Saturday night’s benefit concert at the Old Stone House, Teens for New Orleans, was an unqualified sucess. At $5 and $10 dollars a head, the event raised over $1,600 dollars for the Jazz Foundation of America, an organization that is coming to the aid of New Orleans’ musicians.

The show went off without a hitch. The Foundation, ModRocket, Cool and Unusual Punishment, Capsacin, and Caliber played their hearts out and the crowd, a mixed group of over 200 teenagers, parents, grandparents and miscellaneous adults was extremely enthusiastic.

Thanks to Mark Zappasodi,  a rocker, a sound technician, and a father of a band-member, the sound was excellent. Acting as stage manager with his wife Caroline Zappasodi, he made sure the show ran smoothly. And it did. There were short breaks between sets so that people could buy refreshments downstairs. Jake Gilford, grandson of the great Jack Gilford (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, those unforgettable Cracker Jack commercials from the 1960’s), entertained the crowd with his comedy.

The adults enjoyed the show as much as the kids. There was a great feeling of teens and parents working together. The parents were not there as chaperones or organizers (though they did do a bit of that). It was a real collaboration built on trust and support. It’s a rare evening teens and parents can enjoy together and this was one of them. There is talk of doing more benefit rock concerts at the Old Stone House, which, I think, is a teriffic idea.

On behalf of the Teens for New Orleans organizing group, I would like to thank the following
people and shops who helped make this event a reality: All the bands and their parents, Jake Gilford, everyone who came to the show, Kim Maier, The Old Stone House, Allan Bealy for designing and printing the flyer, Mark and Caroline Zappasodi, Carolyn Kearney and Bruce Cory, Theresa McElwee, Hugh Crawford, Greg Duggins, Caroline Ghertler, Beth Halper and the other parents who brought homemade goodies, all the friends of the band who carried equipment up and down the stairs, Pizza on the Park, Connecticut Muffin, Mojo Cafe, La Bagel, Russos.

Photographs of all the bands at the show by Hugh Crawford are available for purchase at:

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/840284