By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Storyhill to play for Habitat; People’s hosts Cash tribute; musicians encourage Gore to run for president

Grand View College lured Kristin Larson from her theater post at Minnesota State University Moorehead to be the Des Moines school’s new assistant professor of theater this fall because of her knowledge and passion for the stage. What they might not have known is they were also getting a music fan with a charitable soul.

Instead of hosting a traditional fundraiser to collect money for a theater trip, Larson and Alpha Psi Omega — Grand View’s Honorary Theater Society — are organizing a benefit concert to give something back to the community. On Tuesday, the acoustic folk-pop duo Storyhill — one of Larson’s favorite bands from the Twin Cities — will perform a benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity on campus at the Viking Theatre, corner of East 14th Street and Grandview.

“The students tell me this is the first time they’ve done something like this, so it’s pretty exciting,” Larson says. “Theater groups are always looking for a service opportunity and given Storyhill’s work with charities we thought it was a good match.”

Larson says she has seen Storyhill, which features the harmonies of Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson, perform a number of times in Minnesota and Montana, where the group hosts an annual festival. She even saw them perform a Habitat for Humanity benefit concert in a Moorehead church once.

“I’ve been impressed by their music and their generosity,” Larson says. “They have a wonderful blending of voices.”

Larson says Storyhill might have played at a church in Des Moines, but this will be their first public appearance here. The band has drawn comparisons to other famous folk duos ranging from Iowa’s own The Everly Brothers, to Simon & Garfunkel, to Lowen & Navarro. Like their Iowa labelmate Greg Brown, they record for Red House Records in Minneapolis and blend folk, country, blues and rock to create their own sound. Earlier this year, the duo released its self-titled album on Red House.

“They have a loyal fan base that supports the causes they play for,” Larson says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if people from Minneapolis and Chicago come to Des Moines to see them.”

Larson is optimistic that the theater department’s first attempt at booking a benefit concert will be successful. She says she is grateful that the band is coming to Des Moines without a guarantee and she hopes to fill the Viking Theatre’s 170 seats. Advance tickets are $10 for college students and $15 for the public. Larson says she is holding 50 tickets
to be sold at the door the night of the show.

“Our goal is to fill the house and make this an annual event,” she says.

People’s to host Cash tribute

The 5th Annual Tribute to Johnny Cash, featuring performances by local roots rockers Randy Burk and the Prisoners, The Josh Davis Band and Brother Trucker, will be held Saturday at 9 p.m., at People’s Court in Des Moines.

The concert marks the second tribute to Cash of late. On Sept. 8, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino hosted “Songs From the Man in Black,” which featured performances by The Tennessee Three, Tommy Cash, the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and Burk. Saturday’s show, however, is the continuation of a tribute to Cash that Burk and pianist Jared Hall started in 2003 — the year Cash died — at the now-defunct Hairy Mary’s. The concert will feature several Cash tunes arranged by the three bands. In addition to Saturday’s show at People’s Court, the same groups will play on Friday at The Picador in Iowa City.

“It gives local bands an opportunity to pay tribute to Johnny,” says Burk, who just returned from three weeks of touring Germany and Austria as the opening solo acoustic act for his friends, The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. “Some day I would like for it to grow, but I would like it to stay true to the spirit of how it was when it began.”

‘Run, Al, Run’ concert at Hoyt

Citizen’s for a Great Presidential Candidate (CGPC), a new Cedar Rapids-based Iowa Political Action Committee, will host “Run, Al, Run,” a rally and concert to promote the unlikely candidacy of former Vice President Al Gore for the presidency. Hoyt Sherman Place Theater will host the Oct. 21 concert, which will feature performances by Massachusetts singer-songwriter Paul Kaplan (who wrote the campaign song, “Run, Al, Run”) and a host of Iowa talent including The Blue Band, Lady Blue, Homegrown Tomatoes and Mary McAdams. Political speakers Steve Gruhn and Chris Olsen will also appear. CGPC officials say the rally has three goals: 1) To send a message to Al Gore that many people care about his candidacy to organize and hold an event of this nature, 2) Respectfully request Iowa caucus participants to keep an open mind at this time and reflect upon the increasing possibility of an Al Gore campaign for the presidency, 3) Through the simultaneous broadcast of this event over the Internet include and involve others from across the nation working for a Gore candidacy.

The rally and concert starts at 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $20 and are available at Hoyt and through Ticketmaster. Visit http://runalrun.blogspot.com.

Acoutsic folk-pop duo Storyhill plays a benefit concert Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for Habitat for Humanity at Grand View College’s Viking Theatre, corner of East 14th Street and Grandview. Tickets are $10 for all college students and $15 for the public. Call 263-2968.

Scene notes

Country music singer and Grammy Award winner Ronnie Millsap and his band made a surprise appearance Sept. 30, at Prairie Meadows to play for an exclusive dinner for Players Club members. … Michael Woods of Waukee won the Guitar Center Drum-Off competition Oct. 3. He advances to the district finals in the Twin Cities and walked away with $400 in prizes including drum equipment. … Sarah Garner, organist at St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown Des Moines, will present her debut recital at the church on Sunday at 4 p.m. A free-will offering will be collected. … “Kidz Bop World Tour,” the first rock concert for kids is designed as an introduction to a real live rock show experience plays Wells Fargo Arena Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20-$35. … Billy Joe’s Pitcher Show will host two concerts this months. On Oct. 20, The Rivieras will perform from 5 to 7 p.m., during a benefit event for Variety of Iowa — The Children’s Charity. Radio personality Dic Youngs, who bid farewell to KIOA last month after 41 years, hosts the affair, which includes a chili cook-off and silent auction. Admission to the concert is $5, while a $10 ticket gets you in for the music and cook-off. Then on Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. it’s a tribute to The King with “Memories of Elvis” in concert. Advance tickets are $4 and $7. Call 224-1709. … Two new shows added to People’s Court: Cracker on Nov. 6, and blues legend Buddy Guy on Nov. 13. … B.B. King plays Prairie Meadows new ballroom Feb. 10, 2008. … Comic Lisa Lampanelli plays Hoyt Sherman Place Feb. 22, 2008. CV

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