A mustachioed Benjamin Verdoes–Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band founder and frontman–appeared on

A mustachioed Benjamin Verdoes–Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band founder and frontman–appeared on KING 5’s New Day NW this morning to promote this week’s Noise for the Needy kick-off–Verdoes performed a lovely solo acoustic version of “Of Night,” found on his band’s second LP, last year’s Where the Messengers Meet, and later talked to show host Margaret Larson about starting the band with his little brother, Marshall Verdoes, who appeared in the audience looking dapper in a blazer. Larson also speaks with NFTN Artistic Director Jeffrey Henry.MSHVB has been laying low for the past few months, and this weekend presents two opportunities to see the band play before an extended summer break. This Saturday, June 11, MSHVB will play a show at the Floyd Norgaard Historic Center in their hometown of Stanwood, Wash. (It’s one of the town’s oldest historic buildings). They’ll be joined by two other Stanwood bands, past Sound Off! competitors Sea Fever and Cat From Hue, along with a debut performance by Brittany Collins. Verdoes tells me that MSHVB will play all your old favorites as well as one new unreleased song. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 (at the door only). Proceeds will benefit Marshall Verdoes’ upcoming travel expedition to South Korea. (The older Verdoes will be spending his summer in San Francisco).The following day, Sunday, June 12, MSHVB will make their Noise for the Needy appearance opening for Ramona Falls at the Vera Project. That show is also at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $12.We’re told that both of these shows are on their way to selling out, so act fast . . .Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.