As always, the Twin Cities music scene has been stepping up to raise money for all the different calamities in the news of late. Last week, the all-star tribute band All Tomorrow's Petty threw a last-minute gig at the Turf Club in St. Paul after Tom Petty's death and managed to quickly raise $3,500 for Puerto Rico.
This week offers something of a first, though: A string of 10 blues, country and old-school rock shows around town are combining to raise money for TexasMusicFlood.org, benefiting victims. A couple of the events already happened, and Lost Marbles will take part Friday night at Whiskey Junction (9 p.m.).
Sunday is the day the proverbial hat will be passed the most, including Sherwin Linton's show at Moe's in Mounds View (3 p.m.), Midas Touch with Robby Vee at Mancini's (5 p.m.), Lolo's Ghost at Whiskey Junction (6 p.m.), Shotgun Ragtime Band at the Driftwood Char-Bar (8 p.m.) and Paul Metsa with friends at Shaw's (5 p.m.).
"They're basically all [weekly] house gigs, and everyone agreed it'd be nice to help out," said Metsa, who spearheaded the effort with his friend Jamie Williams. "We could be doing benefit gigs weekly or daily for different causes right now, but we picked this one because we all love Texas music." …
Black Dog Cafe in Lowertown St. Paul will host an Afro-Latin jam session for Puerto Rico relief next Thursday featuring Maria Isa, Lady Midnight, members of ZuluZuluu and Malamanya and many more. Proceeds benefit the St. Paul Foundation's El Fondo Boricua (7-11 p.m., $10 suggested donation). …
Maria Isa has been highly active elsewhere, too, raising her voice to help her homeland, which she returned to just this past summer for her wedding. Check her social media pages and IamMaria Isa.com to keep up with her efforts. …
Also mark down Dec. 1 for an ambitious all-star benefit for Puerto Rico headed up by Julius Collins of Mambo's Combo and Greazy Meal at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, dubbed MN Voices United: Artists for Humanitarian Relief, details of which are still to come. …
Minnesota songwriting stalwart Ben Weaver's good reputation stands out again on his heart-tugging new album, "Sees Like a River," featuring lush neo-twang backing from Jeremy Ylvisaker, JT Bates and Mike Lewis. In true fashion, the eco-warrior folkie is hosting a river cleanup to promote the water-themed record Sunday at 10 a.m. at Northern Coffee Works (1027 Washington Av. S.). He will also play a Hymie's Records in-store Saturday at 5 p.m. …
