Local impresario organizes Gulf Coast benefits.

Music for NOLA: <b>Second Helping:</b> Brad Mallory (center) and Uncle Jam’s All-Star Band look to build upon their successful benefit event at London Bridge Pub.

Local impresario organizes Gulf Coast benefits.

By Stuart Thornton

Thursday, September 15, 2005

For years, he says, people had been telling Brad Mallory, local musician and organizer of the annual Monterey Rock and Art Festival, that he should visit New Orleans. They said he’d love the vibrant music community and the festive atmosphere of the Big Easy.

Mallory did not have a chance to get there before Hurricane Katrina transformed New Orleans into a cauldron of toxic gumbo. Despite this, Mallory says that he and other local musicians feel that the flooded city is a community of kindred souls. And so Mallory, along with Honey Hush vocalist Troy O’Shann and local bellydancer Chris Brown, have organized a handful of Gulf Coast benefits for the rest of this month.

This past Saturday, Mallory, O’Shann, Eddie Gutierrez and Deven Finnie kicked off the series with an acoustic rock show at London Bridge Pub. Next up is a performance by Honey Hush at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway during the Cherry’s Jubilee.

Mallory says the main fundraising event will take place at Eddie’s this Sunday at 5pm. The featured entertainment includes music by Uncle Jam’s All Star Band, a magic exhibition by Janette Benedon-Brenner and bellydancing. In addition to a $10 cover charge, a donation box will be circulated.

The following week will have two benefit events organized by the local artists, on Friday, Sept. 23 at Duffy’s Tavern and on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Cuz’s Sportsman’s Club.

“It’s going to take each one of us doing a little something,” says Mallory, “to rebuild that portion of our country.”

A GULF BENEFIT HAPPENS ON THE MAIN STAGE AT LAGUNA SECA THIS SATURDAY AT 2PM. ANOTHER FUNDRAISER TAKES OVER EDDIE’S, LOCATED AT 2200 NORTH FREMONT ST. IN MONTEREY, SUNDAY AT 5PM. $10. CALL 384-4141 OR 899-1007.