Oregon Music News: Oregon’s all-genre music magazine since 2009

05/17/2019

Benefit Concert for Oregon Lyme Disease Network ft Kyle Morton (of Typhoon) at Holocene

By CARMEN KINTZ, PHOTOS. ANTHONY CADIZ, STORY // Finding support through commonalities was the theme of the night. Creating change by sharing stories, whether spoken or sung. Smiles, embraces, and good words were given in return. There were some powerful moments to be witnessed that night. As someone who has seen loved ones fight Lyme disease, I was touched and proud to be a part of this event. 

This Music for Mental Health event was hosted by the Oregon Lyme Disease Network and held at Holocene, in Portland. Their goals: bring a heightened awareness to Lyme Disease and also raise money for the Vaughan Heppe Young Adult's Fund, which helps children and young adults in financial need cover the costs of initial diagnosis and testing.

Three performers took the stage that evening, beginning with folk singer-songwriter Anna Hoone, later followed by Kendall Core, and headliner Kyle Morton. All three artists that performed had been chosen because they had battled Lyme in their past.

Anna Hoone played acoustic guitar and was accompanied by Tucker Jackson on pedal steel, and Margaret Wehr with backup vocals. Anna’s sound was ethereal; the pedal steel moaned and vocal harmonies melded effortlessly beneath Anna’s melancholy lyrics. The clarity of her voice and her tender delivery was beautiful.

Up second, Kendall Core played rhythm guitar and was joined by her band, which included lead guitar, bass, and drums. They warned the crowed to have earplugs handy as they were about to raise the decibel level a bit louder than the opening act. With strong indie-rock influences and a powerful singing voice, Kendall led her band fearlessly.

Before the last act took the stage, a couple who had been effected by Lyme took the stage to tell their story. It was shocking to hear their account of struggle and loss. This mother and father spoke of losing their son to suicide, and how he had fought a sudden onset depression brought on by Lyme, though they didn’t know the cause at the time. The audience was silent and attentive. Many shed tears, but there was a huge sense of support and caring in the room for the parents that spoke. When they had finished their story, the crowd paid respect with enormous applause for the parent’s bravery and ambition to affect change.

Kyle Morton stepped up last to deliver a truly grand finale, with only a bassist and drummer duo to back him up. He played his electric guitar through some effects and delay pedals that helped broaden his sound. Obviously well rehearsed and with an energetic stage presence, Kyle and his band dazzled the audience. They played songs from Kyles solo album but also some hits from Typhoon, the band for which Kyle plays frontman. Typhoon is an 11-piece band, but somehow their 3-piece version was able to create a sound large and dynamic enough to astonish.

Finding support through commonalities was the theme of the night. Creating change by sharing stories, whether spoken or sung. Smiles, embraces, and good words were given in return. There were some powerful moments to be witnessed that night. As someone who has seen loved ones fight Lyme disease, I was touched and proud to be a part of this event.

-Anthony Cadiz

Post a comment:

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Comment:

2000 characters remaining

Captcha:

Comments

Theresa Denham

The Oregon Lyme DIsease Network gives special thanks to all the Musicians who made this possible and their heart tugging personal stories of tick illness and denial of diagnosis, Gina at the Holocene for providing such an amazing venue and to Nicole McMullin (Music for Mental Health) for all of her organization for this event. .For more information on Tick Borne Illness and more information on how you can be involved, feel free to contact us by email or by phone. http://oregonlyme.com/ or 541-321-6536. If we dont answer, please leave a message and someone will get back to you. Our volunteers are spread very thin, and we have a lot of patients we advocate for so please leave a message, and we will call back if we dont answer right away,

Web Design and Web Development by Buildable