Thanks to Scott McCaughey for the following update:
The Minus 5, sporting yet another one-time-only line-up of Peter Buck, Scott, current M5 drummer Ezra Holbrook, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Dave Depper (Norfolk & Western, Loch Lomond, Jolie Holland), and Rebecca Gates (Spinanes), performed at a benefit for the LEP (Leadership & Entrepreneurship Public Charter High School) at Mississippi Studios in Portland Sunday May 10. The benefit was organized by Steve Berlin (whose daughter Izzy attends the school) in order to raise money and awareness about the school, which is in danger of losing its funding from the Portland Public School Board. (R.E.M. fans may also remember Steve’s great sax work on Document.)
A terrific line-up of Portland talent contributed to the festive evening, and Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah even flew cross-country to take part. Stephen Malkmus played a rare solo set, ad-libbing songs from various internet lyric sites, including a faithful pass at “Shaking Through”.
R.E.M. and many other artists like Neko Case, the Decemberists, X, Dave Alvin, etc., contributed signed articles for sale, auction and raffle. All told around $10,000 was raised, and the press and TV news coverage guaranteed that this school should not be swept away un-noticed by budget cuts.
Learn more about the LEP school here and visit this link for more photos.
Photos by Vivian Johnson