Sat 12/3 @ 7PM
If you’ve been around Cleveland’s underground scene in the last couple of decades, you probably know John Kalman. He played bass with the manic Roue in the mid ’00s and fronted rockers Founding Fathers. He played drums with Fits of Hail and had a trio called False Flag with a pair of other noted local indie rockers, drummer John Panza and guitarist Aaron Koonce. And he put out a solo album, A Drive, Awake in 2015 and often performed as a solo artist. Not only that, but he worked at the Grog Shop. So his network of friends and acquaintances in the music scene was huge.
Sadly, while vacationing in California in early November, he suffered a bad fall and he’s hospitalized out on the west coast. Now those friends, acquaintances and co-workers are banding together to host a benefit to help pay his medical expenses and his trip to back to Cleveland.
It will, of course, take place at the Grog Shop. The bands Wrong Places and Non Bruises will provide music, along with DJ music from Gerloscar Supreme Team. It will include a live raffle, an online auction and free food. Tickets are $20, with no service fee, and if you donate $50, you get a choice of a Grog Shop T-shirt or a custom “What would John K Do?” shirt.
In addition, for those who can’t attend, there’s an online auction starting Friday December 2 @ 10am and running through Thursday December 8 @ 7pm through Great Lakes VNTG with assistance from Axon Creative. It festures items donated by his friends and supporters, including rare signed records, original artwork, musical equipment, CAV tickets and a Rock Hall vault tour.
And send good vibes for his healing!