Punks Want Nice Things (For The Homeless)

Milwaukee math rockers Gauss.

I wrote this piece as part of my JAMS-201 final project in May 2017. 

On Friday, April 21, Milwaukee-based punk artists will band together at High Dive to raise money for the homeless. The benefit show, organized by local promoter Peter Woods, will be donating the night's proceeds to the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary (MBHS), a resource center for the homeless in Milwaukee.

The show, called Punks Want Nice Things (For People Who Deserve Them), will feature a number of underground Milwaukee musicians. Bands performing include indie rockers Lilyan and Kate Moths. Math rockers Beach Burial will be performing as well along with emo band Raffle House. Post-rock band Gauss is the evening's headliner.

Gauss frontman Eddie Chapman was very eager to play the show and raise money for a worthy cause.

"We felt strongly about supporting this cause when we were asked to play," Chapman said. "We look for ways to use our musical project to help give back to others in need. If you think about how much energy, effort, and money is going into [Milwaukee's] music scene, you start to wonder if it could be directed in a more positive direction."

In late December of 2016, MBHS decided to move to a new location due to outgrowth of their current space. The building is located in Milwaukee's 53206 zip code, an area that is statistically the most impoverished neighborhood in the city.

"MBHS purchased a five story, 35,000 square foot building that will serve as our permanent site to offer the current services and much more," explains Benita Raney, MBHS's administrative assistant. "The building will also have a medical clinic, aquaponics, hydroponics, and gardens that will provide fresh produce and fish for our expanded meal program."

Chapman says he and his bandmates can easily get behind playing a free show if it means informing music fans about the socioeconomic problems Milwaukee is facing.

"[MBHS] is literally a building waiting to be made operational. The quicker they raise funds, the quicker services are offered," he explained. "We recognize how important it will be to the city and community, and we're always ready to help support a project like that."

MBHS has been active for the last three years. The sanctuary was founded in 2014 and began to serve the local homeless community in 2015. The organization's executive director, MacCanon Brown, served as Executive Director of Repairers of the Beach in Milwaukee from 1992 to 2014. The sanctuary's goal is to provide a safer space for homeless and other at-risk people in Milwaukee. Their programs serve the greater Milwaukee area and aim to meet the needs of marginalized residents.

Brown is very hopeful that development in the first half of 2017 will begin the rehabilitation process of the new building. The building's original use was a factory, and it was then used as a warehouse space. The five-story building will have a multitude of uses. Each story will have its own function, such as an employment service center, health clinics, urban agriculture centers, and meeting spaces for other Milwaukee-based groups.

Even though High Dive is a very small dive bar, it's safe to assume the bands will be able to attract sizable crowds. There will be a cover charge of $5 as well as a sliding donation scale. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the night of the show.

For volunteer opportunities with MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary or to donate, visit http://www.mbsanctuary.org/.