Rent Party Raises the Roof and $2,000 to Fight Hunger

It's so much better to give than to receive.

Three holiday-soaked sets at last Friday's Rent Party bestowed a generous musical bounty upon a lively, toasting crowd at the South Orange Elks Club, sending everyone home in the spirit.

"My father-in-law is rolling over in his grave right now!" growled 3rd Gear's Chuck Mahoney as his band slammed through a raucous, rocking version of "Hanukkah, My Hanukkah," the normally sweet and simple holiday classic. It was a terrific earful at 2009's fourth Rent Party -- a stellar lineup of local music for a good cause. The Rent Parties have joined the likes of MapleWoodstock and Rock the House as a topnotch showcase for local talent.

I grabbed a beer for $2 (and a pitcher for $6) and danced thisclose to the stage; returning frisky barbs from the bands, while neighbors filled my glass (remember that "giving" thing?).

Friday's scene was loose and friendly, with the ambitious goal of taking a bite out of the issues of hunger that beset our communities. This past summer, Rent Party organizer Chris Dickson got together with the Elks' Bob Fanneron to hash out a way to meet the challenge of local food shortages. "We can't count on state and local governments to get us through hard times. It's got to be a community effort," Dickson said. Teaming up with the Elks Club was a natural; part of their ongoing mission is to help the underprivileged.

So the Rent Party was born: line up the bands, ante up just $5 at the door, and you're in. "But the more you give, the better you'll feel," added Dickson, "Even the bands are writing a check!"

All proceeds benefit the St. Joseph's and Our Lady Of Sorrows food pantries here in Maplewood and South Orange, and to date, over $2,000 has been raised. Last Friday's efforts helped get 100 turkeys onto deserving local tables for the holidays, and the evening's take at the door was matched by Maplewood's HK Community Fund.

Locals bobbed and hobnobbed at the bar with a who's who of the local band scene. Within arm's reach at any moment were members of Felt, Big Train, Code Black, The Mungers, local DJ Soulful Mr. T and Jamie Ross of the Underground Concerts. It was a barnstorming, back-slapping evening of good cheer.

Rich Maloof began the evening with his centered and heartfelt solo guitar, followed by the relentlessly upbeat 3rd Gear and their spin on an hour of classics. The David Easton Band then stirred it up with their air-tight jazz/funk arrangements. Led by Easton center stage on double decker keyboards and soaring vocals, he directed their light-speed delivery like Kirk on the bridge of the Enterprise. A high voltage riff on "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" during the intro to his finale ("You Got What You Wanted") was a luscious improvisational salute to the season.

Dickson and crew will try to top Friday's gig with the next Rent Party on Wednesday, Jan. 13 -- an evening of all original music with bands TBA.

Rent Party has found a home at the Elks Club, and we should be very grateful that they've moved in.