Love Street Light Circus
Love Street Light Circus refers both to a 1960s Houston psychedelic music venue and an existing Houston-based nonprofit organization.
Love Street Light Circus and Feelgood Machine (the club)
Love Street Light Circus and Feelgood Machine was a focal point of the Houston music scene in the late 1960s. It was founded by famed artist David Adickes. It was later owned by United Artists, which also owned legendary Houston music studio Sugar Hill.
http://www.faculty.missouristate.edu/d/DennisHickey/lovestreet.htm http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~tannahil/love%20street.html
Love Street Light Circus (the nonprofit)
Background
Love Street Light Circus is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization based in Houston, Texas. Love Street's programs promote volunteerism among local musicians to benefit Houston’s children. The TONIC program brings music to children's hospitals. The Musicians Network connects children's charities to musicians willing to play fundraisers free of charge. And the Love Street band serves as a visible and audible example for the music community.
The TONIC program - Taking Our Noise Into Children's Hospitals
When a group of Love Street musicians visited the Texas Children’s Cancer Center to perform for the children and their families, the feedback from the staff was also tremendous. For just a little while, the music served as a diversion from the discomfort of the chemotherapy the young patients were there to receive. All of the musicians found the experience personally rewarding and something we wanted to do again (and have). But we certainly didn’t think the positive effects were unique to our performance. So we began to think AbOUT how we could involve a broader base of musicians.
From this the Love Street TONIC Hospital series was born. We started by talking informally with musicians we encountered. The vast majority of the musicians indicated that they would be happy to perform at children’s hospitals. The idea had even occurred to some, but few knew how to initiate the process and some seemed intimidated by it. So drawing from our own contacts and experiences, we established the TONIC program.
The TONIC program currently includes Texas Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children. Love Street solicits and schedules the musicians, provides needed equipment and makes all necessary arrangements with the hospitals. As currently established, musicians perform one hour sets at both the Cancer Center Clinic and Renal Care Clinic at Texas Children’s and then do the same in the main lobby of nearby Shriners. Where time and circumstances permit, the musicians may also visit patient rooms to perform for those otherwise unable to benefit. Love Street aims to make the process as hassle-free and unintimidating as possible for the musicians so that they may experience firsthand the rewards that we know they will.
Love Street Musicians Network
A fundamental assumption behind Love Street Light Circus is that musicians want to play their music and be heard and are happy to occasionally do so for a good cause, such as charity fundraisers. Lacking, however, was a unified vehicle to connect Houston’s musicians and the charities who need their help. The Love Street Musicians Network provides that vehicle.
Following the visible (and audible!) example of the Love Street Light Circus Band, musicians from across Houston and the music spectrum have pledged their willingness to perform free of fee for at least one benefit event per year. Love Street applauds these musicians and encourages Houston to support them so that they may continue to give back.
The Band
Why a Band?
Not many nonprofits have their own band, but Love Street Light Circus does. The band directly helps the organization fulfill its mission. The band: - Serves as the core of Love Street events - Promotes the organization - Provides musical continuity - Promotes volunteerism by example, as all the members donate their time and talent - Benefits Houston’s children by performing without fee for events benefitting children’s charities and for children’s groups. - Performs on a fee basis for others as a fundraising vehicle for the organization.
What does the band sound like?
The band takes its primary inspiration from the music of the 60s. While not a “party band”, in order to serve the organization’s mission, the band’s repertoire does encompass several categories. Within these categories, the band strives to avoid the overplayed while not dwelling in the hopelessly obscure.
- Concept shows (for example, performing a particular album of historic significance) - Beatles - British invasion - Psychedlia - Classic rock - 70s and 80s
Who is in the band?
The Love Street band is comprised of a dedicated core of volunteers, occasionally augmented by other musicians as the need or opportunity arises. The band members are:
Jon Bouché (vocals)
Jon was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He cut his musical teeth there in the 80s before moving briefly to Los Angeles and then Texas. Over the years as family and career drew him away from music, Jon turned down many offers to join bands. As a result, in Houston he is best known for his music ministry in churches and coffee houses on the north side of Houston. Jon is the principal of Lifeline International Insurance Agency.
Chad McManus (bass)
Chad grew up outside of Boston in the 60’s – 70’s. He picked up his first guitar at the age of 12 and soon was performing in duos and bands. He came to his senses in 1977 and moved to Texas, where he played in the Austin bands Rainshadow and First Offense. Chad took a few years off to raise a family but found his way back to playing live music (mostly guitar and vocals, with a bit of keyboards throw in) around the Houston area in the late 90’s and has continued playing in various bands ever since. Although a newcomer to LSLC and back on bass guitar for the first time in a long time, Chad believes strongly in the cause and feels right at home.
Paul Nussbaum (lead guitar)
Paul is a faithful man. He has played the same Stratocaster for 20 years, with his eyes only occasionally diverted by Patrick’s electric sitar. He has been dubbed Mr. Mellow by some, though his playing is anything but. Paul also plays lead guitar for the Janis Joplin tribute band Kozmic Pearl.
Myrna Sanders (vocals, guitar)
Houston native Myrna Sanders Sanders has been a part of the Houston music scene throughout her adult life. Her career has spanned a variety of genres, from folk and country to R&B and rock to heavy metal. Myrna has graced a number of bands through the years, including Rare Seed, which was voted best rock band in Houston in 1996-97 by the now defunct Houston Music Council.
Ultimately, though, Myrna’s songwriting took her in a more personal direction, leading her to form the Myrna Sanders Band. Myrna recently released her debut CD, Riches to Rags, which includes sweeping orchestrations and arrangements that she created, and especially lush vocal harmonies on both the ballads and the rockers. In addition to her Love Street duties, Myrna can be seen belting out Janis Joplin tunes in her tribute band, Kozmic Pearl. Both the Myrna Sanders Band and Kozmic Pearl have received significant press attention and acclaim, most recently in the Houston Chronicle’s local music website Hand Stamp.
Guy Vincent (drums) It was early 1964. Sunday evening. Guy was an innocent youth watching The Wonderful World of Disney from his home in Houston. Then someone changed the channel. Four young lads were playing music unlike any he had heard. Guy’s life changed forever. Ever since, Guy has been infatuated and in love with the power and strength of music - how it brings all types of people together, from within themselves, to each other, all over the world. As a result, Guy’s participation in Love Street is a natural.
Patrick Waites (guitar, vocals)
Patrick Waites, another Houston native, is the founder and Director of Love Street Light Circus. Aside from his rhythm guitar, light vocals and administrative duties, Patrick’s main job is, to paraphrase George Carlin, thinking up goofy stuff for the band to do. Patrick is a partner in the law firm Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard.
Love Street Happenings
When time permits and inspiration strikes, Love Street stages Happenings. These are events that bring together a large number of musicians to present a particular performance of artistic merit to benefit a children's charity.
Love Street attracts volunteer musicians to participate in unique musical events of artistic merit and then connects the musicians with local children's charities. The events also benefit the children's charities. A notable example is White Album for Purple Songs.
White Album for Purple Songs
Love Street's inaugural gala event, White Album for Purple Songs, took place on Sunday, November 16, 2008, in the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice Hotel in downtown Houston. It benefitted the Purple Songs Can Fly Project at Texas Children's Cancer Center. Honorees were Houston Mayor Bill White and artist David Adickes, founder of the original Love Street club.
White Album for Purple Songs celebrated the 40th Anniversary of The Beatles’ White Album by performing it live on stage, in its entirety. A number of Houston bands appeared at the event, including:
Abbey Rode Bourbon Street Band Kozmic Pearl Kosmic Latte Norma Zenteno Mid-Life Crisis & the Hot Flashes
and members of: The Fab 5 The McClanahans The Chromatics
A full orchestra participated as well.