March 4-10, 2004

music

Crowd Favorite

by Michael Pelusi

rock/pop/benefit

A music scene is not a music scene without people to listen, to go to shows and give their support. In the ’90s, Kim Chowchuvech was as integral a part of the Philly rock scene as any musician, a passionate and seemingly permanent fixture at shows. Sadly, Chowchuvech, who moved to California two years ago, has been diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma (colon cancer). To help provide financial support, a number of Philly rock vets have joined forces to put together a benefit for him at The Khyber on Friday. The event will be a combination rock show, silent auction and DJ night.

Steve Anderson and Debbie Polak, the husband-and-wife team in Zonic Shockum, got the ball rolling with help from Hugh Hegarty, a friend and colleague of mechanical engineer Chowchuvech. They knew, Anderson says, that "the most obvious thing would be for the local music community to come together for him, because he loved it so much and supported it so much when he was here." Philly rock vets like Art DiFuria, Apollo Creed, The Heroics, as well as the original live lineup of Zonic Shockum, among others, are set to play. Another friend, Kathy Mullaney, organized the silent auction with items donated by the likes of Big Tea Party, Eye Candy Studio, Trading Spaces: Family and others. The DJ portion will utilize mixing, synths and sequencers -- emblematic of the electronic music that Anderson says Chowchuvech developed a real appreciation for during his later years in town.

On Chowchuvech's contribution to the scene, Anderson reminisced, "Kim's a 50-year-old man and he was going out with more energy than the 30-year-old people he went out with. He was just so enthusiastic and a real good fan to a lot of bands."

If you miss the show, you can still contribute: www.zonicshockum.com/kim has a PayPal link as well as photos and information about Chowchuvech.

Fri., March 5, 9 p.m., $10, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

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