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The Open Bottle's Tunesgiving Helps Feed Over 900 in Huntsville Area November 28, 2018 14:42

Words by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Photos by Roger Patteson: Type 2 Photography

@type2photography on Instagram

When the concept of Live & Listen was coming to life in 2014, one of our pillars was finding a way to leave a positive impact on the community. What better way to do so than through the power of music? Imagine if everyone in attendance at any show you attend would just donate one dollar at the door. Taking advantage of these social gatherings and finding a way to help others remains one of our core beliefs today.  

With that being said, last Wednesday presented our first opportunity to book and promote an event in Huntsville, Alabama. Our friends at The Open Bottle just recently opened, and their beautiful courtyard proved to be a fantastic option for live music. In the spirit of our annual Funksgiving Music & Food Festival on Black Friday in Montgomery, Wednesday was quickly dubbed as 'Tunesgiving'. The lineup ultimately fell in place with The Stolen FacesThe Pearl, and Them Boys. 

While it was a little colder than we would have liked, we could not have asked for a better night of music. "Them Boys," which is a moniker for another well known Birmingham act, kicked things off with 90-minutes of foot stompin' folk tunes. If you haven't heard this band, please make it a priority. The Pearl would perform next, and they certainly got the crowd moving. This trio brings a unique energy that very few are capable of. Their unique, instrumental spin on Toto's "Rosanna" is always entertaining. The Stolen Faces were the final act of the evening, and this band continues to impress. Touring as a Grateful Dead tribute is no easy task, yet they manage to leave every Deadhead speechless with every performance. 

It's called "Tunesgiving" for a reason, and the beneficiary for this event was local non-profit Manna House. Manna House is the food distribution center for the Huntsville Dream Center, a 501(c)3 public charity. Manna House provides food, clothing hygiene and baby items to individuals and families in need. 

Most of the families they serve are working but cannot fully provide for their family due to chemo, dialysis, or post surgery recovery. Some of the families have experienced job loss or work related injuries. They welcome anyone in need at our main location as well as our 5 distribution sites in the county. Manna House provides fresh produce through our outdoor garden and growing fields as well as our indoor hydroponic garden. 
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We caught up with Manna House Director Fran Fruhler to learn more about the impact of last weeks event:
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"Tunesgiving was amazing. Everyone was so generous. The dinner rolls and tea helped us provide over 900 people with a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. The generous donations will allow us to provide 12,000 baking hens to families for Christmas dinner. We are so grateful for Tunesgiving and all that Jamie, Allen, their team and the community did to help us!"
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We also caught up with Allen Williams, General Manager of The Open Bottle, to hear more about their vision for the multi-purpose business moving forward:
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"The Open Bottle and Liquor Express were extremely proud to host the first Tunesgiving. We had the opportunity to not only provide some great music, but we helped feed people who needed a warm meal during the holidays. Friends and family are very important during this time, and it's our duty to help the less fortunate. It can be very powerful when you collaborate with other homegrown organizations to make an impact in the community. We hope to make this an annual tradition and look at other events in the future."
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See below for a handful of photos via Roger Patteson of  Type 2 Photography, and stay tuned for future announcements on events in the Huntsville area. 
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The Open Bottle to Host 'Tunesgiving' in Huntsville November 20, 2018 09:12

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Photo by Craig Baird: Home Team Photography
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Live & Listen has a big week of music planned this week, including our first ever event in Huntsville, Alabama at The Open Bottle on Wednesday, November 21st. In the spirit of our annual 'Funksgiving' event on Friday, Wednesday will be known as 'Tunesgiving', with performances from The Stolen Faces, The Pearl, and Them Boys on deck. The Stolen Faces have established themselves as one of the premier Grateful Dead tributes, while The Pearl and Them Boys represent two of Birmingham's hottest young acts. One of our favorite local food trucks, I Love Bacon, will be on site from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
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This event is also an opportunity to give back to those who need it most in the Huntsville area. We've partnered with  Manna House, a 501(c)3 Public Charity that provides food assistance to those in need. Manna House is supported by contributions from individuals, churches, civic groups, and businesses. While some food is donated and locally grown most is purchased for their distribution programs.
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"We will serve thanksgiving dinner in the gym as well as deliver to-go meals starting at noon. Everyone is welcome to come eat or pick up to-go meals or help serve. We usually finish serving by 1:15 PM and clean up until 2:00 PM. Last year we served 623 people, so we anticipate at least that and more this year. The families we serve really appreciate the meal and the fellowship. Those we deliver to were equally as grateful.
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We're extremely thankful for those wanting to help us love on our community at a time that should be about happiness, friends, and family. They need rolls and sweet tea brought to The Open Bottle on Wednesday  November 21st. Donations will also be collected by Manna House at Tunesgiving." - Fran Fluhler of Manna House
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The Stolen Faces

The Grateful Dead continue to have one of the most rabid and loyal followings of any band in history, and deservedly so: They wrote great songs, and they were excellent musicians and terrific improvisers who never played a tune the same way twice. The Stolen Faces deftly capture the spirit of the Dead, covering a wide variety of songs from the band’s expansive catalog and delivering them with the sort of energy and spontaneity that might have you thinking you’re standing in the Fillmore West in 1971. Led by bassist Christian Grizzard, the group features guitarist Jack Silverman, drummer Matt Martin, and a rotating cast of some of Nashville’s top session and touring musicians.
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Watch The Stolen Faces' official promo video here:
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The Pearl

Three professional musicians from very different musical backgrounds sharing a common set of goals.
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We are here to explore, push, and break through the traditional sets of musical boundaries between which most music is confined. Through improvisation, composition, and interaction with our audience members - we hope to blur and even dissolve these lines, all while maintaining dance-ability.
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As we’ve seen done before us, we also desire to bring people of all walks of life together through the power of musical exploration. The feelings of freedom, positivity, & acceptance that music certainly has shown to manifest, we hope to strengthen the openness and closeness of our musical community.
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Last but not least is certainly a goal of ours that we share with many of the artists we are influenced by... The Pearl hopes to inspire groups or individuals to express themselves by doing what they love, without holding anything back.
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We also all three like cheeseburgers.
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Watch The Pearl performing at Saturn Birmingham here:
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Them Boys 

"Them Boys" is a pseudonym for a Birmingham-based band that many of you already know and love. You'll have to come out on Wednesday night to see what this performance is all about!