Rockin’ for relief
Super Storm Sandy didn’t just devastate the eastern coast of the United States. It impacted an entire nation.
Six weeks after the storm tore apart homes, flooded streets, and left the Jersey Shore in near ruins, efforts to help alleviate the suffering are still underway.
Sunday, Rookies Sports Bar & Grill will set the backdrop for one of the biggest events, Rockin’ for Relief, all in effort to support and assist the victims of the storm.
Co-event coordinator, Liz Marsh, said the idea to hold a benefit of this magnitude came about because so many Hernando County residents were either directly or indirectly touched by the magnitude of the damage.
“My husband and I were born and raised in New Jersey,” Marsh said. “So when Sandy went through, it really hit home for us.”
Marsh didn’t just want to make a monetary donation to the Red Cross. She wanted to do something more that would bring together the community in an effort to help. She had organized benefits before. She recently spearheaded the Bars for Breasts campaign, a collaboration of local bars and clubs to help raise money for breast cancer research. The event was a huge success.
So she contacted the American Red Cross, became a volunteer and got together with Michelle Beetz, co-owner of Rookie’s Sports Bar & Grill, and pitched her idea to do something for the hurricane victims. “Michelle came up with an outdoor concert benefit to raise money.”
Rookies is no stranger to bold moves. In August they introduced the community to Rock the Block which attracted well over 700 guests to watch the outdoor performance by local band favorite, Clenchfist.
“She knew how to pull this thing off,” Marsh said.
Four popular local bands jumped at the opportunity to join the cause including Chrome, Jersey Dirt Band, Southern Silk, and LostnFound. Each band agreed to donate a full set and perform for 45 minutes to an hour. John Leavell aka Producer X, a popular local dub step DJ, will perform in between sets.
“They are all donating their time,” Marsh said. “They aren’t getting paid anything.”
Eddie Keffel, Sales Manager of Sam Ash Music in Tampa, agreed to supply the sound equipment, a drum kit to be used by the performing bands, and the sound man, Blake Bosarge. Bosarge is supplying his talent at a discounted rate which will be covered by donations from Michelle Beetz and Karma Café & Spirits of Spring Hill.
Keffel said it just made sense to help. “I’m from New York,” he said. “During the hurricane, I wanted to be up there because I have family there. Thank God nothing happened to my family but I have friends who were affected by it all.”
An outdoor beer bar will be setup. Jello shots will be sold with 100% of sales donated to the Red Cross. Food and drinks specials will be available all day. Rookies will donate !0% of all food sales to the cause.
In addition, a drawing will be held with gift certificates from Rookies, two Sam Ash gift certificates personally donated by Paul Ash, one of Sam Ash Music owners, two NFL Jerseys and an autographed bat from the Rays.
Indoor seating and outdoor tables will be set up. The outdoor seating is provided by Knights of Columbus St. Jude #6383 of Spring Hill and Pest Bear of New Port Richey.
Rob Starz, a close friend of Marsh and owner of Karma Café & Spirits, designed the Red Cross “Rockin’ For Relief” logo. Rick Lopez, drummer of Chrome designed the posters. Rusty Ellison, on behalf of Southern Silk, designed their own flyer for the event.
Scooter Goods Magazine posted an ad on their website and will make an appearance at the show.
Donations of items like blankets, clothing, non-perishable food items, small appliances, gasoline gift cards, store gift cards, etc. will also be accepted at the event.
It’s a community effort, said Marsh, all in an attempt to make the cleanup and recovery from Hurricane Sandy easier to bare.
Chrome, a 5 piece “hard hitting, in your face rock band”, will be headlining the event which, for drummer Rick Lopez, hit close to home. “I have family there,” he said.
The band is no stranger to support benefits. They donated their time Sunday for Brittany Nations 5th Annual Designated Drivers Awareness Music Event in Clearwater.
“When others are suffering, you do what you can to help,” Lopez said.
Rockin’ For Relief 2012 begins at noon on Sunday at Rookies Sport Bar & Grill; 3095 Anderson Snow Road in Spring Hill. The cost is $10 per adult, children are free. All money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy victims.
For more information about Rockin’ For Relief 2012, contact Liz Marsh at (352) 587-1639 or Michelle Sessa at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill at (352) 593-4114.
