Taking Back Sunday

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 15, 2004 2:58PM

Sunday night is the red-headed stepchild of the weekend, is it not? Most weeks you’re either too tired/hungover to bother consulting your social calendar or just too wrapped up in an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent (Vincent D’Onofrio, your scowl is like no other!) Every once in a while though, you want to make it three for three on the weekend and this Sunday should be one of those times as Funkadesi will be appearing at Martyr’s on the 17th in a benefit for the Young Women’s Empowerment Project.

The Young Women’s Empowerment Project is a non-profit organization that works to offer “safe, respectful, and free of judgment spaces for girls and young women impacted by the sex trade and street economies.” They lead groups on leadership and social justice, train girls to be peer outreach workers and run a drop-in center. They’re also one of the few organizations that work specifically with young women on this issue. They’re an incredibly dedicated group of advocates and do really important work here in the city.

And Funkadesi? Well they just kick ass. Combining East Indian music with the more rhythmic beats of reggae and funk, these local favorites are the 1999 and 2001 Chicago Music Award winners for their Contribution to World Music. (We’re not sure why they lost in 2000. Maybe they had a lazy drummer that year.) The members’ backgrounds are as varied as their music which makes for a sound that really needs to be experienced live. DJ Matt Fields will be spinning that night as well. Plus, there’s a raffle! You could win sex toys from Early to Bed or a weekend in Wisconsin Dells. Nothing says “good times” like sex toys in the Dells. Just don’t take ‘em to the water parks with you.

Doors open at 6 PM and tickets are only ten bucks (it’s a benefit, cheapskate!) All in all, a solid night of entertainment and plenty of reason to leave the house. Just make sure to set the Tivo for L&O: CI.