|
| Courtesy of Bravemonkey |
 Payin' the bills: BRAVEmonkey will play the first "rent party" for Juneau Arts & Culture Center. Proceeds go to offset the operating costs for the new center. This month's show is 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7. The parties will happen in conjunction with each month's First Friday. |
|
After a three-month hiatus, BRAVEmonkey will perform its unique mix of funk, jazz and blues Friday to help the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council pay its rent.
The arts council has picked the Juneau band to kick off its plan to offset the monthly costs to operate the new Juneau Arts & Culture Center with a series of "rent parties." The events will be held in conjunction with First Fridays, when downtown galleries and stores open their doors for an evening of food, art and socializing.
The alcohol-free events are pay as you can, and the money collected goes toward the $1,700 monthly maintenance fee and various utilities costs for the center, said Nancy DeCherney, the arts council's executive director.
"The focus of the rent parties is to help make (the center) a go for the community," she said.
BRAVEmonkey will kick off December's rent party at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, and is scheduled to play until 10:30. Special guests Kit and Steve Wilde will join the band for the all-ages dance.
The band consists of singer Kari Groven, Jason Caputo on guitar and vocals, Adrian Minne on bass, Clay Good on the drums and Doug Bridges on saxophone.
|
CONCERT
What: All-ages dance with BRAVEmonkey.
When: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.
Where: Juneau Arts and Culture Center, 350 Whittier St.
Cost: Pay as you can.
Details: www.jahc.org.
|
Good said the band members had played together in various ensembles and configurations over the years but began playing together as a unit about 2½ years ago. Groven, of Norway, joined the group in January.
The band doesn't aim to sound like any particular style of music, Good said.
"I would say it's a fusion of five personalities, because we're definitely not reaching for a style," he said. "We're just playing."
The band wanted a name that is snarky and fun, so it came up with BRAVEmonkey, Good said. The name reflects them as musicians, he said.
"We're certainly brave in that we take a lot of risks in the band, and there aren't too many rules," Good said.
Most of the time, they play a song as long and as weird as they want to, he said.
Groven, who also works for the arts council, said the band wanted to help out and support the new arts center, which opened its doors Oct. 1.
"It's a chance for people to help out with the next step of turning the arts and culture center into a more functional facility," she said.
DeCherney said the arts council hopes to generate between $600 and $1,000 at Friday's event to go toward operating costs for the community arts center. It's a winning combination, she said, because people get to see live music, the band gets to perform for the community, and it all helps the arts center.
Classical and Flamenco guitar player Jose Garcia is scheduled to perform at next month's rent party on Jan. 4. There will be no rent party in February because of conflicting events. Event organizers are still looking for performers to donate their talents for the March, April and May rent parties.
"It's a nice way for people to make contributions to their community, but it's also a nice way for the community to find out about people," DeCherney said. "If you're a performer, it's a nice way for people to hear you."
• Contact Eric Morrison at 523-2269 or eric.morrison@juneauempire.com.
