On February 14, a number of musicians participated in the Show Your Love for Haiti benefit concert at New York’s Manny’s On Second. Though the benefit featured a mix of bluegrass, funk and New Orleans sounds, the evening had a produced Mardi Gras-theme, featuring appearances by “Barbecue Bob”, George Kilby Jr and the Road Dogs, Railroad Earth’s Andy Goessling, banjo-wiz Tony Trischka, Hot Tuna’s Barry Mitterhoff, Railroad Earth’s John Skehan, Skip Ward, Danny Weiss, Ween’s Dave Dreiwitz, Henry Butler and Lily White.

Local blues legend Barbecue Bob and the Spareribs was the first band to play and, after a song or two, Ween’s Dave Dreiwitz joined the band on bass for a selection of blues songs. Afterwards, George Kilby Jr.’s band took the stage with Railroad Earth’s Andy Goessling for a set of bluegrass, folk and funky zydeco songs that fit into the evening’s overall Mardi Gras vibe. One particularly intriguing tune, “Broke Down Monkey,” brought the crowd to their feet with its zydeco-funk groove. To close their set, George Kilby Jr and the Road Dogs brought up New Orleans piano player, Henry Butler, for a choice 11-minute version of “Iko Iko.” The evening climaxed with a bluegrass jam featuring Tony Trischka, Barry Mitterhoff, Skip Ward, Danny Weiss, John Skehan, and Andy Goessling that included a take on the dark “Jerusalem Ridge.”

In total, the benefit raised $1,400 for the Stand With Haiti foundation. For more information please visit www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti