“My mom was a pretty popular lady,” says Bubba McMacken of local punk-reggae band Special C. “You know, a lot of my friends liked to come over and hang out with her rather than me, cuz I’m, ya know, I’m such a baby… And my mom loved animals. I mean, there was times when we didn’t have money to keep the electricity on, and the gas, you know; but she would find a pigeon with a broken wing and bring it into the house and let it crap everywhere until she could let it heal. She was cool like that.”
Fans of Dartish McMacken, who, like sidetracked moths, were admittedly more attracted to her glowing warmth and kindness than to their own friend, naturally coined the term “Party with Darty.” She also liked to party.”That’s where the term ‘Party with Darty’ came from, you know, everyone would be all ‘Let’s go party with Darty!’
January 4 marks the day when 4 years ago Bubba found his mother passed away. Having maintained active participation, with Special C and other bands, in local charity events and charitable causes, Bubba has always wanted to do something in Darty’s name.
“I’ve always had the idea of doing something in her honor,” he says. “Like a cool show, ya know, being that I know all these bands, and you know all these people… And so I wanted to put together this big show and design it in a way to where no matter what, you have to give in one way or another to charity.”
We all may be left with a burning desire to do something for our dearest loved ones after they’ve departed, to scream to the world how incredible they were and how much they meant and will always mean to us; but it’s a little bit easier to accomplish when loads of other people want to do it with you. And so this Saturday, Jan. 5 marks The 1st Annual Party With Darty at Suzy’s Bar & Grill in Hermosa Beach. Conceived and organized by her son, the event’s development was propelled into full swing by same type of fun-loving, kind-hearted spirit which erected Darty as a monolithic character among her peers.
“I’ve had this idea for like 3 years,” says Bubba. “And finally, I took the initiative and put some feelers out there sort of, and before you know it I was in too deep – there were too many bands that were my friends and knew my mom and said ‘Yes,’ they wanted to be a part of it.”
The event will be preceded by a public Special C DVD screening at noon, with music beginning at 1 p.m. The full roster of bands includes Smart Patrol, Allover, EFN, Set On Right, Supersession, Capitol Vices Ltd., FIRED, Corn Doggy Dog, Special C/Special Readers, All Day, and Perro Bravo. The last act will go on around 10 p.m., and Bubba himself will be pulling triple duty while performing in Special C, Special Readers, and FIRED. It’s a total charity event.
“Like, to get in you have to give food for the needy,” Bubba says. “The beers that they’re selling, they’re going to let me take all the aluminum bottles and cans that day and recycle them and put it to the ASPCA. And then we’re gettin’ shirts made, and all that money’s going to Lupus Foundation… I’ve done work with Veronica Legacy Foundation, so obviously working with them I wanted to bring them back into the picture… And then I have personal, close friends that have struggled with Lupus, and so that’s kind of near and dear to my heart, if I can help in any way possible with that one.”
The food drive/cover charge component will be handled and redistributed by the Veronica Legacy Foundation, sales from commemorative 1st Annual Party with Darty t-shirts will benefit The Lupus Foundation, and the recycling will be managed by RepoCycle with returns going to the ASPCA in honor of Darty’s love for animals. Feeling rather good about it, Bubba says, “It’s gonna hopefully turn out really, really well and really big, and start something to where every year we can all get together at least this one time and everyone gives back to the community that they’re a part of.
“It’s time to party with Darty!”
The 1st Annual Party with Darty takes place Saturday, Jan. 5 from 1-11 p.m. at Suzy’s Bar & Grill in Hermosa Beach (located at 1141 Aviation Blvd). The event benefits various charities, food donations are required for entry. Several local bands will be performing, with Perro Bravo as the main act. Public screening of a Special C DVD precedes at 12 p.m.
