A Day-Long Celebration for Esme at Beerland [Show Preview]
Last night's news that the APD has identified the prime suspect in the New Year's Eve attacks - and, apparently, several earlier assaults - provides a bit of emotional respite in anticipation of perhaps the biggest benefit show yet staged for Esme Barrera. The Statesman reports James Loren Brown, 25, was found dead in his North Campus home on January 12th. He has subsequently been linked by DNA evidence to a string of attacks last summer and is the prime suspect in the New Year's attacks, including the murder of Barrera. The police describe him as a "serial predator."
That Barrera's killer was (probably) found is welcome news; that he turns out to have perpetuated even more crime than we all knew is infuriating and sad. This writer didn't know Esme while she was alive, but I've been among the thousands touched by the outpouring of goodwill and loving remembrances in the wake of her passing. She seemed like a damn good person, on whom a senseless fate senselessly descended. It makes sense that the cascade of compassion celebrating her life has been unequally paired with bewildered outrage at the unfairness, the capriciousness that took that life.
Is it a stretch to say that Esme herself would suggest that a killer rock 'n' roll show is the best cure for these irreducible discrepancies? Saturday at Beerland, we'll have the opportunity with two shows, spanning a full day, dedicated to celebrating Esme's life and raising money for her family. Ted Leo, who's been spreading the word on this since the beginning, is flying in to play both shows. He'll join three local bands, The Crack Pipes, The Golden Boys and Royal Butchers, for an evening showcase that appears to have already sold out.
That show will follow a day party in which Leo will support four more local bands: psychedelic rockabillity veterans Knife In The Water, garage rockers December Boys and Simple Circuit, and power-pop noisemakers Literature. Tickets are still available for this show at the feel-good price of $10, and all the proceeds will benefit the Barrera family. It should be an emotional, cathartic and, most of all, fun night.
Filed in Arts & Entertainment and tagged beerland, benefit, esmebarrera, knifeinthewater, literature, music, simplecircuit, tedleo, thecrackpipes, thedecemberboys, thegoldenboys, theroyalbutchers