By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com
 While
Bob Geldof organizes Live 8, a
series of international concerts
by the likes of U2 and Paul McCartney
to be held July 2 in hopes it
will draw mass attention to the
fight to end poverty in Africa,
a number of local bands and music
lovers are carrying on the same
battle on concert stages across
Iowa.
Last week, ONE: The Campaign
to Make Poverty History, launched
a series of 150 grassroots events
and concerts in 20 states, including
Iowa. They were designed to inspire
President George Bush and other
leaders of the world's wealthiest
nations to reach an agreement
to wipe out Third World debt during
their Group of Eight (G8) Africa
Summit in Scotland on July 8.
"Everybody was responsive
to what we were trying to do,"
says Susan Guy, a regional field
organizer for DATA (Debt, AIDS,
Trade, Africa), the advocacy group
founded by U2's Bono and a partner
with ONE in the war against poverty.
Last Wednesday, volunteers set
up information booths at concerts
in Des Moines and Iowa City and
handed out free wristbands. "We're
trying to connect the big picture
locally."
Guy, who has about 50 Iowa volunteers
but is in need of more, says DATA
will continue its advocacy work
at concerts in Iowa for the next
month. The group has already set
up information booths at the House
of Bricks, the East Village Street
Market, Reiman's Music and Wellspring
Bookstore, and it will be present
at all Alive Concert Series shows
at the Simon Estes Amphitheater
as well as the Downtown Farmers'
Market June 18. Though the group
is asking Bush to spend an additional
one percent, or $25 billion, of
the U.S. budget toward providing
basic needs like healthcare, education,
water and food, it does not solicit
donations.
"We want the president
to feel empowered that Americans
support the decision to help poor
people and to give them a better
life," Guy says. "We
feel like we've already given
the money to our leaders and that
they don't need to raise our taxes
to pay for it."
Guy says DATA has recruited
bands like The Nadas, Parallex,
Grand River Crossing and Max Power
to join the cause, but could use
more. "All the bands have
been receptive to working with
us and some have contacted us
offering their services,"
she says. "We want as many
groups as possible to help attract
new crowds, because we want everyone
onboard. This is a bi-partisan
effort and something that unites
people."
Guy says concerts are an ideal
atmosphere to share information
about ONE and DATA without making
people feel uncomfortable.
"It allows us to bring
our message to people in a more
relaxed atmosphere," she
says. "It raises their awareness
while they're having a good time.
They can do it in a way that's
positive and empowering."
Scene notes
Full Day Affair, the pop quartet
that includes drummer Ryan Milligan,
a Des Moines native and Roosevelt
High School graduate, plays the
House of Bricks Thursday at 9
p.m. The group is on tour to support
its new EP, "Approved,"
for Shock City Music Works...
A benefit for the Community Jazz
Center featuring a performance
by the award-winning Edison Middle
School Jazz Band I from Champaign,
Ill., will be held from 7 to 8:30
p.m. Friday at Java Joe's Coffeehouse.
Admission is free, but donations
will be accepted... The Des Moines
Music Coalition will hold its
annual meeting Tuesday from 7
to 9 p.m. at Raccoon River Brewing
Co.... Here's the latest on local
pop-rockers The Lifestyle: The
group has been working on a new
album at Smart Studios (Nirvana,
Garbage) in Madison, Wis., with
producer Brandon Mason (David
Bowie) and new drummer Kyle Rossi
in tow. In the meantime, fans
can sample new material at www.purevolume.com.
The group has also updated its
Web site, www.lifestylerock.com,
and will soon announce summer
tour dates... Blues-rocker Eric
Sardinas, who just a month ago
drew a sold-out Wednesday night
crowd at Blues on Grand, returns
to the downtown juke joint for
another mid-week show on July
13. Showtime is 9 p.m. and admission
is $10. A club official also confirmed
that chitlin' circuit legend Bobby
Rush returns Sept. 25. Advance
tickets will be sold for Rush's
performance... On a sadder note
from the blues world, funeral
services were held last week for
Minneapolis-based bluesman Percy
Strother, who was a regular performer
at Blues on Grand. Strother died
May 29 due to complications of
diabetes and cancer at the age
of 58. A tribute show, featuring
Strother's band and guest artists,
will be held June 25 at Blues
on Grand to help defer his medical
and funeral expenses. CV
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