Sat 5/31 @ 8PM
It hit Cleveland’s indie music community hard when musician Ken Janssen, who had recently left his job at the Beachland Ballroom to become more involved in the revival of the surrounding Waterloo community, was diagnosed in late 2012 with amyotrophic lateral schlerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, an incurable, progressive disorder that slowly robs a person of muscle control.
He was still well enough to participate in last year’s Lottery League, although he was in a wheelchair.
Last June, his former band, the It*Men, performed a reunion concert/benefit at the Beachland for Janssen, called “The Last Waltz of the It*Men,” which also featured Cobra Verde, Hot Rails, the New Lou Reeds, Charles Hill Jr., and DJs Alright and Csi-Fi. It also featured a vinyl release of the band’s album Greatest Its.
This year’s 2nd Annual Ken Janssen ALS Benefit & Record Release, also at the Beachland, will be even bigger with even more of Ken’s friends rallying around. Taking place in both rooms at the club, it’ll feature eight performers, with New Planet Trampoline (pictured), Charlie Hill Jr., Exploding Lies and Hiram Rapids Stumblers performing in the ballroom, and All Dinosaurs, Relaxer, Black Puddle Noise, and the Beyonderers playing in the tavern.
The money raised will help fund an experimental stem cell procedure that could slow the disease’s progress. He is also raising awareness about ALS through a nonprofit group called It*Don’t Quit that he and his family are putting together.
Admission is a $10 donation but for $25 you get a first-pressing vinyl copy of Charles Hill Jr.’s new album Shootin’ Man and a DVD copy of last year’s concert, along with admission to the show.
beachlandballroom.getn2.it/events/