Boston’s Metal For Nepal Benefit Concert Raises Money For Earthquake Victims

Posted on June 26, 2015 by News Team

Metal For Nepal Benefit Concert

On June 20th Boston’s Metal For Nepal Benefit (#MetalForNepal) concert was held at The Middle East Nite Club in Cambridge, MA. The event was a resounding success, raising over $1200 for victims of two earthquakes in Nepal. The $1200 raised came from proceeds of ticket sales, an exclusive merch raffle of donated items, and sales from the Metal for Nepal compilation album. $1200 USD is the equivalent of NRS 120,000, and can be used to build temporary housing shelters and give life saving supplies to communities still reeling from the devastation. Headlining the bill was Obsidian Tongue, with Native Construct, Caricature, Sonic Pulse and BruteMukti. Special thanks to MediaBoss Television for being on hand to film the event.

Obsidian Tongue, by Meg Loyal Photography

All monies collected will go toward the Jai Nepal Youth Club, No Silence for Nepal, WHR Nepal, Reaping Hope and Jagaruk Nepal charities.

The co-founders of Metal For Nepal Boston commented on the event:

Kevin Brown : After an amazing outpouring of support, from friends and family, to locals who wanted to contribute, we have found ourselves at an end. One foot in the door of an awesome journey to help a wear country, head banging all the way!

Kunjan Joshi: It’s encouraging to see people from all walks of life supporting and helping rebuild Nepal. It’s a long way to recovery but we are very well on our way!

Keith Chachkes: Having volunteered at charity events in the past, I was surprised at how many people asked about the charities the money was going to, and what else they could do to help them. Metal For Nepal has inspired a deep and ongoing level of interest from metal fans. I am proud that I could lend a hand to make this happen. Thanks to Kevin and Kunjan for all of their support.

Metal For Nepal compilation cover

Sales of the physical copies of the benefit compilation organized by Metal for Nepal performers BruteMukti, featuring Nepalese metal bands dubbed Nepal Earthquake Relief, were brisk at the event. You can still donate and download the collection from Bandcamp here: https://nepal-earthquake-relief.bandcamp.com/releases. Physical copies will also be available for purchase at future Metal For Nepal events while supplies last, with all the proceeds going to charity.

The support of the metal community by the music industry has buoyed our efforts and we’d like to thank them:

Victory Records

Prosthetic Records

Dewar PR (Special shoutout to Curtis Dewar for donating crucial publicity services!)

Fly PR

EarsplitPR

Northeast Metal/Hardcore/Punk

Meg Loyal Photography

Several other PR firms, which made anonymous donations

Artist Mark Richards of Heavy Hand Illustration (Aborted, Pig Destroyer, Revocation)

Artist Michelle Duggan of Heartbeasts (Saint Vitus, Lord Dying, Cult Leader)

Please support the bands that performed at Metal For Nepal Boston:

Obsidian Tongue on Facebook

Native Construct on Facebook

Caricature on Facebook

Sonic Pulse on Facebook

BruteMukti on Facebook

There will be future Metal For Nepal Boston organized events in the near future. Metal For Nepal’s other shows have included one as in LA on June 13^thand other events around the world. BruteMukti will participate in New York’s Metal For Nepal event on July 15^that Archeron long side such bands as Sangharsha, Tiger Flowers, and Skullshitter.

Facebook event for Metal For Nepal New York

Metal For Nepal On Facebook

###

Metal For Nepal Boston: at The Middle East, Cambridge MA

Posted on June 24, 2015 by News Team

Metal For Nepal Benefit Concert

As a person who has been a lifelong metalhead and a person that has worked in the non-profit world in the past, I find it strange when people are bemused to learn that people who love aggressive, heavy music also love helping people. When two devastating earthquakes struck Nepal and quickly turned entire communities upside down, a concerned crew of people stepped up and founded Metal For Nepal. They soon organized events all over the world, including one in Boston, MA. I was glad to contribute in any way I could personally and proud that so many people I know rallied around this show and this cause. (Editor’s Note: Ghost Cult participated in the planning of this event also helped run the show.)

On a sunny Saturday morning a bunch of folks from all walks of life, bands, fans, photographers, a crew camera and press people descended on The Middle East Nite Club in Cambridge, MA as we opened the sleepy club. Props go to the club and Erik Hansen of Wormwood Joint Booking. Slowly bands filled in and set up gear, volunteers set up tables with merch fans began to arrive for the show. Some fans were there early waiting for hours to get in, and it was odd to see battle vest wearing metallers hanging around the club in the bright of day. A few bands trooped in from Maine or Western Massachusetts. But by 1 PM bands were ready to take the stage, monies were being donated, merch was being sold, drinks were flowing and the crowd was joining in.

Along one side of the venue the bands set up some merch, as well as the main tables for the fundraising and raffle prizes. The early action was brisk where fans plunked down their cash to win cool stuff. Benefit organizers Kevin Brown and Kunjan Joshi were on hand to run the show, and Kunjan was selling the Metal For Nepal compilation CD at the show. Northeast Metal/Hardcore/Punk were on hand, volunteering their time to run the table. In addition to some of the bands playing that donated their own merch, labels such as Victory Records and Prosthetic donated signed items like posters and other stuff. Local Boston artists such as Mark Richards of Heavy Hand Illustrations and Michelle Duggan of Heatbeasts donated original artwork from the myriad of shows they’ve created posters for. Some bands even donated items from their personal collections, rare things they picked up over the years.

BruteMukti, by Meg Loyal Photography

And then it was time for the bands! BruteMukti kicked things off with a wild set led by front man Sanket Lama who leaped into the crowd sang from the mosh pit, waking everyone in the club up. This wasn’t going to be no Kumbaya singing, hand-holding event; this was a metal show dammit! Sonic Pulse took over next and played a raucous display of neo-thrash, youthful exuberance, and shred guitar goodness.

Sonic Pulse, by Meg Loyal Photography

Caricature, by Meg Loyal Photography

Next up was prog metallers Caricature, who triumphantly made their return to live action after nearly two years. Led by guitarist/vocalist Joseph Spiller (Aborted/System Divide, Last Chance To Reason) and a live lineup including Evan Sammons (Last Chance to Reason) the band tore through some classic material and news songs off of the just released Shadows Maxi-Single. It was great to see these guys in action. Metal Blade artists Native Construct were befouled by technical difficulties in the switchover between sets. This led to their 25 minute set being cut to 10, which was a shame. When they did get to play, the jammed their brand of genre-blurring, high-concept compositions that make up their début album Quiet World.

Native Construct, by Meg Loyal Photography

Obsidian Tongue, by Meg Loyal Photography

Closing out the show, Obsidian Tongue played their intensely emotional, well-crafted USBM songs. Although the room had many heads in attendance to see the headliner, the band made sure to remind everyone the purpose of the fundraiser, which was cool. Besides the enrapt fans, they captured the attention of every eyeball and earhole in the venue, leaving everyone raw and wanting more. We’re looking forward to their new album due out later this year!

All in all, it was great matinee metal show which raised funds for a great cause.

Information about donating to Metal For Nepal and the charities it supports.

[slideshow_deploy id=’28594′]

Obsidian Tongue on Facebook

Native Construct on Facebook

Caricature on Facebook

Sonic Pulse on Facebook

BruteMukti on Facebook

WORDS BY KEITH CHACHKES

PHOTOS BY MEG LOYAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Obsidian Tongue, Native Construct, Caricature, Others To Play Metal For Nepal Benefit Concert

Posted on May 14, 2015 by News Team

In the wake of two earthquakes that have devastated the people of Nepal, a collective of Boston-area promoters, bands and music industry people have come together, to create the Metal For Nepal Benefit Concert. Held at the Middle East Night Club in Cambridge MA on June 20th, the concert will be headlined by Obsidian Tongue, followed by Native Construct, Caricature, Sonic Pulse and BruteMukti. The show is $10 and will be All Ages. All proceeds go to relief funds. You can get tickets online here:

Link to the Facebook Event for Metal For Nepal here:

All proceeds collected will go toward the Jai Nepal Youth Club, No Silence for Nepal, WHR Nepal and Reaping Hope.

Event co-promoter Kunan Joshi captured the essence of the current plight of Nepal earthquake victims:

“Remote villages and settlements are still untouched as a result of earthquake and landslides making access to these places very risky and limited. What we are trying is to provide these places with immediate relief. A dollar in Nepal converts to NRs 100 so a $100 in Nepal is NRs. 10,000 which is a lot of money there.”

“The issue right now is that if you send aid to some of the existing orgs, ngo, and ingos collecting funds, those funnel into the Prime Minister fund.”

“As of press time the Prime Minster fund has received millions of dollars so far, but there isn’t a plan yet to move to action those funds into tangible help. No public statement has been made yet on a timetable to disperse the funds to organizations that can help, especially people in remote regions who are suffering badly. We have a mission to help as much as we can, as fast as we can. Literally every friend is on the field. So that’s the best way to help now: equip them with funds, medicines and supplies to help people right now at this crucial time following the earthquakes.”

Event co-promoter Kevin Brown commented on the mission of Metal For Nepal:

“From the music that drives our hearts and minds, to the scene that we are the water to its rivers, we want to use our passion to help those on the other side of the world. Nepal’s rivers are dirty with what’s left of their shattered worlds, and we can use our rivers to help clarify theirs, put their worlds back together. Metal for Nepal is our desalinization plant, our efforts to cleanse what we can as we mosh and head-bang the day away.”

There is also a benefit compilation organized by Metal for Nepal performers BruteMukti featuring Nepalese metal bands dubbed Nepal Earthquake Relief. You can donate and download the collection from Bandcamp here:

Many record labels, music publicity firms and music industry people have pledged to donate resources. More information, including a direct donate link will be available soon.

Obsidian Tongue on Facebook

Native Construct on Facebook

Caricature on Facebook

Sonic Pulse on Facebook

BruteMukti on Facebook

For more information on how you can contribute to Metal For Nepal, please contact:

Kunjan Joshi

Kevin Brown

Erik Wormwood of Wormwood Joint

Keith Chachkes of Ghost Cult Magazine