Raise some money, give it away, rock and roll. With assorted players from likewise assorted bands, the ‘Something I Learned Today’ tribute to Hüsker Dü on Dec. 10 at Union Pool in Brooklyn will benefit the community-response charity New York Cares, which has its volunteer hands in a pretty vast swath of programs across the boroughs of New York, kind of going where and when it’s needed to do what’s needed. In December, in addition to whatever else they’ve got going, they run a program giving out toys. They do SAT prep. All kinds of stuff that if capitalism were dismantled probably wouldn’t be necessary in the first place. Nonetheless.

This is one show, happening one night, and it’s for a decent cause, but it’s probably not the kind of thing I’d usually write about. Just being honest. Benefit shows happen a lot. If I covered all of them, I wouldn’t have time for anything else. What’s different here is primarily that Ben Smith from The Brought Low is involved — anytime that dude picks up a guitar is a positive for the world — and he’s joined by the likes of Erica Stolz of Sanhedrin and Jason Alexander Byers of Disengage/Black Black Black, among the various others you can see below. Smith will be part of a backing trio with Jeff Kaplan and Aaron Pagdon, who also play together in the hockey-themed six-piece Two Man Advantage.

Maybe that gets you out of the house and maybe not, but it sounds like a cool night to me and you can’t argue with the cause or the tunes. Info follows here, as snagged from the Facebook event page (also linked):

Something I Learned Today: An All-Star Tribute To Hüsker Dü to benefit New York Cares

Dead Flowers Productions proudly presents Something I Learned Today: An All-Star Tribute To Hüsker Dü to benefit New York Cares.

Guest singers include Mick Collins (The Dirtbombs), Erica Stolz (Sanhedrin), Joey Plunket (Country Westerns), Anthony Roman (Radio 4), Eric Davidson (New Bomb Turks), Kevin Egan (Beyond), Sohrab Habibion (Obits/Savak), Michael Jaworski (Savak), Leah Beth Fishman (PMS & The Mood Swings/Habibi), Jason Byers (Disengage), Zach Lipez (Publicist UK), Zohra Atash (Azar Swan), Vinny Carriero (Action Park), and others TBA.

The band: Jeff Kaplan (Two Man Advantage/Too Many Voices), Aaron Pagdon (Two Man Advantage/Action Park/Federale) and Benjamin Howard Smith (The Brought Low/Sweet Diesel).

Plus: Moral Panic and DJ TomDash (WFMU)!

All profits to benefit New York Cares.

Event page: https://fb.me/e/2ZZUkgAZH

Hüsker Dü, “Something I Learned Today”

It’s not every day you run into a Lost Goat connection. Sanhedrin, newly signed to Metal Blade for their upcoming third album, is fronted by Erica Stoltz, whose pedigree includes not only that largely-lost three-piece from the pre-social media, turn-of-the-century days of heavy rock, but also to Amber Asylum, the pioneering chamber-doom outfit from whence also sprang Worm Ouroboros, Giant Squid, Grayceon, Culper Ring, etc. A not insignificant CV.

Guitarist Jeremy Sosville and drummer Nathan Honor have their own lineages, between Black Anvil and Vermefug, respectively, but as 2019’s The Poisoner readily demonstrates, Sanhedrin‘s sound is more singularly indebted to the classic metal end of doom. One imagines seeing them share a stage with Magic Circle and bringing forth roughed-up NWOBHM gods with copious spells of summoning.

Oh yeah, and I guess Metal Blade‘s pedigree is pretty good too. Remember that time they put out Show No Mercy?

Info from the PR wire:

Metal Blade Records is proud to welcome Brooklyn’s Sanhedrin to its worldwide roster!

Formed in 2015, Sanhedrin have released two albums to-date: A Funeral For The World (2017) and The Poisoner (2019). The trio (which consists of former Amber Asylum/Lost Goat bassist/vocalist Erica Stoltz, Black Anvil guitarist Jeremy Sosville and drummer Nathan Honor) blends doom and classic metal into gripping, instantaneously memorable songs with lyrics that delve into the darker elements of humanity and the cyclical nature of destructive ideas. Thought-provoking and inherently catchy at the same time, Sanhedrin is unafraid to venture into unchartered territory.

The band will enter the studio to record their third full-length – and Metal Blade Records debut – in spring 2021.

Sanhedrin comments: “We are excited and humbled to join Metal Blade Records! Their legacy spans four decades and countless amazing artists, many of whom have inspired us over the years. We are proud to be part of its future, and look forward to what this new partnership will bring for Sanhedrin.”

Stay tuned for more news about Sanhedrin coming soon!

Sanhedrin line-up:
Jeremy Sosville – Guitar
Erica Stoltz – Bass, Vocals
Nathan Honor – Drums

https://www.sanhedrin.nyc/
https://www.instagram.com/sanhedrin_official/
https://www.facebook.com/sanhedrinband
https://thesanhedrin.bandcamp.com/

Sanhedrin, The Poisoner (2019)