Restaurant hosts local fund-raiser

Those who went to the "Jam for Change" on Sunday night were greeted by local music, Asian-American cuisine and a President Bush voodoo doll.

Fuse, a restaurant and late-night spot at 403 W. Rosemary St., hosted the event, a political fund-raiser for MoveOn.org - a political committee that "works to bring ordinary people back into politics."

The benefit was co-sponsored by Fuse owner David Chung and Carrboro Alderman Alex Zaffron, who had talked about having a fund-raising concert for a long time.

"It's something I've been wanting to do for a while," said Chung, who thought of the idea during the 2000 election but decided not to go through with it until this year.

"I like to put my money where my mouth is and do whatever I can to help the community," he added.

Zaffron, who contacted MoveOn about organizing the event, shared similar beliefs.

"Dave and I are good friends, and we both thought that this was something that could work," he said. "I logged on to the MoveOn Web site, and they gave me instructions with where to go from there."

The concert ran from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. and featured 10 local bands, including My Dear Ella, Shallow Be Thy Name and Fake Swedish. All bands donated their time without compensation.

Concert attendees said they enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere, which allowed them to both socialize and enjoy the music.

"It's open and quiet enough where discussion can take place," said Carla Rea, a salon operator from Raleigh. "I'm glad it's not so loud that no one can hear each other."

Bumper stickers that read "Bush/Satan 2004" and "Ignorance and arrogance is bad foreign policy" were for sale at the concert, as were voodoo dolls.

However, many came primarily for the music and atmosphere instead of the political cause.

"A friend of mine told me a band I liked was playing, so I came to check it out," said waiter Reny Fix. "I didn't know it was a political event until I got here."

There was no admission charge for the event, but donations were encouraged. The suggested donation for the concert was $10, with all of the proceeds going to MoveOn to fund representatives all over the country.

Patrons said they enjoyed the way Fuse combined politics with common late-night activities.

"I thought political fund-raisers like this were mostly in people's homes, so it's nice that a business is having it," said Jessica Forrest of the North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Education Fund.

Rea said she thought the benefit would be helpful in effecting at least some change.

"I think an event like this helps because it spreads things through word of mouth," she said. "People will talk about what they did over the weekend, and then mention the concert, and things will go from there."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.