GroovyStylie!

The third and final night of 2010 The Great Cover-Up was a night to remember. Band after band hit the stage with amazing performances covering other bands. No one thought Calexico could top their performance after the All Souls Procession just a month ago, but accompanied by Silver Thread Trio, members of Seashell Radio and a cast of characters that included a gorilla, a rabbit and a beer can, top it they did. In true Flaming Lips style, they had the audience singing along and participating in the festivities with pop streamers, silly string and yes, balloons. Lots of them.

Many thanks to the people involved involved with this benefit for Tucson Artists and Musicians Health Alliance – the 40 bands, the 2 venues and especially Curtis McCrary, Stephen Seigel, Mel Mason, David Slutes and Dan Hernandez. The word is over-used these days, but the event was epic. For information about T.A.M.H.A., check out their website here.

This year’s Great Cover-Up to benefit Tucson Artists and Musicians Health Alliance is anticipated to be the best ever.  With Curtis McCrary and Stephen Seigel back at the helm and the addition of organizational guru, Mel Mason, we’re back to three extended nights and reasonably reliable set times for the event which makes it much more enjoyable for participants and event goers alike.

Listed below are the set times.  $8 one day pass, $12 2 day pass, $15 3 day pass 21+ up

THURSDAY, DEC. 9 at THE RIALTO THEATRE (all ages):

1 a.m. – HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS

12:30 a.m. – The Monitors

midnight – The Ghost of 505

11:30 p.m. – The Gallery

11 p.m. – Fourkiller Flats

10:30 p.m. – Michael P.

10 p.m. – Top Dead Center

9:30 p.m. – Jeremy Michael Cashman

9 p.m. – The Break-Up Party

8:30 p.m. – The Electric Blankets

8 p.m. – Still Life Telescope

7:30 p.m. – Monster Pussy

7 p.m. – Dark Aeturnis

6:30 – AZ Daily Star Battle of the Bands Finalist

6 p.m. – AZ Daily Star Battle of the Bands Finalist

Bands being covered (in no particular order): The Who, Cake, New Order, AC/DC, Dean Martin, Alice in Chains, Sheryl Crow, Black Sabbath, Roxy Music, Alkaline Trio, The Allman Brothers Band, Beat Happening, John Mayer and more.

FRIDAY, DEC. 10 at CLUB CONGRESS (21+)

1 a.m. – The Mission Creeps

12:30 a.m. – The Tryst

midnight – Shaun Harris

11:30 p.m. – American Android

11 p.m. – Spacefish

10:30 p.m. – The Swigs

10 p.m. – Flint

9:30 p.m. – Al Perry

9 p.m. – Mars Day and the Extra Time

8:30 p.m. – The Distortionists

8 p.m. – Marianne Dissard

7:30 p.m. – Some of Them Are Old

Bands being covered (in no particular order): The Bee Gees, Prince, The Strokes, Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, The Steve Miller Band, Run-D.M.C., Yoko Ono, Diamanda Galas, The Deftones, Erykah Badu, Misfits.

SATURDAY, DEC. 11 at THE RIALTO THEATRE (all ages)

1 a.m. – Calexico

12:30 p.m. – Seashell Radio

midnight – The Runaway Five

11:30 p.m. – Gat-Rot

11 p.m. – Silver Thread Trio

10:30 p.m. – Feed

10 p.m. – Las Exciters

9:30 p.m. – Sinphonics

9 p.m. – The Fisters

8:30 p.m. – The Modeens

8 p.m. – Alisha Peru

7:30 p.m. – Chris Holiman

7 p.m. – Muddy Bug

6:30 p.m. – AZ Daily Star Battle of the Bands Finalist

6 p.m. – AZ Daily Star Battle of the Bands Finalist

Bands being covered (in no particular order): The Monkees, Donovan, X, The Flaming Lips, The Doors, Phil Collins, The Exciters, John Mellencamp, Sara Bareilles, Neko Case, yacht rock, James Taylor and more.

Jerry Fuchs with Maserati

Mel Mason and I had the privilege to see Jerry Fuchs play with Maserati when they were here in Tucson with MONO last month. There was a reason why he and his drums were front and center stage. He was a talented and charismatic drummer who was exciting to watch. I hope that you had a chance to see him in one of the many bands he played with over the years.  We received the following from his publicist today. He will be missed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gerhardt “Jerry” Fuchs, beloved and respected drummer for The Juan MacLean, Holy Ghost!, Maserati, !!!, and Turing Machine, amongst others, passed away in the early hours on Sunday, November 8^th due to an unfortunate elevator accident that occurred in a Brooklyn loft building.  He was pronounced dead at Bellevue Medical Center, a few hours later.

Jerry was born on December 30, 1974 in Marietta, Georgia. After attending the University of Georgia for graphic design, he left for New York in 1995 to join the band Vineland. His achievements were numerous as he became a New York fixture in the music scene, providing incredibly complex and energetic drumbeats that elicited wide praise and excitement from fellow musicians, critics and friends. On the rare occasion that he was not touring, Jerry did graphic design work for publications such as Chunklet and Entertainment Weekly. Throughout all of his endeavors and successes, Jerry remained one of the most humble and down-to-earth artists anyone could meet. His smile, and loving energy will be missed dearly, as will his talent and contributions to the music scene.

Jerry’s family and friends request that you respect their privacy during this difficult time.

Statements from Jerry’s band mates, manager and DFA Records are below.

Juan MacLean
Jerry Fuchs was one of my best and most loyal friends.  In other situations it might seem trite or misguided to mention someone’s music career in light of such a tragic death, but the truth is that music was an integral part of our relationship.  Jerry was with me from the beginning of The Juan MacLean.  The band allowed us to travel the world doing something we loved more than anything, and we constantly reminded ourselves how lucky we were, pushing each other to appreciate the life we were living when things got tough.

It is not hyperbole to say that Jerry was the absolute best at what he did.  He was a legendary drummer.  Other drummers revered him and fans were astounded by his playing.  He was always the best part of any band of his which he was a member.  And in light of all that, he was relentlessly humble to the point of self-deprecation.  He exuded qualities that are are rare in the circles he travelled.  He was disarmingly sincere and valued honesty above all else.

I have never played with anyone as great as Jerry.  I would be hard pressed to name a more supportive and loyal friend.  I hope his family finds some bit of solace in the fact that Jerry touched the lives of so many all across the world, as evidenced by the outpouring of support and condolences come flooding in.

Jonathan Galkin – DFA
Today was a really bad day, Jerry, and I could have used one of those big sweaty hugs you gave after a show, when you were genuinely excited and surprised to see me. “Galkin, what the fuck are YOU doing here?!”, you would exclaim, as if i didn’t ever attend the live shows from bands on my own label. You were truly one of a kind, and whether you knew it or not, people wanted to be in the same room as you, or near the same room as you, because maybe just maybe, some of that radiant joy and in-the-moment spirit you exuded would rub off on them.  You didn’t take it all with you, because there are a lot of people today who are going to feel mighty responsible to carry and spread that joy with them for the rest of the time they have here. And who knows now how long that might be.  You were a really good drummer, some might say the best we had, but you were a greater friend. I love you and miss you, Jerry.

Brian Long – Yes Know Management
Jerry cast an incredible glow on every situation he entered into. It was an honor to work with him. His drumming skills were truly a gift which he used to connect with many people. This is what musicians are put on earth to do. Jerry embodied this to the fullest. He will be missed but remembered with a smile and a laugh.