MUSIC: The Columbus Puts On A Benefit For Brown Bird's Dave Lamb

MUSIC: The Columbus Puts On A Benefit For Brown Bird's Dave Lamb

Sometimes when it comes to live music, there's something bigger than just a show happening. When it came to what was going on at The Columbus Theatre in Providence this past Friday, it was more than just something bigger. It was a group of talented people with hearts of gold coming together to help a man who is currently fighting for his life.

If you haven't heard, Brown Bird's Dave Lamb is stricken with leukemia and the Rhode Island music community has rallied around him through various fundraising efforts. This night was no different with Smith & Weeden, Nashville's J.P. Harris & The Tough Choices and Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons rocking the joint for what was sure to be an evening that would be etched in everyone's mind for a long, long time. It's always special when you see awesome live music, but when it's for great cause to help a great person it makes it even better.

Smith & Weeden

Joe Fletcher came on the mic and thanked everyone for showing up with their love and support to help Dave combat his illness. After a heartfelt introduction, a rock & roll band from Providence that always leaves me stunned with a childlike grin in Smith & Weeden did what they do best. They cranked up the amps to 15 and blew up the stage with "Glory & Grace", "Aim To Please", "Sunshine", "Boys & Bands", a rendition of The Beach Boys' "Do You Wanna Dance?", "Wonderin'", "Drinkin' Through Some Issues", "Playin' A Part" that had lead guitarist Seamus Weeden walking through the crowd while doing a blistering solo and a cover of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere" with Fletcher joining in on guitar and vocals encompassed a set that aroused a huge ovation from the audience. Smith & Weeden are currently working on their debut album, I can't wait to put it in my ever-growing music library and you should feel the same way.

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J.P. Harris & The Tough Choices

Bryan Minto then went on the mic to tell everyone about the silent auction showcasing a bunch of fantastic artists and photographers that had all the proceeds going to Dave Lamb and J.P. Harris & The Tough Choices came up next. They had that timeless twang for an old-school country sound that I dug a whole lot. "One For Every Day", "The Day You Put Me Out", "One Last Kiss", "Charms & Letters", "Every Little Piece", a version of Bruce Springsteen's "Reason To Believe" and "Gear Jammin' Daddy" were part of a great set that came straight from the soul. J.P Harris & The Tough Choices have a new album out titled I'll Keep Calling, blast it through your speakers and get that skip in your step.

Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons

Brown Bird's manager Tom Weyman went up to the mic to thank everyone for their undying support of Dave Lamb and introduced Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons to the masses in attendance. They were here to rock and goddamnit they showed it with "Who Makes The Knives", "Sentimental Jury", "Ambulances", "My Idea", "Every Heartbroken Man", "Womanizer Blues", "Flat Tire", "Florence, Alabama", "I Never" that had everyone singing along and Fletcher strumming so hard that he broke a string, "Oceanside Motel", "Drunk & Single (For George Jones)", "A Better Place", "Port Of Seven Vices" and a version of Mickey Newbury's "Why You Been Gone So Long?" with J.P. Harris on guitar and alternating vocals with Fletcher.

Right afterwards Minto when up to generate a slow clap amongst the crowd to have Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons do an encore and they did with "Too Many Doors" with J.P Harris, Keith McCurdy, James Maple, Seamus Weeden and Dylan Sevey joining the band on stage to finish off a spectacular evening. Joe and the boys will be putting out a new record before the end of year, and if it's as good as White Lighter then it just might be the best rock & roll record of 2013.

If you haven't seen a show at The Columbus Theatre then you should, log on to columbustheatre.com to see the next show you gotta see. While you're at it, donate what you can to Brown Bird's fundraiser page for Dave Lamb on youcaring.com. Every dollar helps one of The Ocean State's most talented musicians in his battle against a horrible debilitating disease.  

Photograph: Brian Lima. To see more of Lima's work, check out his Facebook page and website, here.