Freaks Action Network Holds Inaugural Holiday Benefit Jam To Raise Money For Brooklyn Youth

Words by: Dianna Hank

Freaks Action Network Holiday Benefit Jam :: 12.21.17 :: Littlefield :: Brooklyn, New York

Last Thursday, at the newly opened Littlefield location on Sackett Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn, the recently established Freaks Action Network put on their inaugural Holiday Benefit Jam in order to raise money for We Make Noise, “a collaborative music education platform connecting teaching artists to creative youth in Brooklyn and beyond.” We Make Noise’s programs “emphasize the core values of critical pedagogy, anti-discrimination, restorative justice, and the right to access, all with a greater goal of community-building.”

The Freaks Action Network (FAN) was developed earlier this year by some particularly philanthropic members of the tastemaking email list known as the NYC Freaks. FAN’s goal is to raise money for deserving causes in hopes of giving back to the community that continues to provide so much joy on a daily basis. FAN is currently taking steps toward achieving full 501(c)(3) status and this Holiday Benefit Jam was their first public fundraising event.

The inaugural Holiday Benefit Jam featured performances by New York City’s own Polyvamp, the first ever live set from The Karina Rykman Experiment, and a final set from Scott Sharrard & The Brickyard Band. In addition to all the great tunes, raffle tickets were being sold with 100 percent of the proceeds going to We Make Noise. Additionally, a silent auction was held that offered such prizes as a guitar, bass, or drum lesson with the respective members of WOLF!, a violin lesson with Katie Jacoby, “Eat A Seafood Tower” with Karina Rykman at Lure Fish Bar in New York City, a Jim Pollock artist-signed Chicago Phish poster and much more.

Kicking off the evening was the high-energy, rock, electronic and funk group known as Polyvamp. This six- piece band based out of New York City made their debut in January 2015 and have been playing all over Manhattan and Brooklyn ever since. Their set opened with a jam which led into “Morgan’s Mango.” Next up, a groovy tune called “Orange Sky” which started out pretty mellow but picked up nicely to develop into a driving, funk jam. After these few originals, the band busted out a cover of Traffic’s “Glad” which was a perfect song choice for their group. Polyvamp nailed the composed section and followed with a deeper, darker, more soulful jam. Saxophonist Seth Eisenstein then announced that every cent of their merchandise sales would also be donated to We Make Noise. Their final tunes of the evening, “Zander Nord Space” > “Scott’s Shoes,” started off slow and funky but picked up into a rocking jam which eventually settled back into a groove before the big, hard rock ending.

While the bands turned over, Aaron Stein, one of the founders of FAN’s Live Music Challenge took the stage to talk about what the challenge was, and how folks could get involved. Stein explained the way the Live Music Challenge works is simple: you simply make a commitment to donate to charity every time you go to a concert. He went on to state that several members of the NYC Freaks had already been taking this challenge “in beta mode” throughout this year and raised almost $8,000 for worthy causes so far. To find out more about the Live Music Challenge” or to sign up for it yourself, visit the official website.

Next up was the debut performance of The Karina Rykman Experiment featuring bassist Karina Rykman, The Oxymorrons’ guitarist Adam November on guitar and electric bongos and drummer Chris Corsico. This powerful rock group delivered a solid hour of nonstop improvisation, exploring a wide range of diverse genres from psychedelic dark grooves to funky dance beats. Rykman’s enthusiasm was infectious, spreading both to her band mates and the exuberant audience. Few performers seem to have as much fun on stage as she does. The mesmerizing LED light boards behind the band added to the psychedelia, while November utilized his pedals to create keys effects that led to several intense peaks. For their first live gig together, The Karina Rykman Experiment were incredibly tight and explored some extremely interesting grooves.

The last act of the already impressive evening of music was Grammy-nominated Scott Sharrard & The Brickyard Band. As the lead guitarist and musical director of the Gregg Allman Band, the Allman’s influence on Scott Sharrard’s style and tone is undeniable. This southern rock group kept up the energy and had the audience dancing until the last note. While most of the set had a bluesy, roadhouse rock ‘n’ roll feel, the band’s versatility came through with their inclusion of some funky numbers as well as a beautiful ballad. Sharrard closed the show with a fiery rocker that left the audience hollering for more.

All in all, it was a very successful evening of music, bringing together friends to support local artists, listen to great jams, and raise money for an especially deserving cause. Keep an eye out for future Freaks Action Network events and please consider taking part in the Live Music Challenge in the upcoming year.