Home    Views    March 2006 Views

		Points of View Wade Wainio March 6, 2006  Updated March 7, 2006 Guest Column © 2006 Wade Wainio Reprinted with Permission

Engineers Without Borders benefit concert successful

By Wade Wainio

It was a decent opportunity to meet people, enjoy local music and learn more about Engineers Without Borders, a group that recently built much needed bathroom facilities and a sewage treatment system for a school in Bolivia.

According to Brandon Braithwaite, EWB event organizer, proceeds from this concert (over $1,200) will be used to fund local and international projects that students and faculty are already eagerly working on. In addition to the bands donating their time and talents, many local businesses donated raffle items; and not too many people came home empty handed, Braithwaite added.

"EWB-MTU would like to thank these businesses, especially The Uphill 41 and Jim's Pizza, for all their hard work and dedication to Engineers Without Borders," Braithwaite noted. "The 2nd Annual Fall Benefit is already in the works as students are planning an upcoming assessment trip to Guatemala in April. Overall this is a great opportunity for us to raise funds and awareness of EWB and what we do."*

The bands at the benefit concert were Annie Feed Water, Joe Ridgeway, Townes Heir (winners of the Winter Carnival Big Band Bash), Jovian Death Ray and the "reggae-fusion" band Variance. This is the second benefit concert I attended where Jovian Death Ray (or JDR) and Variance shared the bill.

The day after the concert I interviewed JDR bass player Josh Hendrickson over the phone. He said his band consists of himself, vocalist/guitarist Chris Quave, vocalist Marie Norton, drummer Corey MacDonald and vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist Melissa Davis. Hendrickson and Quave created the concept of the band two years ago, and the band has grown since.

When asked why the crowd was so responsive to the music, Hendrickson answered, "Well, our music is melody-based rock. It has hooks and a danceable rhythm. I think we've created a new sound."

And sure enough, it had people dancing.

Any aspirations for the band? Most definitely. The band intends to work on new material and a new album on the 18th of March and future albums after that. And even more, they plan on a Canadian tour.

Hendrickson is also working with Joe Krainatz on a recording studio called Copper Vein Records. What started as a compilation album project seems to be growing as well. According to Hendrickson, the multi-track recording studio will be open to the public at a rate of $25 for two days of practice or serious recording. It will also be open to people with disabilities.

For more on this project and Jovian Death Ray visit their Web site.

At the time of this interview, Matt Manninen of Annie Feed Water requested we make this announcement: The Experimental Rock group Annie Feed Water is seeking a new vocalist. The band includes Manninen (currently on lead vocals) and guitar, Tony Dutcher on vocals and bass and Jacob Posega on guitars. The drums are provided by a machine. Read more about Annie Feed Water on their Web site.

Editor's Notes: * For more information on Engineers Without Borders, visit the EWB Web site. Watch for a story soon on their recent project in Bolivia and on their plans for future projects. Guest columnist Wade Wainio of Atlantic Mine, a graduate of Finlandia University, is a musician and writer, as well as a photographer. See his recent photos of Heikinpäivä activities and Winter Carnival statue building. Visit the Keweenaw Now discussion forums to comment on this article. Views expressed by our guest columnists are not necessarily the views of Keweenaw Now.