
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 27, 1990                   TAG: 9003270078
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV7   EDITION: NEW RIVER 
SOURCE: LOUIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKS                                LENGTH: Medium

CONDOMS, IMPORTANT MESSAGE GIVEN OUT AT LIFEFEST'S SHOWS

Rock music fans generally don't expect to be handed a free condom when they go to a club to see a show. Then again, the Lifefest performances Thursday and Friday at Buddy's Restaurant in Blacksburg weren't just run-of-the-mill shows.

Lifefest began last fall as a way to use the talents of local musicians to raise money for and awareness of AIDS education.

Even after the release of a CD featuring six local bands and a donation to Virginia Tech's student health services of $1,000, the work is not complete.

"We'd like to have another show in the fall, but right now we're totally committed to finishing this year's work," said Tech English professor and Lifefest coordinator Anne Cheney.

That work includes not only raising more money, but getting across the message that condom use is absolutely essential today, Cheney said.

The messengers on both nights last week were the bands themselves (Rare Aquarium, Martin Roach and Not Shakespeare on Thursday and Rake, Digital Witchcraft and Specific Gravity on Friday).

While each did their best to keep the crowd dancing, they also took time between songs to remind the audience to take advantage of the free condoms being distributed at the door. Apparently, people listened.

"I got a lot of response from people coming up to me asking about condoms and condom use," Cheney said.

"I mean, this was a rock 'n' roll crowd, and I got the impression that at least some of them hadn't given the subject any serious thought before."

But, while musical and educational expectations were being met and surpassed, the financial goals still fell a bit short.

Still, Cheney said she expects to donate another $500 to Tech's Student Health Services next week.

"We had some stiff competition [from other bands playing in town on the same nights]," she said. "It [the money] may not be a lot, but we worked hard. We could have gone under, and plenty of people do.

"What made it worthwhile for me is what always makes it worthwhile.

"There was some phenomenally high-quality music on both nights, and the audience was especially loud in their praise for the lesser-known bands like Rare Aquarium and Rake."

The crusade is not over. Cheney said she plans to put a lot of effort into marketing the Lifefest CD for out-of-town sales this summer. Also in the works is a documentary video.

She said that, although the project hasn't been able to meet some admittedly lofty expectations, things have to be put in perspective.

"Even if you just get through to one or two people, it matters," she said.

"At least you can keep one or two more people from dying."

by CNB