Ben Bridwell's No Longer with Sub Pop Records, But He's Still Pitching in For the Family

Ben Bridwell and Band of Horses may have split from Sub Pop Records earlier this year, but they haven't forgotten their former label home -- especially in light of Sub Pop's recent tragic loss of Andy Kotowicz. Next Friday, December 10, Band of Horses Bridwell and members of Band of Horses will perform a benefit show in Charleston, South Carolina under the alias Birdsmell and Friends. The show will be held at The Pour House -- if you're an East Coaster, definitely consider hitting it up. Birdsmell will be playing BOH songs, old and new, Florida folk rockers Holopaw will open, and the ticket proceeds will obviously be supporting a good cause -- The Andy Kotowicz Family Foundation. You can purchase your tickets at etix.com right now.

If you're on the wrong side of the continent to see Birdsmell, there are definitely other ways to contribute to the worthy Andy Kotowicz Family Foundation.

1. If you're a hometowner, definitely consider attending the Andy Kotowicz Family Foundation Benefit this Saturday at the Showbox. It's $20, and check out this killer lineup: Shabazz Palaces, Vetiver, Fruit Bats, Wolf Eyes, Pissed Jeans, Mudhoney, A Frames/AFCGT, and Michael Yonkers.

2. If you're a Midwesterner, next Wednesday, December 8, there will be a benefit for Andy's family at The Savoy in Ypsilanti, Michigan featuring Secret Twins, Rogue Satellites, City Center, Swimsuit, Powerteam, and Everybody's In.

3. And geography aside, The Andy Kotowicz Family Foundation Auction is taking place right now at charitybuzz.com. An autographed Pearl Jam Telecaster has already been sold for an amazing $12,500, but there is still plenty of rare and rocking memorabilia up for bid, including:

• A Joe Strummer Signature Telecaster autographed by the Foo Fighters


• A Yamaha acoustic sunburst guitar signed by James Blunt and Cee-Lo Green


• An electric guitar signed by Muse


• An exclusive Dead Weather Triple-Decker record from Jack White's Third Man Records


• A test pressing of the White Stripes' Sub Pop Singles Club Single


• A signed copy of the Let It Bleed: The Rolling Stones 1969 U.S. Tour book

And so much more. That's seriously only a sampling of what's up for grabs. Head over to the CharityBuzz website to check out the entire stock.