Hydrocephalus Awareness Rock Concert (HARC)

What happens when a fellow metalhead is suffering?  We let them know we care, are there for them in any way we can.  This past Saturday night at the Open Chord, we showed that love to Scott Thomas, a Knoxville resident who supports the local music scene.  He has had a lifetime struggle with hydrocephalus, which is "water in the brain."  Seven rock/metal bands, from Southwest Virginia to middle Tennessee, came to play for this benefit.  Many of these are ones who are well-known in this area, including Annandale, Shallowpoint, and Belfast Six Pack.

Scott Thomas started off the show by giving a moving, inspiring testimony of how he has overcome this disease.  Paradoxically, it is miraculous he has had only seventeen surgeries.  Thomas stated that an average child would likely have upwards of one hundred of them.  Despite himself, he spoke very well and made it a dialogue:  Everyone in the audience encouraged and cheered him on.

The Knoxville music scene is huge!

I may never get to the bottom of the list of all of the bands.  One of them was one Clockwork Asylum.  

A great band to start off this benefit concert.  Why?  Because six months ago, lead singer KW Longenstein was in a car accident.  He held nothing back in his stage presence.  Complete with red and black makeup for a mask, he just killed it right then. Not only with that, but with the bullhorn he used in the second half of the show.  A great cover of "Come Together" was a great addition to their set.  But then there was a technical difficulty in the latter part of their set.  What did they do to keep the momentum?  Drummer Thomas Tittle played a drum solo.

Next up was Autumn Reflection.  Guys, what a great job on your rockin' music.

Another band that has overcome a lot over the past few years:  Something Wicked.  They had had some personnel changes.  If I do say so myself, this present lineup is awesome.  In addition to vocalist Randall Paige, they have Jimmy Craig, who has a wicked bass (no pun intended) and an accompanying stage presence of the same kind, and his wife Julie on backup vocals.  There was a surprise:  Julie had lead on a song.  It was killer.  I'd love to hear it again!

Though by this time three bands had already played, this was only scraping the surface for what was ahead.  If no one was convinced of any of the above-mentioned bands, that would give way when Killing Grace hits the stage.  I speak from experience.  And it was no accident that the very place where that happened for me was at Open Chord.  This was the first time they had come since the March release of their album Speak With a Fist.  Most of their lineup was songs from this new album.  Though the CD is great (I'm still high from the amazement from first hearing it), all of the songs will come to life in the best way when seen live.

All I can say about Shallowpoint is (and mark my words here):  they refuse to quit.  The fruits of their persistence were recently rewarded with their lyric video of "Fractured".  To show up Saturday night in spite of recent personal and professional obstacles, and give the audience the best show ever--that spoke volumes.  Oh, yes!  Volume, which was turned up in the best way for bassist Heather Shallowpoint.  I could feel it moving through me.  

Another piece of advice from me:  When you have a benefit concert, and whenever possible, ask Belfast Six Pack to play.  And they will be there, no matter what it takes.  Though I am a veteran Belfast Six Pack fan (for a lack of better words), this was my first time seeing them with their new drummer Tony.  Great job, guys, especially with the new songs, one of which "Black Limo".

To conclude this wonderful night of supporting many awesome bands and raising awareness for an unknown but serious illness was Annandale.  As I mentioned before, the Knoxville music scene is huge.  One of the bands that stands out to me is Annandale.  The best part:  lead vocalist Ashley and her great energy on stage.