It's not every day a band passes through town to raise money for a charity rather than themselves. Perhaps the guys in Shinedown are just charitable people.
The Jacksonville, Fla., rock act will play a few songs April 24 at the Grill on Twenty-First in Newark to raise money for some local organizations. Gates will open at 5 p.m., and local act Mad Gathering will take the stage at 6 p.m.
Shinedown, sponsored by Columbus station WNCI, will go on at 9 p.m., behind the restaurant in the parking-lot area. The band incorporates alt-metal, classic Southern rock and some radio pop into their highly accessible (and successful) take on modern hard rock. Video games from “Rock Band” to “Madden NFL 09” to “MX vs. ATV Unleashed” have featured their songs, Chris Daughtry covered them on “American Idol,” and the WWE can’t get enough Shinedown on its wrestling soundtracks.
The show will raise money for several local charities, said Grill on Twenty-First owner Eric Mason. The cover charge is $5, and parking is by donation, across the street, in the old Big Bear shopping center. The parking will be manned by members of the Newark High School football program, which will benefit from the donations. The Grill on Twenty-First also will make a donation to Hospice of Central Ohio and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“This is just a neat opportunity to bring the number-one radio station to Newark and a great way to raise money for local charities,” Mason said.
Mason said he is doing everything he can to eliminate the issues that arose from the last large charity event he held on site. The parking lot will be patrolled by security, portable toilets will be available, and he said he will be sending out letters to the neighbors and going door-to-door to hand them gift certificates.
“The positives of a seven-hour show [are] definitely worth the inconvenience,” Mason said.
