Concert held at Lawn Gnome to protest proposed
expansion of Loop 202
By Brandon Kutzler, On Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

“Protesting against potential expansion of State Route 202, a benefit concert for the No South Mountain Freeway group was held Saturday night at Lawn Gnome Publishing on Roosevelt Row.

The group opposes a proposed eight-lane extension of Loop 202 that would run through Ahwatukee. The responsibility for such an extension would fall under the purview of the Arizona Department of Transportation, or ADOT, which has supported the expansion since 1983 through multiple delays caused by shortage of funds and political controversy. The extension could cut into territory of the Gila River Indian Community reservation and the public lands of South Mountain Park.

Folk singers Exploding Oranges, James Keenan of synth-rockers A Life of Science and hardcore punk band Lo Cash Ninjas took to the stage as activists distributed fliers to attendees and spoke about the issue. The concert followed a previous fundraiser at Lawn Gnome in December.

Justine Hecht, a justice studies graduate student at ASU and a member of No South Mountain Freeway, explained that the benefit was more about raising awareness of the issue than raising money.

“When you have a bunch of people, that’s actually a lot more powerful than a bunch of money,” Hecht said.

Aaron Johnson said he allowed No South Mountain Freeway to host their show at his bookstore because he sympathizes with the cause as a focal point of Native American rights and sustainable development.

“It’s become a political issue when it shouldn’t be,” Johnson said. “Build more in already developed areas, and leave the areas outside of our already conquered spectrum.”

But Johnson also said that, beyond his personal views, he felt the show was in line with his vision of his store as a forum for free expression and constructive communication.

“It’s incredible how much people don’t think about freedom of speech,” Johnson said. “That’s really what this place is, a sanctuary of all beliefs, all political ideas, all science, all religion. It’s a way to add to the bigger picture, which is more discourse.”

Okay, what’s playing here next! We have gotta see an upcoming show here!
McCartney the Gnome and Amish Meth Lab Member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    [December 11, 2012]

Gnome Band, Amish Meth Lab, Opens for The Smashing Pumpkins!

The All State Arena is proud to present nationally known gnome band, Amish Meth Lab, in concert TODAY at 11:39pm. Tickets are $984.01 and available by sending a wire transfer to a nameless Swiss Bank, who will upload payment to us via blog post.

Oh yeah, and some band called The Smashing Pumpkins is supposed to show up too.

There’s all kinds of hype about this last minute show. Rumors are flying that there will even be hippos in attendance. So what’s the buzz all about?

 “Its music from the heart that hits you right between the eyes.”  – Diablo de Mantequilla, The duck-riding gnome

 

”It’s hard to imagine another artist on the heavy rock/reggae/folk scene who combines the same concise, deceptively understated, lyrical insight and sometimes devastating wit with such world-class instrumental prowess.”     – Isabelle, The Cabbage Patch

 

”It’s not just a wealth of musical styles or their smooth and expressive sounds that have made them such fine artists. Their songs, which range from thoughtful to silly to poetic, show that they knows their way around the gnomish language and gnomish culture just as well as they know they way around a bottle of gin.” – Not Timmy, The Monkey

See ya at the show!
McCartney of AML