Local Bands Organize Charity Event

A zombie apocalypse, a new ice age, a total world meltdown — another Saturday. Who knows what could happen when the Mayan calendar ends this Dec. 21 and the so called end of the world.

Seniors Ryan Dugan and Mark Ronning know what they’ll be doing. They’ll be performing the last song in their End of the World Concert at Asbury Methodist Church with a rendition of “It’s the End of the World as we Know it” by R.E.M. which for their band, Organized Mess, is the best way to celebrate the world coming to an end, or at least the end of finals.

Dugan and Ronning came up with the idea in late November after they decided they wanted to host a concert to honor the end of the world.

“We wanted to just make it one big super concert with a bunch of East performers because then we knew it would be a hit,” Ronning said. “Then it kind of morphed into one big combined effort and blossomed from there.”

After jumping on board with the concert, senior Mason Pashia approached fellow senior Jack Sernett about giving all proceeds from the concert to Sernett’s Charity: Water campaign.

“I asked Jack because we wanted to do something with charity for the concert,” Pashia said. “Since we’re all East bands we thought it would be cool to support an East charity and help him reach his goal.”

In order to raise money, the bands have decided to charge an admission fee of $5 and will also be selling concessions.

“You don’t have to pay, but if you don’t we’ll hunt you down,” Dugan said.

The concert will feature 11 East bands and other performance groups. East affiliated bands Organized Mess and Local Talk will be performing a six to seven song set each, featuring original songs and covers from past concerts.

Throughout the night there will also be performances by senior Mason Pashia, with a four song set, and the Y Chromatones, a men’s acapella group led by, East choir director, Ken Foley. Also performing is KC Acapella, The Greynotes, S.F.I., Drew Brockelman, Peter Hung, Hannah Dahlor and Nick Kraske who will be the MC.

Kraske has also worked to come up with a way to raise money for charity water.

“In between acts I’ll be doing funny freestyles,” Kraske said.  “People can donate $5 to give me a topic that will go on a the list of things that I could reference in the freestyles.”

Sernett is optimistic about reaching his goal of raising $5,000 for his campaign by Dec. 31.

“I hope this concert is something that kids go home to their parents and talk with them and talk about Charity: Water, you never know what will come out of mentioning something to your parents,” Sernett said. “The concert is a celebration of all these talented East people and I hope that we can use it to enjoy music and save lives.”

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