Friday, January 22, 2016

Charlotte band turns 20th bday into benefit for fellow music vet

Area music veteran Jake Berger was injured in a scooter accident last month. His Charlotte-based band the Mannish Boys was originally scheduled to play Double Door with fellow area rock veteran Crisis Saturday as both bands are celebrating 20 years. Given Berger's injuries - a fractured spine according to his Facebook post - Saturday's show will instead be a benefit for Berger as well as an anniversary event.

Many of Berger's musician friends and former bandmates from established Charlotte acts the Spongetones and Belmont Playboys, as well as members of the Mannish Boys will join Crisis along with Lenny Federal, Sheila Carlisle, and Donna Duncan to celebrate Berger and raise funds to help offset his mounting medical bills.

Berger started his first Charlotte garage rock band in 1966, so 2016 marks his 50th year in local music. He currently plays guitar and sings as leader of the Mannish Boys and he and photographer/author Daniel Coston co-wrote the book "There Was a Time: Rock n' Roll in the 1960s in Charlotte, and North Carolina," which was published in 2013.

Crisis has released six albums over 20 years and has opened for the Smithereens, Don Dixon, the Spongetones, Jill Sobule, and Mitch Easter.

Tickets for Saturday's Jake, Rattle, and Roll concert are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Music starts at 9 p.m.