There are times when a benefit concert’s main aim can get lost among the bright lights and loud sounds. All too often, outside of the requisite callouts onstage, there isn’t much difference in how a show is conducted or how the audience responds in kind. It is the benefit concerts that are able to elicit an emotion, connect on a personal level, and make a permanent impact, that truly accomplish their goal, no matter what the monetary intake ends up being. And it is this goal that The Grove aim to achieve.
On Saturday, March 4, the quartet (find a review of their recent EP, Coming to Terms, here) are putting on their second annual Rock N’ Revival For a Cure, raising money for the UC Brain Tumor Center and its fight against Glioblastoma. It’s a very specific cause with a very specific impetus: Adam and Matt Forsthoefel, guitar/vocalist and keyboards/vocalist for The Grove, lost their father, John, to the same disease in January after his one year, four month fight.
The Grove are determined to preserve John’s memory and help insure that no one else would have to go through the same pain and they’ve assembled a laundry list of local talent to help them achieve their objective. Young Heirlooms, Lemon Sky, 90 Proof Twang, Jess Lamb and The Factory, Zebras in Public, and Wilder are amongs the 23 announced acts, including a supergroup with members of six different bands, with two more slots still to be filled. The sheer breadth of talent is guaranteed to fill Southgate House Revival’s three performance spaces with fantastic performances throughout the night.
Not satisfied with simply bringing together a stellar lineup, The Grove has planned other activities to keep the night moving. Early in the night, UC Health’s Dr. Rekha Chaudhary will speak to the audience, local screen printers CincinNative will be providing onsite screen prints with the show’s logo throughout the event and Rhinegeist will be tapping a rare Citrus Truth keg. Eli’s BBQ, Dewey’s Pizza and Jersey Mike’s Subs will be on hand to help any show goers dealing with hunger pangs, or just wanting to pair their IPA with some pulled pork. Finally, there will be a raffle with baskets worth up to $150 apiece, proceeds of which will be funneled to The UC Brain Tumor Center.
Adam and Matt Forsthoefel experienced a loss that undoubtedly changed their lives forever. But through the pain and sadness they and their bandmates have been able to organize a concert that differentiates from other benefit shows. This is a show with a face and name to remember and a story to tell. The Rock N’ Roll Revival For a Cure has been constructed from the beginning to be more than a lackluster shout out from a stage. It’s meant to keep John Forsthoefel’s memory alive, celebrate his life, and memorialize his death with a night that will not only be a great deal of joy and fun, but to have something to show for it at the end, after the last chord is struck and house lights come up. While Saturday is only one night, the contributions made to the UC Brain Tumor Center will carry on much longer than that.
Find tickets/more show info here.
