Haiti relief now


While Simon Cowell is busy roping in celebrities for his big, We-Are-The-World-esque R.E.M. cover, there are still many local, less A-list events going on across the L.A. area. If you missed Radiohead’s performance this past weekend and the Hope for Haiti telethon didn’t sap your charitable spirit, here are a few more recently announced upcoming shows aimed at helping the victims of the recent Haiti earthquake.

Help Haiti: A Benefit Show

Jan. 20 | $10

Cinespace

It’s locals only night as the independent Eastside gets together for a Hollywood Boulevard benefit show. Rock duo The Pity Party takes the stage with Pocahaunted, Letting Up Despite Great Faults and Morgan of Whispertown 2000 for a show with proceeds going to Operation USA’s current work in Haiti.  The charitable organization won a Nobel Peace Price in 1997, and the lineup is deep and entertaining.

Stand With Haiti: Tenacious D and Friends

Feb. 2 | $39.50-79.50

The Wiltern

The greatest heavy acoustic act rounded up a slew of friends for a show benefiting Partners in Health. Joining Jack Black’s band Tenacious D is Frank Black of the Pixies, comedian Patton Oswalt, James Mercer of The Shins, Bob Odenkirk of Mr. Show and others. Part concert, part comedy show and all philanthropic, the all-star event goes toward a reliable charity working toward a good cause.

“S.O.S. Saving Ourselves: Help For Haiti’’ telethon

Feb. 5 | FREE

Not technically a concert one can attend (unless, of course, you happen to be in Miami on Feb. 5), the S.O.S. Saving Ourselves: Help For Haiti telethon and concert is a star-studded evening put together by BET that will be aired simultaneously on all three Viacom channels — MTV, VH1, and BET — starting at 8 p.m. Although the final list has yet to be announced, Ludacris, Mary J. Blidge, Queen Latifah and Diddy have all signed on and appearances by Robin Thicke, Ciara and others have been rumored. If you can’t get out of the house but still want to see a good show and help the relief efforts, stay in Friday night and check this out.

KCRW Haiti Benefit Relief Concert

Feb. 6 | $25

El Rey Theater

An ethnically-rich locals-only benefit show features the multicultural, long-steady ska group Hepcat and  Cambodian-psychedelic rockers  Dengue Fever. Also on the bill is Brazilian-born lounge singer  Joey Altruda with a band featuring members of Fishbone, reggae-dub outfit The Lions and East Los Angeles cumbia group Very Be Careful. If your tastes run a bit ecletic (and you want an excuse to see a rare appearance from Hepcat), this is the show to check out.

Family Guy and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Live

Feb. 12 | $59.50 – 89.50

Gibson Amphitheatre

The cast and creators of both Family Guy and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia come together for a one-night-only Haiti benefit show.  The cast of Family Guy will perform all of the show’s bawdy musical numbers — from the show’s theme song to Stewie and Brian’s duets — while the It’s Always Sunny crew will perform their infamous live rock-opera, “The Nightman Cometh.” The press release claims there are more yet-to-be-announced guests, but isn’t the presence of comedic television greatness enough? All proceeds will go to the Partners in Health’s emergency Haitian relief efforts.

Make it Better: An Evening of Comedy with Will Ferrell and Friends

Feb. 20 | $45 – 250

Nokia Theatre

Rob Riggle. Dimitri Martin. Zach “the one man wolfpack” Galifianakis. Tenacious D.  All these awesome comedians will join together with the USC alumnus-turned-Anchorman himself, Will Ferrell, for a concert meant to benefit Pete Carroll’s charity A Better L.A. When the earthquake struck in Haiti, Carroll’s local benefit show went global and the team set up a 2-for-1 ticket special with proceeds from one day of sales going to the Red Cross and its relief work in Haiti. The lineup is phenomenal, and, with the profits going towards both local efforts and the Haiti aid, it’s a show too good to pass up.