A JOHNES FOR GOOD TUNES

A Couple of Musical Benefits are Coming Down the Pike

I was elated to discover that some old friends of mine, now collectively
named Old Pike after our high school in Indiana, have been signed to
Sony/550. While I realize that I should be keeping a professional distance
from my nostalgic attachment to the boys, I really can't help saying that I
feel like a proud mom; as their first unofficial groupie, I used to watch
them practice after school in their then-drummer's basement. They really sucked.

But over the last decade, the band has developed into one of modern music's
best examples of unadulterated rock; they have a penchant for uncontrived
emotional output charismatically packaged in brilliant hooks and lusty
grooves. Keep an ear out for the band's first single, "The Rest of You," off
their major-label debut, Ten Thousand Nights, which was released last week
and preceded by glowing reviews in Billboard, CMJ New Music Report and
Aquarian. Currently on an East Coast tour, Old Pike is stopping at Tuxedo
Junction in Danbury on Wednesday, April 14, to do a show with Bare Jr.

Next Friday, April 23, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., 7 Willow Street in Port
Chester will be hosting Bounce For Hope, a breast cancer benefit for a
friend of King-size Productions. Rumor has it that this will be the last
show in Port Chester's famed venue before it's transformed into a Brazilian
nightclub under new ownership. Bounce For Hope features Adam X (from Sonic
Groove in New York City), who is the brother of Frankie Bones andcredited
with developing the true and modern New York sound.

Resident master of King-size Scotty Marz, now a national headliner, will be
on hand supporting his recently released album Planet of the Breaks. The
Bronx's Klip Rock (with Techno Mafia Nufutura) offers bang'n house styles;
Matt E. Love (on Element Recordings/Bassline Recordings) from Boston
specializes in progressive house;
Connecticut's own Gilligan (Shy Productions) does the drum and bass bit;
Sonic Bee (King-size) deals out the breakbeats, and DJ Memory (Memory
Productions, CT) cleans up with tech-house.

A portion of all merchandise and ticket sales for every King-size event goes
toward helping Bounce For Hope's honoree, as well as a donation to the
American Cancer Society. You can also make an absentee donation by calling
(860) 586-1100. Visit the King-size web site at www.kingsize-usa.com for
more information on Bounce For Hope and other events.

Amongst other things, marijuana can help people with cancer and degenerative
diseases like AIDS; unfortunately, because of current government drug
policies, patients are prevented from legally using marijuana, even for
medical purposes.

WCSU's chapter of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws) will be helping to change that this Saturday, April 17, with
the 2nd Annual JOHNES (Join Our Hemp Nation Earth-Day Spectacular) Festival,
a day-long concert and forum designed to raise awareness of drug law reform
issues, mobilize supporters and offer some fun in the process.

One of the JOHNES Festival's key speakers is Mike Gogulski, a data
communications engineer in New Haven and spokesperson for the newly formed
educational group Connecticut Cannabis Policy Forum. He explained in a
recent interview, "We're advocating for changes in the law and for getting
the truth out there, the real truth, the
scientific truth, not the government truth about marijuana."

Much to the government's dismay, the medical truth about marijuana has been
emerging recently in various official reports that contradict all the
grounds on which marijuana has been demonized since the late 1930s. One of
the most damning is the Institute of Medicine's research report, which was
released a few weeks ago. Commissioned by the Office of National Drug
Control Policy, the study revealed that marijuana does have some medical
value, that it's not very addictive, not very harmful (in fact, it's less
harmful than alcohol and tobacco) and does not lead to the use of harder drugs.

"It seems to me at this point that the onus of proof has shifted to the
government," said Gogulski. "The government needs to justify why marijuana
should continue to be illegal. All the scientific documentation that is
available says that the government's current classification of marijuana as
a dangerous, useless and addictive drug is simply incorrect."

Speakers and representatives from several other groups will be on hand at
the festival, along with vendors and six bands. Regional legends Max Creek
will bring their improvisational blend of jazz, folk, bluegrass, blues and
rock to the JOHNES Festival along with jam-band/groove-rock masters Hubinger
St. Joining the fray will be the
rocked-up bluegrass outfit TheRafter Bats, who have been generating quite a
buzz around Fairfield County of late; the all-female ensemble Gaia Roots,
who will offer their unique approach to folkloric world music with an
emphasis on the union of vocal harmony and percussion; and Sounds of Afrika,
a traditional African dance and drum troupe that provides insights into
African-American culture plus a great groove. Finally, acoustic guitarist
and singer Chris Durham will bring his twanged-up tunes, sense of humor and
infectious voice to the JOHNES Festival.

Organizers, speakers and musicians all share the goal of energizing people
and sweetening the road to social consciousness. Said Gogulski, "The JOHNES
is an opportunity to raise consciousness in a festive setting. My intent is
to energize people and get them involved."

The JOHNES Festival runs from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 at WCSU's
Westside Campus on Mill Plain Road in Danbury, rain or shine. The event is
free. Call (203) 791-0284 for more information or visit their website at
www.angelfire.com/ct/johnesfestival. For more information on CCPF, go to
www.ccpf.org.

Stefanie Ramp can be reached at sramp@fairfieldweekly.com.