Local musicians to rock at concert to benefit cancer patient
In this fast-paced, high-tech, instant gratification society, it might appear that today’s youth block out the world around them with I pods and cell phones in their ears. But this couldn’t be farther from the truth for some local young musicians who will perform at a benefit concert at Divito Park in Leisenring on Sunday. The concert “Chaotic II” begins at 2 p.m. and features numerous local bands.
The event is being held to benefit Dale Savage of Gibbon Glade, who suffers from bone cancer.
“We saw how successful the first ‘Chaotic’ concert was and decided that this time we need to do something better with the money,” said Jeff Margerko, a member of the local rock group Beyond Daylight and one of the organizers of the concert.
Margerko, the drummer for Beyond Daylight, explained that he and the other bands arrange concerts for “the love of performing.”
“We want to make a change or an impact with our music,” said Magerko, a 2006 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School and a 2007 graduate of the Bradford School in Pittsburgh. “We are generous -not greedy.”
Originally the bands decided to donate money raised from the show to the American Cancer Society, but someone associated with Magerko’s family knew about Savage’s illness. Savage is currently receiving chemotherapy for his condition, but his bones are brittle and he rarely leaves his home.
“We have a unique mix of music,” Magerko said about Beyond Daylight that has three other members. The band integrates such musical genres as punk, screamo, pop/punk, hardcore and metal. They are influenced by popular bands such as Angels and Airwaves, Iron Maiden and Korn.
Etiera, whose members are close friends with Beyond Daylight, is another Uniontown band that will perform at the event. Etiera’s genre is described as alternative, electronic and rock.
Magerko said of Etiera members, “They are the kindest people, very modest and have been great supporters of our band.”
All in Uniform, an alternative rock/pop punk band, blends musical and vocal harmonies, smooth drums beats and sincere lyrics to create a sound all their own.
The band’s debut album “Business in the Front, Party in the Back” will be available sometime later this month.
Land Mynd, a heavy metal rock band, fuses the grunginess of the 1990s rock with a classic rock and heavy metal edge.
They have been together since early 2004 and have been influenced by bands such as Black Sabbath, God Smack and Pantera.
They have done some demos and a CD.
The band Broken Hearts for Broken Heads, another alternative rock band from Scottdale, will be performing its unique brand of music. They say their influences are Straylight, Reliant and Taking Back Sunday.
Other bands slated to perform are I Hope You are Lying, Dosed, Cherubim, Now It’s the Last, and possibly more local bands.
According to Magerko there will also be a “locks of love” booth at the concert.
“Locks of love” is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
Local hairstylists will man the booth to provide haircuts to those who are willing to donate their hair.
“At the last ‘Chaotica’ concert, we received many compliments from parents who thought the event was nice and well organized for the kids attending,” Magerko said.
There is an admission charge to the concert.