Sun 12/27 @ 7PM
Sober for nearly 15 years, I-Tal singer/guitarist Dave Smeltz is all about giving back these days. It’s fitting considering the last principal of the 12-step recovery program basically empowers those who have attained sobriety to carry that message to other addicts. The idea is a person’s own individual and spiritual awakening keeps blossoming.
In addition to co-founding one of Cleveland’s biggest reggae acts, Smeltz is co-founder of Clean House, which has a mission statement to provide recovering men with the spiritual and mental tools needed for continued personal growth and relapse prevention. Clean House strives to promote consistent and contented sobriety by addressing all three elements of addiction: the body, mind and spirit.
Over the past few years, the nonprofit has hosted various fundraisers to further its cause. The next Clean House Benefit, featuring live performances by I-Tal, Outlaws I & I, Austin “Walkin” Cane, the Nazz 3, Daddy Longlegs Homegrown Revival and That Poor Girl, takes place Sunday at the Beachland Ballroom.
CoolCleveland talked to Smeltz, who last year released his memoir From Reggae to Recovery, about making his Clean House vision a reality.
What’s the history behind the Clean House fundraisers?
This is the third benefit for Clean House. Each event has been good. The first one was very well-received and the second one had even more people. We had about five different bands or musicians play each one and that’s what we’re doing this year as well. We usually had it around Labor Day, but this year it’s around Christmas because of the booking at the Beachland. So we’re raising funds to continue with the rehab projects of the Clean House and also give us some heat for the winter months. It’s kind of warm now but I’m assuming it’s going to get colder.
How did you get involved with creating Clean House?
I’m a little bit over 14 years clean and sober myself. When I went through treatment, transitional housing helped me considerably so I’m trying to give that back what was given to me. I came up with the idea with a friend of mine in 2010. We have a location on 11910 Buckeye Road. It’s transitional housing for recovering men. We have five rooms there that we’re preparing for guys to come in straight out of a treatment center. They have to have a little bit of knowledge about recovery. They come in there for sober living until they’re able to get back on their feet and find a place on their own. We’ll have 12-step meetings there as well, and I’ll teach martial arts and meditation.
Five years after Clean House was conceived, how’s it going so far?
It’s slowly growing. We purchased the property in 2013. At the time, it had furnaces and toilets but by the time we got possession all of the wiring and copper were stolen. So we’re really getting it rehabbed now with the help of some people in recovery and also people not in recovery donating their time and services. We’re very, very close to starting meetings in the front section of the building.
Looking ahead, what’s the next goal for Clean House?
We’re going to have consistent meetings in the front there. We’re also going to open up one of the floors for housing. We’ll rehab the first floor with three bedrooms. We have a monitor moving into the house in early 2016. Also, there’s an0ther storefront there where we’re planning on selling slightly used clothes to kind of support the guys in the house as well.
Finally, considering your prominence in the Northeast Ohio music scene, is there a musical component tied to Clean House?
Yeah, I think some of these musicians might be making sure they get a bed in the future [laughs], I don’t know. A lot of folks don’t want to admit it. As far as the music is concerned, I’ve played for over 30 some years and we’re still playing, obviously. Not to say everyone gets caught up in the alcohol and the drug thing of the music business, but I certainly did and I know others have as well. I think musicians have seen that happen to other fellow musicians. Of course we see it happen throughout the years to Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, and [Scott] Weiland who just passed away recently. It’s not like it doesn’t happen. Some of the most talented musicians suffer from addiction. So I think a lot of musicians really kind of feel that and want to help in some kind of way. I’m just glad they’re on board. I hope to be a hub, a beacon for people to kind of come to and they have a problem and being able to express it among other people who have recovered from this thing.
Tickets to the Clean House Benefit are $15.
