Healing sounds The Call’s energetic and heartfelt benefit CD BY BOB GULLA

The fire on 2/20 demanded much from the human spirit. While we were barely able to comprehend the tragedy cerebrally, we were all immediately called upon to react with our hearts. Not an easy thing when your brain is wracked with confusion and your soul is doubled over in pain.

Still, the resilient human spirit persevered, and people, especially those in the music community, got busy figuring out who needed them, what they could do, and how they could help. Benefits began springing up immediately in what has amounted to an inspiring outpouring of sympathy and goodheartedness. Local musicians felt touched profoundly enough to emerge with grace, strength, and good intentions — not just because they were more closely affected by the fire, not just because they thought it would look good in the public eye, but because their hearts and minds and souls told them that wounds needed healing. Good people heal wounds.

In this case, one major way to hasten the healing process is music. Though music will never fill the emptiness left by the 99 who died and the scores who were injured, it does help the grieving process. Anyone who has had a close friend or family member pass on knows that music can be a balm. Last week, the PPAC proved that folks on a national level cared enough to visit and to bestow a little TLC on the community. Acts like Grand Funk, Vanilla Fudge, BOC, and Rick Derringer — seasoned vets of the club scene, to be sure — all realized the nature and impact of the Station tragedy and traveled from far and wide to provide whatever help they could.

The folks at the Call and the Century Lounge responded more immediately, of course, with a benefit of their own. It took place on the weekend following the fire (February 28, March 1 and 2) and featured some of the area’s best blues and rock bands. Just two months later, that weekend has produced a CD document: The Call to Action Benefit Concert.

Tastefully packaged, the first disc of this two-CD set kicks off with a predominantly blues-based flavor, with Vic Foley ("They Call Me Guitar Hurricane," a cover of Albert Collins’s "Black Cat Bone"), Rick Mendes & the Nightbirds (Marvin Gaye’s "Ain’t That Peculiar," Sam & Dave’s "When Something’s Wrong with My Baby"), Dave Howard ("I’m Old, but I Ain’t Dead," Dave Alvin’s "So Long Baby, Goodbye"), Young Neal ("30 Miles Out," Roy Head’s "Treat Her Right") and Rory & the Blues Hounds (Van Morrison’s "Cleaning Windows," John Mayall’s "Acting Like a Child"). The quantity and quality of covers ensures the material is high and the audio on these, which is clearly better than average for a live disc, makes the listening exhilarating. Marc Philip, in fine voice, closes Disc 1 with "For Joe," an acoustic guitar-with-sax solo gem pivoting on the central lyrics, "I haven’t lost you / I’ve gained an angel," and "I don’t have to call you on the telephone / I can talk to you where ever I go." Good, poignant stuff.

Disc 2 opens and closes with the muscular-voiced Big Jon Tierney ("Comeback," "Teach Your Soul to Bend"). The Jim James Band weighs in with two good cuts, "Please Come Home" and "Delighted," as does Ricky Valente ("Out There," "The Dreamer") and the New Prophets ("Big Pete," "Not to Blame.") The Mockingbirds, Mr. Lincoln, Mark Cutler and the Dino Club, Fungus Amungus, the Psycads, and Betty Finn have one cut each, turning the second disc into a well-rounded overview of the local music scene — without the punk and metal, that is.

The staff at the Call/Century Lounge — Jan Schmidt, Bill Kramer, Ian Katz, and the rest — deserve a huge pat on the back for pulling this project off with class and import. Recorded and mixed by Jim Reynolds, Bob Sloan, and John Sawyer, The Call to Action Benefit Concert was made direct from the soundboard. There’s no question it’s an in-the-moment recording; it has the inconsistencies that studio projects smooth over. But it also has the bristling energy and heartfelt performances you find in sweaty, crowded, intimate clubs. These are the kinds of performances you’d find, for example, in the Station, the kind of performance that attracted all those lost souls on the night of 2/20/03.

FREAK OUT. If you haven’t heard the news, Freakshow — Hamel, Jay, Troy, Johnny, and Rick — is departing from Providence near the end of June. So some close friends are putting a party together this Saturday (the 3rd) to see them off right. I’ll be speaking with Mike Hamel about his move in the next few weeks, prior to their true send-off, but I wanted to mention this party. Slugworth, Rebecca Nurse, Radio Wallpaper, Tripwire, and Freakshow will all perform. The show starts at 1 p.m. Tickets are $5, with an option for a larger donation. All money will be going to help Freakshow get to LA to get it done, so dig deep. For more info on the festivities, check out www.freakshowband.com.

THE QUIET MUSIC SERIES. AS220’s 2nd Floor Gallery is becoming the coziest alternative-sounds spot in town — so say the many low-decibel lovers who have attended events there recently. The intimate atmosphere is conducive to mellow conversation and simmering contemplation, which makes the QMS, or the Quiet Music Series, so fresh and perfect for the space.

Jeffrey Alexander and the evening’s host band, the Iditarod, have outdone themselves this week, arranging a four-night festival on Floor Two to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the monthly QMS. Beginning Tuesday and running through the 9th, the bash — perhaps bash isn’t the right word — kicks off with Alan Sparhawk of Low, Haley Bonar, and If Thousands. On the 7th, QMSfest features Gravenhurst (Bristol, UK), the Iditarod, and Barn Burning (acoustic). On the 8th: Tom Carter (of Charalambides), Nanang Tatang (Liz and Daniel of Ida’s debut show!), and Mark Dwinell (of Bright). Closing the stint on the 9th are Brother Danielson (of Danielson Famile), Black Forest/Black Sea, and Marissa Nadler.

So if you can stand a little quietude in your day, if you can tolerate peace and harmony where turbulence and bluster normally reside, make your way up the stairs at AS220 and have yourself a seat.

WANDERING EYE. On Friday (the 2nd), the Safari Lounge presents some happening vibes, with Roachenders, the Deacons (NY), No Means Yes, and the Shakes. Better still it’s a free show and 18-plus. With that combo, it’s bound to be packed.

The Haymakers play at Jake’s in Providence on Saturday (the 3rd). The Pills from Boston will open, which makes the night a can’t-miss.

Also on Saturday, the Psycads will bring their psychedelic-meets-reggae sound to the Century Lounge. Check out their Web site (http://newenglandreggae.com/psycads/PsycadsFrames/Psycads.htm) for more information.

At AS220 on Saturday (the 3rd), local transplant and California cosmic cowgirl Jodie Marston (jodiemarston. com) hosts two cool Baltimore bands in the 2nd Floor Gallery: Arboretum (with David Human of Bonnie Prince Billy) and the Big Huge (with Drew Nelson of Sonna). The show starts at 9 p.m.; $6 gets you in.

Also on Saturday, Oversight opens for Jackyl at Jarrod’s Place in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Check www.jarrodsplace.com for more details.

On Sunday (the 4th), there’s a hot all-ages show at the Living Room with Jucifer, Bantam (featuring ex-Lunachicks), Biopop, Stillfro, the Marvels, and the Damaged. Admission is $8 at the door, which open at 7 p.m.

E-mail me with music news at big.daddy1@cox.net