Music Saving Music- A Noble Cause

Alan Rogozin, bass player of Staten Island local band, Rise With the Fallen, wants to help make an impact. Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School of S.I. is cutting its music program for the children of the school. This drastic measure is being taken because of the bad economy, and a budget cut here was the best option. But is it really the best option?

I have the good fortune of being blessed with the ability to make music, and see the fruits of my hard work come to pass. I know that music is my passion and my life, as long as also being something fun and very rewarding. Many other musicians and artists not just on the Island, but worldwide can harp on this same feeling. Music has the power to transcend everything from race, religion, belief, and opposing sides. Music has the ability to speak to a generation, or touch the soul of a person longing to hear a few words they can relate to. Music encompasses: the struggle, the passion, life, death, love, hate, and almost everything in between. Many artists can relate to that first song they every wrote, or the first beat they ever banged out on the drums. What Alan is hoping to create, is a chance for a school of children to experience this for the first time too. Tomorrows musicians can be in that school, and not have a chance to express themselves creatively because their music program is gone.

So what are we to do? What we have to do is get together and take up the cause. Come on out and support this show. Come on out and support a bunch of great local bands. All the proceeds of the show will go to helping raise funds for Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School music program.

Date: June 5th 2010

Time: 1:30pm- 12am

Location: 388 Vanduzer Street, S.I. NY

Vendor: the Cup

Charge: 10 dollars at the door, good for all day

HERE IS ALAN'S MISSION STATEMENT TO THE BANDS
"I intend for this show to give local bands an opportunity to work with out-of-town bands to make connections to help them outside of Staten Island. Likewise out-of-town bands can play to a moderately sized audience within Staten Island to hopefully expand their fanbases and to make connections with some of the local bands for future opportunities on Staten Island. This show is also obviously a benefit show to help out some kids that are unfortunate enough to be heavy victims of budget cuts which forced their school to be unable to set up a music program. It is a new school coming into existence during one of the worst economic conditions in nearly a century. Our goal is to help raise enough money to hopefully if not completely be able to fund the purchasing of music equipment for this school to allow them to have a music program, or to at least make a decent dent. I ran a benefit show last year raising $1,050 for the GRACE Foundation (a charity helping out children suffering from autism) and I’d like this show to try and at least triple the amount of money we made last time to benefit this school. Unlike the GRACE Foundation whom gets support from many people, this school does not, and the current students of this school will be forced to not have a music program if we can’t help them make at least a substantial dent in the amount of money they need to start their program. Hopefully this gives all of you reason enough to promote this show heavily, as although it may not be benefiting any band financially (with the exception of the merch you sell of course, which you can sell any time throughout the day, so a definite incentive to get there early), it’ll be doing a truly amazing thing for all the students of Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School. I hope for all of you, that, as well as making friends and connections with many bands you’ve never worked with before, will be enough."

These are the set times of the bands involved :
1:45-2:15 - Eden's Fault
2:30-3:00 - Nevertheless
3:15-3:45 - Not From Concentrate
4:00-4:30 - Spread The Rumor
4:45-5:15 - Step Aside
5:30-6:00 - It's Not Over
6:15-6:45 - The Still Life
7:00-7:30 - Rise With The Fallen
7:45-8:15 - EveryNightDrive
8:30-9:00 - Up For Nothing
9:15-9:45 - Richmond Knights
10:00-10:30 - Avon Junkies
10:45-11:15 - Reality Addiction
11:30-12:00 - BellaDonna

There will be a few touring bands playing this show, who have received moderate success in their careers. Although they are not all from Staten Island, they are close enough, and helping out by playing the show.

Reality Addiction (http://www.myspace.com/realityaddiction) - They were rated #2 in the best unsigned alternative rock bands of 2009 by Alternative Addiction (http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/bestof/bestof2009/results/top_20_ubands.asp)

They are the most successful of the bands featured on this show, playing countless radio stations as well as big shows like Bamboozle. You can look up their music on Myspace, iTunes, and Amazon.

Avon Junkies (http://www.myspace.com/avonjunkies) - They've been around for a decade (the longest standing band on the bill), and they were voted the best original band on Staten Island as well as having other assorted credentials.

BellaDonna (http://www.myspace.com/belladonnanyc) - A moderately established touring act from Manhattan that won a competition with their song "Nikki Without You".

Up For Nothing (http://www.myspace.com/upfornothing1) - A signed touring act from Brooklyn that has been active for about 6 years.

Step Aside (http://www.myspace.com/stepasiderocks) - An unsigned touring act from Brooklyn that has been active for about 6 years.

The Still Life (http://www.myspace.com/stillliferocks) - An alt. rock band from Long Island.

Eden's Fault (http://www.myspace.com/edensfaultnj) - A new band from NJ that took all their members from other bands that had been more established, but have now ceased to exist.

For free samples of the music click here- http://www.mediafire.com/musicsavesmusic

In terms of more info on the school, you can get it from http://www.gaynormccownels.org and there are currently no details on the music program as it doesn't exist yet.

Here is the Facebook invite, now go!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107230965985750&ref=nf