in the genre we can think of. (OOC: 12 succ perf)  But just when he set our blood racing, he wasn't nearly done. 

Brennan then makes his famous black and violet violin, to be auctioned off in just minutes, sing for us, a haunting yet familiar melody from the Celtic isles... and then, off stage, ethereal and angelic,  joins in the clear, bell-like coloratura soprano of yet another mysterious but stellar performer that either Brennan or Nomad managed to mine out of the depths of secrecy in DC... The tune being "Be Thou My Vision" (OOC: 6 succ perf) but in Irish (Bí Thusa mo shúile; we had to ask someone for the spelling afterwards!) and we barely caught the unknown but hauntingly familiar looking singer's name, simply "Síobhán." The rest of her unusual name we lost, too captivated by their performance to understand what Brennan was saying at the time. It was truly as if Heaven had opened up upon our small, dirty corner of Doom City and shone down; the young lady a vision in iridescent white, as breathtakingly perfect as Brennan (give your stage crew a big fat raise, you guys!) Numerous members of the audience were so taken as to have made spectacles of themselves, giving the finale a definite rock-opera swan song feel in the air. 

Then to the last number, once again accompanied by Brennan on violin, the petite chanteuse gifts us with a lush, ebullient yet strangely wistful rendition of another old Irish tune, "The Parting Glass." She rises, backing up with Sean into a subtle mist gathering white wisps at their feet, as the stage glows now with an almost palpable light, a holy fire bathing everything it touches with the sense of a majestic farewell... she sings, "Fill to me the parting glass, And drink your health, whate'er befalls, Then gently rise and softly call Goodnight and joy be to you all! "... her voice echoing down to a pinpoint, that winks out... as do the lights to pitch black. Who wasn't smiling like a cat with canary breath, was weeping openly in appreciation and awe. Whatever your ethical or spiritual beliefs, you left there feeling as if you'd just touched something sacred... and it touched you back.

The night ended with the strangest feeling... that those assembled there somehow knew this may be their last hurrah, and so they gave everything they had... and after this night, it almost made you feel like you didn't want to go to another show for a long, long time, so that one could keep the memory of this night fresh and alive for as long as possible.

The remainder of the auction items to be put up for bid will be announced in a few days.

-- Compiled by Staff Reporters

Letter to the Editor:

Re: the letter written in your August 1st edition.

It seems that Ms Pricilla Rexrode thinks that the accusation of wrong doing is proof enough to convict.

While Meghan Ambrose's tribulations are a tragedy, Stephen Byrne AKA Loki has not been convicted of anything. Perhaps rather than ironic, his support of women's issues should be seen as self-affirming.

Not all who are accused of a crime are guilty and not all the guilty are accused. If she has some proof positive to the contrary perhaps she should be contacting the court system so they can deal with whatever proofs she might have, rather then making near slanderous remarks to a newspaper.

Arlington, Va.

"(President GEORGE W.) BUSH is making America look and feel very horrible around the world. He doesn't represent the heart of America. He represents another part of the anatomy but not the heart." -- rock guitarist CARLOS SANTANA, in Billboard.