Benefit Auction Rapidly Gathering Momentum

Perhaps due both to their high-density glitz and glam and to their inevitable sappiness, some rock-star-spangled benefits long ago reached a point of diminishing returns. But a San Diego-based project continues to build steam for a very worthy cause.

Beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday, the San Diego Youth and Community Services organization will hold its fifth annual “Celebri-T-Shirt Auction” to battle homelessness and child abuse. This year’s model--to be chaired by concert promoter Bill Silva and sponsored by Foodmaker/Jack-in-the-Box, the La Mesa Optimist Club, and radio stations KGB, KSON and Q-106--will take place at the Kona Kai Club, 1551 Shelter Island Drive.

The auction raises money by taking bids on items donated by internationally known personalities in the arts, entertainment, and sports, with a heavy emphasis on contemporary music. As before, there will be autographed T-shirts surrendered by the likes of Neil Young, Chris Isaak, ZZ Top, the Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson), Billy Joel and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.

But, despite the event’s name, T-shirts seem to be taking a back seat this year to such signature-affixed items as tour programs (Paul Simon), tour jackets (Debbie Gibson, Vanilla Ice), guitars (Carlos Santana, Aerosmith), framed platinum albums (Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, the Rolling Stones, Mariah Carey), and movie posters (Madonna’s John-Henry on “Truth or Dare,” Oliver Stone’s on “The Doors,” Kevin Costner’s on “Dances with Wolves”). The current harvest of star-kissed paraphernalia even includes a signed black fedora donated by Michael Jackson.

The prizes offered in a one-dollar “Chinese auction,” a first this year, include tickets to every concert promoted by Bill Silva Presents during the next year, and free parking for a year in a downtown space donated by Ace Parking.

Both Rolling Stone and Performance magazines recently donated free, full-page ads about the auction in editions circulated in other areas of the country. North County’s TransWorld Art and Design donated the graphics for the ads, which enable people to make telephone bids from around the States.

The auction itself is a two-phase operation. A “voice auction,” at which local personalities actually will call the bidding, runs from 8 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. A “silent auction,” in which interested parties write their bids on lists corresponding to items displayed on lattice-work around the room, lasts from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Tickets to the Celebri-T-Shirt Auction are $25 in advance, available at all TicketMaster outlets (278-TIXS). After costs, all proceeds will go to the SDYCS Storefront at 12th and C streets. The Storefront is a collaborative project of Catholic Charities and METRO, and the only shelter in town specifically for street children.

Byrds fans around the world continue to mourn the recent loss of original lead singer Gene Clark, who died May 24 in Los Angeles of natural causes at the age of 46. Clark never got the credit he deserved for his contributions to the first three classic Byrds albums, and many of his best songs were criminally absent from the big box-set Byrds compilation coordinated by fellow Byrd Roger McGuinn and released at the end of last year.

One local who received the news of Clark’s death with sadness was Mac Falk of Falk and Morrow Talent in Solana Beach. Falk was instrumental in luring Clark out of semi-retirement in 1985, and eventually putting him onstage at the Belly Up Tavern fronting a band called the Byrds, of which he was the only original member (this was before the five founding members began squabbling over rights to the name).

At the time, Clark looked a little rough for wear, but that January, 1986, show would prove to be one of the more memorable of the year. He’ll be missed. Now, maybe the Columbia and A&M; record labels will put their greedy, pointy heads together and release an anthology worthy of Clark’s under-appreciated talents.

That was photographer Mark Seliger--he shot the Black Crowes cover for the May 30 issue of Rolling Stone--snapping away at the Belly Up Tavern on May 25. The Bonedaddys were playing, but that wasn’t what brought the lensman to town. Apparently, the Stone is doing a feature on beach culture for one of their July issues, and Seliger was collecting some appropriately “So-Cal” images for the photo layout. While at the Belly Up, he shot a sweaty Bonedaddy backstage, then aimed a few clicks at the large, unusually party-hearty crowd of revelers in attendance.

GRACE NOTES: Country Joe McDonald has signed to do a solo gig at Winston’s on June 12 (now on sale at the Ocean Beach club). . . .

Robin Trower will play a June 18 gig at a new club, J.J.’s Hot Rock, 1862 Palm Ave., Imperial Beach. . . .

The Judds will include San Diego on their farewell-tour itinerary. The mother-daughter singing team of Naomi and Wynona Judd are curtailing future touring due to Naomi’s health problems. They’ll be joined by Garth Brooks and the Pirates of the Mississippi for a June 26 concert at the Miramar Naval Air Station (on sale now at all TicketMaster and military ticket outlets). . . .

The “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” show is returning to town for a July 13 show at SDSU’s Open Air Theatre (on sale at all TicketMaster outlets at noon Sunday). . . .

Something called the “Lollapalooza Caravan” will bring a multiple bill to Southwestern College’s Devore Stadium on July 20. The 1 p.m. show features Jane’s Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Living Colour, Nine Inch Nails, Ice T, the Rollins Band, and the BH Surfers (on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at all TicketMaster outlets). . . .

Mark Colley visits Leo’s Little Bit O’ Country in San Marcos for two shows on July 28. . . .

On the horizon: Country fans, watch this space for times and ticket information regarding two upcoming concerts. On July 21, a double bill of Alabama and Ray Kennedy will perform at the 32nd Street Naval Station; on Aug. 2, Reba McEntire will perform a benefit concert at the San Diego Convention Center.