SFR Digital-ish Picks—Week of Feb. 10

Feedlots

Food for Love virtual fest to benefit hungry New Mexicans statewide

By now, none of us are strangers to the online virtual benefit concert. In Santa Fe alone, we've already experienced Tonic for the Times and Virtual LemonAid, both of which raised money to help New Mexicans with food, rent assistance and whatever else was pressing.

The biggest, however, has yet to come, and with the upcoming Food for Love event running over the Valentine's Day weekend, scads of the country's most esteemed artists come together to raise the big bucks for the New Mexico Association of Food Banks, a new consortium encompassing the five major food banks across the state, including the Food Depot in Santa Fe and Albuquerque's Roadrunner Food Bank.

"These five food banks cover every one of the 33 counties in New Mexico, and they've formed an association so every place in the state is served," organizer Bill Banowsky, also owner of Violet Crown Cinema, tells SFR. "It was a natural group for us to work with, and all of the money raised goes right to them—we don't touch the money—and they tell us $1 can feed up to four people."

On the bill, you'll find folks like David Byrne (who has already played a couple other shows for New Mexico causes), Ben Dickey, Charlie Sexton, Sue Foley, Shawn Colvin, Marcia Ball, Lyle Lovett, Nathaniel Rateliff, Eliza Gilkyson and many more than we could possibly print here. Each pre-recorded a performance, and local promotions outfit AMP Concerts edited the five-hour package together.

Banowsky says the show's been in the works since last summer following musician Terry Allen's A Night in Austin show, a similar benefit that raised over half a million bucks for out-of-work Texas musicians. Back home in New Mexico, Allen's organizing alongside Banowsky and others, and the song remains the same, though funds will go directly to feeding anyone needy. So what is it about New Mexico that would make all these artists band together to help us?

"A combination of Terry making the ask, and it being a worthy cause," Banowsky explains. "Many of these artists have played here a lot, and there's an affinity for our state and our people. New Mexico is a beloved place. We've put a light on that, and the response has been great from the artists."

Food for Love runs for 48 hours, but will also live on in website form, should folks wish to donate later down the line.

"We're hopeful we'll be able to continue attracting donations after the show is done," says Banowsky. (Alex De Vore)

Food for Love:
All Day Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14. Free (but you should donate).
foodforlove.org

Seeing Red

Canyon Road mainstay Nüart Gallery gets into the Valentine's Day spirit with its upcoming group exhibition The Red Show, a veritable smorgasbord of enticing and romantic pieces that make use of that sexiest of primary colors. Painter Erin Cone finds intimacy through figurative glances at the shoulder or the nape of the neck while sculptor Diana Moore highlights urgency and beauty. Shar Coulson abstracts the whole thing with mixed media pieces on linen, while surrealist John Tarahteeff hints at the devil in us all in another dreamlike home run from the veteran painter. You can make an appointment to visit in real life, or simply catch the virtual show at the gallery's website. (ADV)

The Red Show:
All Day Friday, Feb. 12-Sunday, Feb. 21. Free.
nuartgallery.com

Lub Songs

New Mexicans who pay attention to the world of folk and Americana singer-songwriters will no doubt already be familiar with Taos native (now LA-based) Max Gomez. He's been making a name for himself since his teens with an earnest blend of fingerpicking, sugary-sweet vocals and subtle nods to the blues of yesteryear. For his upcoming Love Songs livestream, however, Gomez culls a romantic set from his own catalogue and love songs through the ages. The idea is to help lovers celebrate Valentine's Day, but also to connect with Gomez fans from across the country. Chances are you'll find something to love someplace in there. (ADV)

Max Gomez: Love Songs Livestream:
4 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $20 suggested donation.
maxgomezmusic.com

The Fattest Tuesday

Alright, well, that's enough of that lovey–dovey stuff—let's shift to big fat parties and big fat fun and the nonstop revelry unique to Louisiana. How do we do that all the way over here in New Mexico? Through the Lensic Performing Arts Center, obviously, which brings Jon Cleary and Ivan Neville's Fat Tuesday livestream show live from New Orleans' Esplanade Studios. The beloved funky band leaders join forces to give us a taste of Mardi Gras as only they can, and with a bit of your ticket price going to support Santa Fe's multicultural downtown theater, there's pretty much no reason to say no. Just don't get weird about the bead situation in your own homes. Or, you know what? Maybe you should. (ADV)

Jon Cleary and Ivan Neville: Fat Tuesday:
7 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 16. $18-$25.
lensic.org