Cause enlists more than stars alone

Faced with a political cause or human tragedy, the pop music world in recent years has had a familiar rallying cry -- “Let’s put on a show.” You could debate for days the purity of the all-star telethon approach circa 2005 (Damon Albarn of Blur, for instance, questioned the sacrifice of Live 8 performers by asking aloud whether their altruistic gesture wasn’t in fact pumping up their album sales) and how the number of events in the category is quickly eroding their uniqueness as “once-in-a-lifetime events.” It’s impossible, of course, to ignore the tote-board value of the donations made, but there is a certain “Hollywood Squares” quality seeping into the genre.

A different sort of exercise in concerts for causes begins with the launching of Daniel Pearl Music Days 2005. Instead of one massive broadcast with a roll call of stars, Pearl Music Days calls on artists everywhere to dedicate one concert or portion of a scheduled show from Oct. 1 to 10 to the cause of “harmony for humanity.”

There’s no big money being stirred here; the goal is awareness. Pearl was the Wall Street Journal reporter murdered in Pakistan in 2002, and his family began the Music Days as a way to spread a message of peace in the wake of violence. Now the event has an honorary board that includes Russell Simmons, Elton John, Itzhak Perlman, R.E.M. and Barbra Streisand. Last year, in 39 countries, 400 acts as varied as platinum-selling stars and community youth orchestras registered performance time and shared with audiences the message of the moment.

After tsunamis and hurricanes the big show might be the only way to go, but the more memorable messages about a hopeful future might be the ones made on smaller stages. This year, through the website www.music-days.org, acts are not only asked to sign up, but also are given a chance to post music, poems and other works that will form an “e-stage” that welcomes all artists, amateur or pro. The organization can also be reached at (707) 823-3448.