On: November 20 at 05:41 PM
Above and at front, La Circa's Grant Lee rocks a benefit show in 2007. Photo by Calixtro Romias / 209Vibe.
Tara Rasmussen is hoping rock fans will leave the Nov. 22 concert at Lodi High School with more than a ringing in their ears and a smile.
The Lodi High senior, 17, hopes they also have a sense of appreciation. “The things they have are a blessing,” she said. “Cherish it and don’t take it for granted.”
Rasmussen is organizing the concert to benefit the Greater Stockton Emergency Food Bank. She’s calling it No One Leaves Hungry, and admission is two nonperishable food items, which will be donated to the food bank.
The show is set for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the high school gym, 3 S. Pacific Ave., Lodi. Bands set to perform include A Lover’s Plea, A Shootout in Paris, Faking My Death, Highmoor, La Circa and The Black Horde.
The food bank distributes nearly 4 million pounds of free food in the community each year. Yvonne Derby, the organization’s food development manager, praised the concert and Rasmussen’s efforts.
“I thought it was very innovative,” she said. “What a great way to get out and support your local charity.”
Derby added that lines at the food bank have gotten longer as the economy has faltered. On Tuesday about 300 people were served at the food bank pantry, 7 W. Scotts Ave., Derby said. The organization typically serves about 110 people each day.
“We’re in a pretty desperate time,” Derby said. “Times are tough. The food supply’s going down while the need’s going up.”
Rasmussen said the roots of the benefit concert can be traced to a trip through Lodi earlier this summer.
“I was driving past one of our parks in Lodi and there were a lot of homeless people outside,” she said. “It tugged at my heart strings and I thought, ‘What can I do?’ ”
Her answer was to address the issue through her senior project at Lodi High. Students are required to work with a mentor in the community and create the project in order to graduate. Derby became Rasmussen’s mentor. A local music fan, Rasmussen then reached out to bands she knew through the scene and asked them to volunteer to perform at the show.
Stockton metal band The Black Horde was among those who agreed. “It’s a good thing for the community,” said singer Nathan Gobbell, 23. “Anything we can do to give back and be part of something bigger than our band.”
Dylan Todt, 18, guitarist for Stockton screamo act La Circa, added that the show demonstrates how the local music scene can help its hometown.
“We’re just trying to make an impact,” he said. “We’ve been doing benefit shows for a long time. … You’re actually putting work into making a difference and helping out.”
