A Benefit for Chance

The “Benefit for Chance” will take place this Saturday night, Mar. 29, at The Cantina in Altoona.  The proceeds raised from the benefit will help out Chance Dull, an 8-year-old boy from the Bedford area who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer.  The medical expenses from Chance’s intense chemotherapy treatments have put an overwhelming burden on his family.  Chance’s worsening condition requires a partial liver transplant from his father, which will be a risky procedure due to his father’s own heart complications.

The “Benefit for Chance” concert will begin at 7 PM, and feature performances from the bands Sever, FedUP, Dick Shack Posse, The Embalmed, Dragon Fire and The Marauders. 

From Dubois, Sever returned to action late last year after undergoing a roster overhaul.  The current edition of this heavy metal band includes remaining founding member and drummer Paul Butler, guitarists James Lewis and Joe Kruczynski, bassist Devin Walsh, and lead singer Matt Watson.  Watson has performed in the Altoona area in past projects such as Xpendable and Lies Inc.  Sever will perform a selection of original compositions, most created after the group’s reformation.

Formed several years ago because they were “fed up” with the area’s stale cover-band scene, Altoona’s FedUP expanded into a quintet last year with the addition of former Driven/Condemned Existence guitarist Scott Bush.  The group features Bush, along with lead vocalist Brian Stotler, guitarist Dave Charlton, bassist Roman Dell and drummer Matt Popp.  Their sound blends elements of heavy metal, hardcore and punk rock; and they will be performing new and old original compositions.

Formed last year, Dick Shack Posse is a collaboration of veterans from the area’s underground punk and metal scenes, uniting to have fun and play the music of the old-school punk bands who inspired them.  The band members include singer Scoob Lanzendorfer, guitarists Brian Weibley and Jeff Reid, bassist Andrea Weibley and drummer bob Brunner.  Dick Shack Posse will offer enthusiastic, rip-roaring punk rock classics from Agnostic Front, Misfits, Sex Pistols, Danzig, The Clash, Bad Religion, Jim Carroll Band, Motorhead, Black Flag and more.

Like Sever, The Embalmed reformed in late 2006 after its two founding members, guitarists and vocalists Chad and Jason Straw, had put the group on the backburner to work on separate band projects House Of Cain and Killjingle.  The current edition of the Johnstown-based heavy metal band includes the two Straw brothers, along with former Saucemonster/Hexhed bassist Greg Hatch and drummer Darren Byer.  They will perform a selection of new and previous song material, including selections from their next CD, currently being recorded.

Gearing to release a new CD later this year, Dragon Fire will perform a blend of new and older song material from their heavy metal arsenal.  Lead vocalist “Robo” Ron Riley, guitarist Chris Peters, bassist Eric Shumac and drummer Steve Stuckey toured a large part of the country with Cleveland-based former national recording group Mushroomhead last October and November.

And local modern rockabilly rebels The Marauders will also blend new and older song selections, including tunes from their forthcoming new CD, expected to be recorded and issued later this year.  Among those songs, expect to hear singer/guitarist Ben Dumm, upright bassist Chris Lawson and drummer Abe Weber perform their title song, “We Are The Marauders,” the song penned for them two years ago by Brian Setzer.    

The donation at the door to help Chance Dull and enjoy this night of rock will be $5.  There will be raffles, giveaways and prizes during the evening.  The concert is open to ages 21 and older.

The Cantina is located at 330 7^th Avenue in Altoona.  For more information, call 942-8520.