SAVE MUSIC IN CHINATOWN 5 benefit with MIKE WATT and the SECONDMEN + THE GEARS + STEVE SOTOTickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/save-music-in-chinatown-5-steve-soto-solo-acoustic-the-gears-mike-watt-the-secondmen-tickets-14636916411

Advance ticket sales end at noon on Sunday, January 11. If we do not sell out, there will be tickets at the door.

THE SHOW

This is the fifth in a series of fundraising concerts organized to pay for the defunded music education program at Castelar Elementary School. Established in 1882 and sitting right in the middle of Chinatown, the inner-city campus serves mostly immigrant kids who don’t get much exposure to performing arts or creative outlets.

Chinatown has an unbeatable musical past (mostly punk) and rad art scene in the present (post punk). Neither crowd has had very much to do with the residents in Chinatown but we’re trying to create a bridge for both to help out the local kids.

The bill channels Chinatown’s past and present, punk and art, raw and refined:

• Steve Soto of The Adolescents, Agent Orange, Manic Hispanic, 22 Jacks, Joyride, and so many other great bands is a musical dynamo, punk legend, and famously good guy who is making time to play a special solo acoustic set for our cause.
• The Gears were a fixture in the pre-hardcore L.A. punk scene, incorporating surf guitar, blues, and rockabilly into their roots-rocking sound, and we’re stoked that they’re returning to Chinatown to play our show. They still crank out new music, and are the subject of a soon-to-be-released documentary.
• Mike Watt & The Secondmen are led by the San Pedro-based bass player from the Minutemen, fiREHOSe, DOS, and countless other projects. Watt is as creatively active as he is beloved by the SoCal punk scene as he is influential to modern music in general, and this trio is unbelievably tight.
• DJ services will be KCHUNG’s Kings of Punk.

That’s a lot of entertainment value for 12 lousy bucks (and maybe some raffle tickets).

THE RAFFLE

In addition to donating for admission, guests will be able to donate money toward raffle tickets for a chance to score prizes. $1 = 1 ticket. So far, contributions from supporters include:

• DVD of History Lesson Part 1 (w/ Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Redd Kross, and more)
• A pair of tickets to the Cafe NELA show of your choice.
• A pair of shoes from Keep Company.
• The Fifth Beatle signed by artist Andrew Robinson (courtesy of The Beatle Years)
• CDs from Sean & Zander
• Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton DVD signed by Peanut Butter Wolf (courtesy of Poketo)
• Zines and stickers from Allister Lee
• Packet of backyard honey-based lip balm courtesy from Sticky Acres

Check this site regularly for additions as the show draws nearer.

SET TIMES

Tentatively…
3:00 Doors, DJ set by KCHUNG’s Kings of Punk
3:30 Mike Watt & The Secondmen
4:15 The Gears
5:00 Steve Soto (solo, acoustic)

Music between bands provided by Kings of Punk

PARKING

There is free parking on the streets (try going north on Broadway) and cheap parking at Mandarin Plaza (across Broadway, slightly south).

MISC.

All ticket proceeds minus surcharges will be donated directly to FACES (Friends and Alumni of Castelar Elementary School, a registered nonprofit organization) to be applied specifically to the music education program.