Concert tonight to benefit Rainbow Kitchen
Too often, rock music is associated with avarice, sloth and other vices.
Not that those things don't exist, but when there's a cause that needs to be championed, musicians often answer the call. Thus, "Salt of the Earth," a concert scheduled for tonight at Rosebud in the Strip District. The event, which benefits the Rainbow Kitchen in Homestead, features 14 local acts.
"Sometimes when you put on these things you might have to ask 10 bands to get one," said French Burrito, who helped organize the event. "But I got pretty lucky. Everybody I asked wanted to do it."
The acts include Burrito and his band the Folk Pistols, Jimmy Sapienza and 5 Guys Named Moe, Sounder, Joe Grushecky, Grain, Brad Yoder, Karl Hendricks Trio, Chuck Owston, Adam Evil and the Outside Royalty, Mon Gumbo, Science Fiction Idols, the Little Wretches and the Shanks.
The event comes at a particularly important time, said Donna Little, executive director of the Rainbow Kitchen.
For the fiscal year that ended June 30, the organization served more people than it did the previous year. An average of 107 families per month requested services. The average the previous year was 83 families per month.
The poor economy and rising unemployment have contributed to the increase in requests. But Little said there are also more "working poor" -- people who are employed, but just barely scraping by.
"They sometimes have to choose between paying rent, paying utility bills and buying foods. Sometimes the first two have to take priority," she said.
"Salt of the Earth" also will feature an auction of Penguins memorabilia autographed by Mario Lemieux.
All proceeds benefit the Rainbow Kitchen.
Regis Behe can be reached at rbehe@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7990.
Additional Information:
Salt of the Earth
What: A benefit concert for the Rainbow Kitchen
When: 7 p.m. today
Admission: $10
Where: Rosebud, Strip District
Details: (412) 464-1892
