I see that the seasonal costume shops are popping up and all the Halloween decorations & displays are coming back out. That stuff always used to make me smile when I'd first see them appear in random stores but when I saw them last year, my stomach sank. No smiles in that initial moment because I knew that upcoming Halloween would be very different for us. There would be no Hallowmas gathering in the way that we had come to know it and these commercial displays were an added kick to the gut reminder. As the world was opening back up, I just wanted to keep hiding away.
On Halloween 2021, we ended up rallying and pulling off a trio of small tributes to Jack but nothing to the grand scale that matched the character of his larger than life personality. This year, we are attempting to pull off a weekend of events to honor our Favorite Dead Punk Rocker on his most sacred of holidays.
The initial seed of an idea behind The Jack Terricloth Foundation was to figure out how to throw one more memorial for Jack and to raise money for a charity at the same time. The initial idea we threw around the war room was to raise money for existing groups that support artists who are struggling with alcoholism and addiction. The Foundation has now expanded its mission but its core goal of raising awareness for organizations like MusiCares, the Entertainment Fund et al. felt like the obvious starting point. If we could help generate any support for groups that are helping people get into recovery, then we felt like we were on the right track. It felt like an appropriate unifying cause, a message in itself, and a symbolic first step towards a plan of action. Of course, any one can donate to any of these organizations at any time, but since there was already a desire from our community to want to gather on Halloween again... we did the math. We are doing what we can with our own resources by adding our own small voice to the conversation that help is out there and recovery is possible.
The support to start The Foundation was an overwhelming success, well beyond what its original goals were. Starting with a small fundraiser in C-Squat's basement last Halloween and culminating in our Kickstarter campaign last May, the wheels are now in motion. The Foundation has some re-calibration to do as it expands on its initial ideas but it is on track to reach official non-profit status by Halloween. In any case, it is now time to deliver on its immediate promises: A charity tribute record and an instrumental concert featuring a string ensemble re-arranging songs by The World/Inferno Friendship Society in a fashion that befits a true Halloween Weekend Gala Event.
The event grew from one big show into a multiple day extravaganza. From one day to two days … to three….. and now: the entire weekend. The other shows are not all charity events but are all affiliated in the sense that we are giving the Kids coming in from out of town something to do all weekend. Wanna hang with the scene? Come hang with the scene. We got pricey events, we got free events, we got mid tier affordable events. Yes, we have something for everyone to complain about, so let's get to it! October 28th! October 29th! October 30th! October 31st! New York City, it's Pumpkin Time! From bars in Queens, to parks in Manhattan, to a string ensemble way uptown, all ending at a large church in Brooklyn. From Res Novae to an Early Evening Halloween Mass.
We absolutely could not have done any of this without the support of thousands of others who were feeling exactly how we were. To everyone who supported The Jack Terricloth Foundation, thank you for making this all a reality. We are in this together.
Everyone has those bands that stopped the world and changed their lives. World/Inferno was one of the big ones for so many of us…and Sticks & Stones was one for others who stage dove before us. To his credit, Jack had a talent for bringing people together, on stage and off. In an attempt to once again say that It Mattered, we are helping provide a space for catharsis and closure where we hope to bring back many of the people who enjoyed attending Halloweens together for so many years. This is your invite. Details for all events coming soon but tickets to the Devil’s Night October 30th string ensemble event can be found here : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jack-terricloth-foundation-mischief-night-sinfonietta-tickets-414513179077
Last week, I went into Home Depot to buy plywood for an art show and then I had to go to Target to buy massive amounts of snacks for a pop band. Excuse my advertising of large chain stores, but what I'm getting at is this: As I was driving around, I happened to notice that all the seasonal costume shops were popping up again. All the Halloween decorations and candy displays were once again out in force. And this time, this year, I smiled because I knew what was around the corner.
For Jack.
Questions & Answers : stevealbertson@babyrobotmedia.com
