Just out., July 06, 2007, Page 43, Image 43

JULY 6. 2007
music
Sweet Charity
lustput 43
New releases benefit Portland homeless youth agencies
elancholy melodist Elliott Smith lived the
dream of many of his peers: to speak for
a generation.
Smith’s work encapsulates a time and place. He
lends a voice to a youth movement discontent with
mainstream ideals, affected by substances and
defined by wit and creativity.
Because of a memorial fund set up in his name,
Smith will continue to empower many of those
who connect with his work.
M
Unreleased material from the late Elliott Smith is
generating financial support for Outside In.
With the release of New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
comes a large donation, up to $100,000, to the
Portland-based nonprofit organization Outside In.
Smith’s family has issued statements explaining
why he would have wanted his music to benefit the
social service agency serving homeless youth, of
which approximately 40 percent identify as queer.
Smith had agreed to play a benefit show for
Outside In’s needle exchange program, which he was
not able to carry thrixigh on before his death in 2003.
He attended Lincoln High School, which is
situated near the agency, and reputedly made
a habit of handing out $20 bills to street kids.
“The family really tried to look at where he
would have wanted his money to go,” said Kelly
Anderson, development and communications
director at Outside In.
The family, with the help of Smith fans world­
wide, has donated $37,810 in Smith’s name to
Outside In since June 2006.
While some will reinterpret Smith’s body of work
as a foreshadow to his demise, New Moon contains
24 mostly unreleased songs that shed light on his
humor, perception and sensitivity to human frailty.
The double-disc album contains songs recorded
from an inspired period of Smith’s life, from 1994
to 1997, when he also recorded his self-titled album
and Either/Or. Three of the songs were recorded in
Portland’s own Jackpot Recording Studio, accord­
ing to the album’s extensive liner notes.
“This collection is not some patched-together
product of the studio in 2006,” wrote Larry Crane,
an archivist for the Smith estate who mixed
the final version of the album. “It is a collec­
tion of songs, many of which could have
easily been included on his second and
third albums, some which made it out of
compilations, three tracks that showcase
his stripped-down and engaging live
performance material and several songs
illustrating where he was heading in 1997.”
The p:ear benefit CD Bridging the Distance features
To make a donation, send checks to
cover songs donated by 19 local bands and musicians.
Outside In, 1132 S.W. 13th Ave., Portland,
OR 97210, and write “Elliott Smith Memorial
time, efforts and focus for this compilation to be."
Fund” in the memo field.
The covers compilation’features 19 donated
—Jaymee R. Cuti
tracks by local bands and musicians, including The
Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla,
ridging the Distance “is a unique and innovative
The Thermals, Viva Voce and The Dandy Warhols.
response to a perennial problem in our commu­ When asked what her favorite track on the album
nity," says p:ear executive director Beth Bums.
is, Bums unequivocally picked Viva Voce’s version
The nonprofit organization builds positive
of the Alan Parsons Project’s 1982 hit “Eye in the
relationships with youth exiting street life through
Sky, calling it “a kick-ass song."
education, art and recreation programs. According to
According to Bums, proceeds from the album will
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
be used to continue strengthening p:ear’s programs.
an estimated 42 percent of the 1.6 million homeless
Bridging the Distance is available for purchase online
youth in this country are queer-identified, and
at www.pearmentor.org and at First Thursday art
according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task
openings at the p:ear gallery, 809 S.W. Alder St.
Force, 26 percent are kicked out of their homes.
The CD will also be available at the 94.7
Greg Glover—founder of Arena Rock, the label
Alternative Gala from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 2 and Sept. 6
that fully funded the CD project—says he wanted
at Urbaca Salon, 120 N.W. Ninth Ave. *101. All of
to unite Portland bands for a good cause. “I had
the proceeds from these events—featuring local
printed out what seemed like a 100-page list of artists, beer donated from Widmer Brothers Brewing
local nonprofits, but in the end 1 chose to visit p:ear
and food from Urban Fondue—will benefit p:ear.
—Malka Geffen ©
in person. Afterwards, I knew where I wanted my
B
PORTLAND
WHERE MEN
LOVE rVlEPJ!
aroma
trfo: www.man2manpdx.us
< 3775 Portlar
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