As children, we were (hopefully) taught at some point that we couldn't eat our whole birthday cake all by ourselves, that toys are better when someone else plays with them, too. "Don't hog it all to yourself," someone told us. This lesson musicians take to heart. No matter how little the compensation, regardless of whether they do it for glory, to get chicks, or because they simply can't help themselves, people who sing and wield instruments have made a decision to give something of themselves to their audiences. Sure, sometimes that gift isn't entirely welcome; plenty of us have wished that certain musicians would stop "generously" providing Top 40 hits or battles of the bands or folk songs. But many of us need music like we need food, and where would we be without the people who choose to spend their lives making it?
For this reason, the untimely passing of a young musician is a loss not only to his friends and family, but to us, the public. Bassist Matthew Sperry was hit by a car while riding his bicycle on June 5 in Oakland, and the Bay Area music scene mourns. Apparently Sperry was a deeply good man -- a caring husband and father, a warm friend, and an open-minded citizen in general; this is the private sadness. The tragedy that affects us all is the loss of a prolific, talented artist, and above all someone who was willing to share. As a performer, he considered himself mainly an improvisational musicmaker, but his education and interests were broad, spanning subterranean pop, Jewish wedding music, and experimental chamber works. He had recorded with Tom Waits, David Byrne, the Black Cat Orchestra, and a ton of local musicians. He was also featured in the wildly popular production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Victoria Theater. Take a moment to consider that last, especially: The guy worked a day job, had an adorable new family, and still found time to get across the bay every night to play in this gritty, uplifting story.
Sperry's friends and community have responded with several performances so far, mostly private, and they're now offering one for the public. Singer and songwriter Erika Luckett, shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player Philip Gelb, and percussionist Gino Robair are featured at this benefit for Sperry's wife and 2-year-old daughter. Come appreciate the good nature of musicians.
