When Graham Williams was booking events at the original Emo's venue years ago, an idea was born that reflects Austin at its heart, Free Week. The event has blossomed from cover free shows the entire week following Christmas at Emo's to a larger event spanning multiple clubs along Red River Street downtown. The event gives Austin music fans easy access to a large variety of local acts. We were in the thick of the action early in the week seeing The Boxing Lesson, The White White Lights (TWWL) and Danny Malone. Wednesday was The Midgetmen and Bike Problems getting punk at Red 7. On Thursday, Hard Proof headlined Red 7 and Saturday Quiet Company capped an amazing week of shows at Swan Dive with STEREO IS A LIE.
One of the highlights of Free Week this year was Hard Proof's well-received headlining set at Red 7 on Thursday. The afrobeat collective comprised of nine talented, Austin-based musicians have cultivated a loyal following that mixed with a curious Free Week crowd who enthusiastically danced to the hypnotic African-inspired rythms. Something truly remarkable happened before Hard Proof took the stage.
Austin Non-Profit, The Revival Fund, was sponsoring the event and had a display table set up in the back corner of the outside stage area. Saxophone player, Jason Frey was speaking to founder, Gene Griffin and related the difficulties conga player, Tony Cruz has been contending with since being diagnosed with pulmonary disorder, COPD last Spring. Shortly after this conversation, Griffin and Frey found Cruz near the backstage door and introduced the conga player to Griffin who offered Cruz a check and cash from his organization to defray mounting medical and living costs.
Cruz asked Examiner to publish this thank you message:
"The support from the members of Hard Proof and their families has been humbling. Even more incredible has been the assistance offered from fans of the band and now Gene Griffin. The Revival Fund's donation means a lot to me and I cannot thank them enough for their gift."
While the donations received Thursday helped Cruz tremendously and he is pursuing additional financial support from the Social Security Disability Administration, the current donations fall short of the goal the band set. He may or may not receive more government assistance. It is still undetermined. Meanwhile, fans can continue to help by visiting the Hard Proof website and naming your price for a beautiful collection of songs recorded by by the group last year.
Next, Hard Proof is at the Sahara Lounge with Money Chicha on January 13th. Money Chicha is a Psych-Cumbia side project of Grupo Fantasma & Brownout. Drummer and Hard Proof's founding member, Stephen Bidwell turns 35 at midnight that evening.
He has only one birthday wish this year, to get as much financial support flowing to Tony Cruz as possible.
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