If you've ever had the pleasure of hearing the Chicharones, you know what a unique band they are. The group, made up of rappers Josh Martinez and Sleep plus a live band, have been putting out their kick ass brand of hip-hop and roaming the world, charming audiences with magic tricks, silly costumes and a variety of generally wacky antics, all the while making music that's fun, upbeat and a treat to take in.
Sadly, the Chicharones have fallen on hard times. A couple months ago their drummer, Chase Pingree, had his drums stolen when his car was broken into. The whole set was taken and his insurance decided they weren't going to cover the replacement costs. The band has done a good job making due with borrowed pieces here and there, but Pingree has still had to scramble to make due and Camobear, the label that houses the Chicharones (and that Martinez helps run), isn't going to stand for it anymore.
The group is hosting a benefit show on April 7 at Someday Lounge in Portland, OR to raise funds to buy Pingree a new set of drums. There will be performances by the Chicharones, Raise The Bridges, Quixotic, Abadawn and The Kill Party and Eddie Valiant. The show is free, but donations are suggested. If you aren't in the area, you can still help by going to the Camobear Records website.
To give you an idea of how talented Pingree is, there's also a free mixtape of him with DJ Zone you can pick up here. Talent aside, this is a really crappy situation to find yourself in as a working musician who probably has limited funds at his disposal. Help a dude out and slide a few dollars their way.