Benefit concert is simply 'Spectacular'

Last March, Cassandra Avenatti and her friend Jackie Boyd decided that they wanted to do more then fund-raise for the homeless in the community. The result of that brainstorming is Project Fierce, an all-volunteer start-up designed to reduce LGBTQ homelessness through affirming, no-cost, transitional housing and comprehensive support services.

On Dec. 14, Project Fierce partnered with Slo-Mo Productions and WBEZ 91.5 Radio to present “A Slo-Mo Spectacular” at The Bottom Lounge. The night was hardly just a fundraiser but a full Christmas spectacular hosted by Slo-Mo’s Kristen Kaza and Ike Holter of The Inconvenience, and featuring some of Chicago’s edgiest and most explosive talent. On top of the show, there was also a dance party with DJ Tess Kisner and an evening-long raffle with prizes from The Pleasure Chest, Story Corps, Enjoy General Store, Tulip and many other businesses.

The show kicked off in a big way, with out vocalist J.C. Brooks fronting the band Sidewalk Chalk with a searing rendition of “This Christmas.” From there, Christmas classics got reworked and re-ignited with a mixed bag of styles and stylists: “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (a vamping duet with Matthew Santos and trombonist David Ben-Porat), “Santa Baby” (a saucy take by Psalm One), “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (a delicate, heartbreaking reading by Lili K.), “What Are You Doing New Year’s” (a nakedly sincere Jeanine O’toole) and “Santa’s Blues” (a rollicking blues strut from Grana Louise).”

Rather than confine the music to just Christmas songs, the concert kept returning, without heavy-handedness, to creating hope and daring to dream. Erthe St. James’ “When I get my Money” was light and smart, KOKUMO’s “There Will Come A Day” was deeply moving and spoke to the spirit, Deja Taylor’s group reading of “Dreams” was fiery and inspirational, and Angele Anise’s “Step by Step” rocked and shimmied.

To put it mildly, the standing room only crowd made merry the entire evening and helped Project Fierce to a grand success.