Support Acts w/Jessie Brown, Worst Part, No, It's Fine., Designosaur
Friday, December 7, 9pm
The Seahorse Tavern, 2037 Gottingen Street
$8/pwyc
It all started, as it often does, because a group of friends wanted to play a show. As Jessie Brown talked with members of Worst Part, she realized there was an accidental tradition amongst lineup members of charity-driven concerts that they had the opportunity to nourish.
"I suggested the Unison Benevolent Fund because of personal ties," she begins, speaking by phone with the breezy efficiency of a long story she'd had to retell many times. "One year ago I started having what I thought was strokes or migraines. It turns out it was undiagnosed PTSD from stress." While writing her solo debut, 2017's Keeping Appearances, helped her sift through some recent personal wreckage, touring and playing the songs came with their own weight: "Reliving all that through the release caused me to break down."
As work and performing became too difficult, the Unison Benevolent Fund—a non-profit charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to musicians—supported Brown. Now she sounds sunny, happy and well. The show was "the only way that I could think of to give all that back," she says.
"We wanted to have more of a rock show than any sort of holiday show. We're all pretty diverse within that umbrella," Brown adds of the lineup, which, along with Brown's crunchy, Joplin-y sound also features stoner rock via Worst Part, witty lyrics from No, It's Fine. and Sloan-influenced sounds from power trio Designosaur. "We wanted to make sure it was an inclusive lineup and all different genres within rock."
Brown notes the community has really come together for the cause, with local businesses and makers donating raffle items. "It's so nice to see people come together," she says, "for a cause that helps so many friends of ours."