Friends!

One year ago Jeff was eating a pizza on the corner of Broadway and America, gazing curiously across the street at the looming, shuttered bulk of the Columbus Theatre.  The clock tower read 1:00, and this was true (a twice daily coincidence). “OPENING SOON,” on the weathered Marquee, a tired and ironic staple of life on Broadway.

This theatre had seen everything, and embodied a century’s worth of American contradictions (note dubious anti-hero namesake). From the glorious heights of opera to the survivalism of it’s XXX film years, it has hosted everyone from Lightning Bolt to Julie Andrews. It has been the subject of endless first amendment law suits. It has been over the years lobbied, condemned, bent and bargained for like a cherished property of Monopoly America. Jeff’s pizza was getting cold. He nodded (warm but businesslike) to the crossing guard and went to see a cellphone about a man.

Brief profile of a man:

Jon S. Berberian — owner, opera singer, and defender of her life and majesty — has helmed the theatre since 1962. He and his family have fought tirelessly to protect the Columbus from the bulldozers circling. Endless devotion. Man of principle. Man of sense. Tenor.

A thing led to another thing and I can’t tell you what because I’d have to kill you, but let’s just say, The Columbus Theatre has become a rehearsal and recording home for we of The Low Anthem. It is a dream. We have set up shop in the 1930′s dance and acting school above the Broadway marquee. It is a magical place to work, replete with ghosts of bygone projectionists, world-class, double-proscenium acoustics, pop-corn machines, and enough ju-ju to drown a goo-goo.

Now, we are incredibly excited to announce— on Saturday, November 17th— the Columbus Theatre will reopen its doors for Revival! the grand opening benefit concert! A TON OF RAD LOCAL BANDS and PERSONS have come together, volunteering time and more to make this happen. We will play. The Moth-machine will fly.

Joining us will be: Brown Bird, Roz Raskin and the Rice Cakes, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, Vudu Sister, Alec K Redfearn, and a mystery guest to be announced later for all the right reasons.  There will be 2 (or 3) stages. Julian’s double-decker food truck omnibus and Nice Slice pizza will be vending outside, and Revival Brewing will be supplying sweet juices. The kick-off show will be RIDICULOUS and may include charity hair-cuts by band-members. We invite you to be a part of the rebirth of Columbus Theatre! Half of the profits from the concert will go to the ongoing restoration, and half will be donated to a non-profit called Atraves.   Atraves is a Providence-Based Nonprofit Working for Education, Health, and Development in Nicaragua.

Tickets are $20, and limited in number.  There are also ticket + signed poster tickets available in even more limited number.  Get them here.

Doors at 6. We can’t wait to see you. Get your tickets now, be a part of this extraordinarium.

Love,

Jeff, Ben, Jocie, Tyler, Mike, Moth-machine
The Low Anthem
Jon S. Berberian

The band will play a special show curated by Justin Townes Earle and also featuring Joe Pug at Pace University’s Michael Shimmel Center for the Arts in NYC on October 27th.  The show will feature artists’ original songs in the context of the continuing legacy of Woody Guthrie in his centennial celebration year.  Tickets are available now here.

This Land is Your Land (SXSW) from Backstreets on Vimeo.