Amps II Eleven will play a reunion show on Saturday,
September 12, at Now That’s Class (11213 Detroit Ave.). Unlike last
year’s relapse, this gig suggests a limited future for the defunct
band, which Scene readers voted Best Rock Band of 2005, shortly
before they split.
Guitarist Aaron Dowell, who now plays with the Nick Wolff
Band, says Amps plan to record three more songs. Fans will recognize
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and “Savannah, GA” from live shows. The group
had recorded a demo of “The Massacre at Morely Park” but never played
the song in concert. For the reunion set, Amps will perform their
entire catalog, including their self-titled 2004 album.
Dowell says this show will feature “a ton of amps in a little
place.”
Drummer Steve Callahan’s stoner-rawk band, Blacklord, opens, along
with Hot Rails, Cobra Verde, Little Sister and Proctologists. Doors at
9 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Zach headlines the fourth annual Concert
for Chuck on Sunday, September 13, at Musica (51 E. Market St.,
Akron). The family-friendly shows are memorials for his father Chuck
Freidhof, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2006. Proceeds benefit
the nonprofit Marc Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. So far, the
concerts have raised more than $20,000.
“It’s a celebration of life, friendship and community,” says Zach.
“On another level, it’s about awareness and getting people educated
about this disease.”
Also on the bill are Rachel Roberts, David Ullman, Faces Made for
Radio, the Woovs, Eclyptic and T.M. Göttl. Doors at noon. Cover is
$10, children under 12 free, raffle tickets $2. There’s more
information at eveningforchuck.com.
First Offense play a 10th birthday show on Saturday, September
12, at Annabell’s (784 W. Market St., Akron). The set will feature old
favorites and appearances from friends like Rachel Logic of Dropgun,
who will also play the show. Doors 9 p.m.
“Great bands make it great to be playing punk-rock here in Akron,”
says frontman Dan Doverspike, who co-DJs at Annabell’s weekly Tuesday
punk night. “We’re not the biggest city in the world, but we got soul.”
Read more from Doverspike at C-Notes, Scene’s music blog, at clevescene.com.
This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2009.