Perhaps the only good thing to come of the devastating flooding that has hit our area hard is the unscheduled opportunity to catch a Dan Bern show. Bern, a native of the area, was in town to visit his mom, but stuck around when he realized he might be able to do something to help out. That something became a benefit concert last night in Iowa City and his participation in a theater project in Cedar Rapids the next two weekends.

I came to Bern's music late. I knew he was a local boy made good, but hadn't heard enough about him to make me curious. Then, as an entertainment writer for the local paper, I had the chance to interview him to preview a show. I got his latest CD at the time, New American Language, and the great music within coupled with his easy-going demeanor and sharp wit made me an instant fan. I've kept up (and filled in his back catalog) ever since. I've had the chance to interview him a couple other times since (including last week for CorridorBuzz.com for a piece to preview this month's appearances) and he has always been gracious with his time and willing to indulge the odd question or two.

So, it was no surprise he was willing to perform to benefit area artists. His concert last night raised money for CSPS, a great performing arts and gallery space in Cedar Rapids that was inundated with flood water, and to establish an artists relief fund. It was a relatively brief show, but it offered plenty of highlights. He opened with "Black Tornado," a perfect way to start a set: "If you judge me tonight, judge me by the songs I write. That's who I am to you," he sang. The song, like several from the show, was drawn from New American Language, including "Turning Over," "Toledo" and "God Said No." He also pulled out "Estelle" and "Jerusalem" from his first, self-titled album, and "I Need You" from his great Fleeting Days album and at least a couple of unreleased tracks, "World War" and one about the year 2014.

He closed with three songs he wrote for the Cedar Rapids play, "Moving Home." He told me last week that he was approached by the director to write a song and ended up writing 10. So, he decided to join the cast so he could sing them all. The play is derived from personal stories about the flood, and Bern's songs were inspired by the script. He sand "Crooked Little Stream," "Sometimes All You Do is Pray" and "A Place to Go Home To," which he said closes the show. He had the small crowd sing the chorus - "A place to go home to, a place which will stand" -- while he "rapped" underneath, dropping lines like "rain, rain go away."

It was a good show, though it didn't help things entirely: as we exited, a heavy downpour soaked us. At least for now, it wasn't enough to bring the rivers back out of their banks.

Labels: music