dailywildcat.com/wildlife
B section
wednesday, february 17, 2010
Wildlife
Steven Kwan Arts Editor 520•621•3106 arts@wildcat.arizona.edu
7th grader puts on benefit concert By Kim Kotel Arizona Daily Wildcat Deep golden rays coast through the windows of Rincon Market as the sun sets. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I am lucky enough to sit across from a remarkable young man for once. Twelve-year-old Aodhan Lyons, pronounced Ay-den, smiles at me while I set down the recorder, a black fedora pushing down his dark, loosely curled locks. “It’s really sad,” said Aodhan, measuring his words carefully, hesitantly.“It was a couple days after … I saw the report on TV, and I said, ‘Hey, I can do something to support this.’” Aodhan watched the news reports on the earthquake that had devastated Haiti. He soaked in the dilapidated homes, the debris crowding the streets and the thousands of Haitians struggling under their overwhelming loss. Each camera shot captured the earthquake’s wrath — how it enveloped Haiti in a film of chalky dust and despair. Aodhan’s uncle, who is Haitian, lost five of his family members. With Aodhan’s bar mitzvah approaching, he started considering different projects, but after the report there was only one thing he knew he needed to do. He needed to help, and he wanted to hold a concert to raise funds for the victims of this natural disaster. With little time to spare and already balancing a full schedule, Aodhan’s Friday spilled into Saturday with backto-back performances of a school play. Between that and promoting the concert at churches and synagogues on Sunday, he still found time to meet for this article. The“From Tucson to Haiti”benefit concert is scheduled to take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Though much has been done, Aodhan hopes to gather more support and raise more awareness before the concert. It is not every day you meet a seventh grader who has excellent time management skills, takes philosophy as an elective and organizes interfaith world music benefit concerts for countries in need. But what prompted his desire for a concert? “Aodhan sings a lot. He used to be part of the Tucson JewishYouth Choir, so originally, he was thinking that maybe he could get choirs from churches and synagogues to have a concert,”said his mother Hilary.“I told him I knew someone at the Fox Theatre. He could talk to him about how to prepare. We ended up having a meeting with a bunch of people who were social action chairs from different synagogues and the Interfaith Community Services and Craig Sumberg from Fox Theatre.” Aodhan glanced at his mother’s face and then studied his hands before he spoke. “I hadn’t ever put on something like this before, so I thought it would be a lot easier than it turned out to be. Then as it progressed, I figured out it was going to take a lot more work.”Aodhan said. With less than a month to pull the concert together, those at the meeting, recognized as seasoned event planners, were less optimistic about what Aodhan was set on accomplishing. Organizing takes anywhere from a few months to half a year depending on the event and who’s playing, Sumberg said. “It was a lot of work in a short amount of time. Choirs have 30 to 60 members — that’s a lot of people to get organized.
if you go “From Tucson to Haiti”: A World Music Benefit Concert for Haitian Relief Efforts Fox Theatre 17 W. Congress St. Thursday, Feb. 18 7 p.m. $20 for adults $10 for students and senior citizens
The “hole” experience
You can’t live in Arizona and not visit the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It’s so much Arizona’s claim to fame, it’s on our license plates. The National Park surrounding the canyon itself allows for camping, hiking, guided tours, cell phone tours, and river and mule trips. Restaurants and lodging are also available for the less outdoorsy. Entrance to the park is $25 per private vehicle or $12 per person on foot or by bike. Visit www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm for more information.
A remnant of the development of Verde Canyon and the copper mining that caused it, the leisurely train ride is a trip through history as well as through nature. The 38-mile stretch weaves through the land once home to several ancient peoples. Nearby, Clarkdale is a trove of history as well, containing several historic sites worth seeing. The railroad is open year-round — though on varying days — and costs $54.95 to ride, making it the perfect trip to take with visiting parents. Tequila and wine-tasting tours are also available at slightly steeper rates (though maybe the parents should sit those ones out). Visit www.verdecanyonrr.com/ index.html or call (800) 582-7245 for more information.
Catch the ‘White Dove’
Lisa Beth Earle/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Aodhan Lyons, 12, organizer of Thursday’s ‘From Tucson to Haiti’ benefit concert at Fox Theatre, stands in front of the theater on Sunday.
So, that’s when he kind of got steered in the direction of getting some bands to perform (instead).”Hilary said. Aodhan set to work searching for bands online and sending e-mails asking for their support. “We had a few disappointments with bands that really wanted to perform but had other obligations.”Hilary said. Most bands schedule performances months in advance. She realized requesting a band’s commitment to play at an event only a few weeks away was a stretch.
But he did it. With a line up including Spirit Familia, The Triple Double Band and Odaiko Sonora Drummers — bands ranging from reggae to blues to Latin and afrobeats — the benefit concert is scheduled and ready to go. The American Red Cross, Interfaith Community Services, Multi-faith Alliance, various churches and synagogues in the Tucson area and Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation are supporting the event. Donations will be collected by The American Red Cross for Haitian relief.
By Christy Delehanty Arizona Daily Wildcat
Photo courtesy of Comedy Central
INSIDE
T
here are certain things you just can’t live in Arizona and not do. Some are more obvious than others, but the list of things you’ll regret if you miss during your time at the UA is long, and your time here is short. So jump in and get started with these four “musts.”
Choo-choo through time
And what was Aodhan’s uncle think of all this? “When I talked to him on the phone he said several times he was very proud of me, and that’s a great thing to hear,”Aodhan said. When asked what his favorite part of organizing the event was, Aodhan didn’t mention talking with the bands, the publicity or the concert. He tilted his head and shrugged. The answer was simple. “It’s just the feeling of giving.” Aodhan said.
Sarah Silverman hung up on necks, being stupid
B4
BEFORE YOU GRADUATE
“The Sarah Silverman Program”is not something I would’ve thought to watch, but after hearing her talk about the current third season, her neck issues and her journey as a comedian, it’s hard not to be intrigued. Her TV show, which features the comedian as the immature and emotionally stunted Sarah Jane Anastasia Silverman,
is not meant to portray Silverman herself, though some of the issues are caricatures of Silverman’s actual experiences. The neck obsession is among them. Sometimes, Silverman said, the stories come from real life.“There’s a glimmer of it where I get obsessed with the neck. Why isn’t there bone there; there’s so much important stuff there,”she said. “The neck is fucking vulnerable.”
B3 Vagina Warriors to continue V-Day
How I Met ‘Marty’
movement
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SILVERMAN, page B8
Officially called Mission San Xavier del Bac — “Bac” meaning “the place where water appears” — for the Santa Cruz River that runs underneath it, this church is considered one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the U.S. An operational church, complete with Franciscan friars, the mission is not only historical but functional as well. Visit the museum from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and enjoy a self-guided tour. Attending Mass and exploring the gift shop are always options as well. Donations are accepted but entrance is free. Visit www.sanxaviermission.org/ General.html or call 294-2624 for Mass schedules and more information.
See a Cactus game
Of the Cactus League’s teams, the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox all prepare for their seasons right here in Tucson. These teams and the 12 others that make up the Cactus League participate in a tradition that began in the early 20th century — playing what were originally exhibition games in Arizona before baseball season began. Attend a game anytime in March. Most games begin at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com and tickets.com. Schedule available at www.cactusleague.com/images/2010_ schedule.pdf. Visit www.cactusleague.com/index. php for more information. — Christy Delehanty
Is there something you think we should do before graduating? Send your suggestions to arts@wildcat. arizona.edu. Please include your name, major and year.
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