Sometimes, the worst and most tragic parts of life have the ability to bring out the best in people. On Jan. 23 of last year, nine bands and a crowd of almost 900 kindhearted music fans converged in Milwaukee’s historic Turner Hall Ballroom for the inaugural Pablove Benefit Concert, “a special evening to improve the lives of children with cancer.”
Music Notes was fortunate enough to be given a DVD of that performance in accordance with Saturday’s second-annual Pablove Benefit Concert in Milwaukee.
In the movie’s first moments, we are introduced to Jeff Castelaz, a former Milwaukee resident and owner of Dangerbird Records – home to acts such as Silversun Pickups, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Minus the Bear. There, in the backstage setting, Castelaz begins to tell the primary reason of The Pablove Foundation’s existence, the death of his 6-year-old son, Pablo, at the hands of bilateral Wilms’ Tumor, a rare childhood cancer.
The format of this 90-plus-minute video (produced by the always great Mindpool) is broken up into both music and a series of between-song vignettes that find Castelaz doling out jarring recollections of his son and the family’s struggle with Pablo’s illness, and offering his inspiring-yet-absolutely realistic aim to have a positive impact on the lives of those dealing with cancer.
Between Castelaz’s short stories were live videos of musical participants, plying their trade on stage for an eager and energetic audience. The recording includes performances by The Gufs, Willy Porter, Fever Marlene, Maritime, The Lackloves, Pet Engine, Truth in Fiction, Marck Waldoch and The Mike Benign Compulsion. Most artists have two songs included, which are scattered throughout the show.
The sound quality of the recording is great, yet Mindpool’s unique camera setup does a great job to preserve the aura of the live show setting by mixing in shots of the audience and tremendous side-stage views of performers. In terms of the music itself, Fever Marlene, whom I’d never heard prior to this, impressed me with two solid and catchy songs. The Milwaukee two-piece conveyed the sound of a full band, with the singer/guitarist Scott Starr also manning bass synth by way of foot pedals. Other highlights include a pair of songs by local delicacy (and new Dangerbird Records band) Maritime, who made sure to play my personal favorite “Guns of Navarone.” In all, each of the indie and/or alt rock band involved proved a good inclusion to both the show and the DVD with rousing and sincere performances.
But, fittingly, Castelaz stole the show. As the credits rolled, it was the courage, the perseverance and the overridingly positive outlook of the father who’d endured a loss I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy that stayed with me. Pablove wasn’t established to cure cancer – that’s a tall order. Rather, the foundation wants to nip away at a cure, while focusing most of its energy on minimizing the suffering of those with childhood cancer, as well as the accompanying pain that’s always inflicted on parents, siblings and all others left in the wake of the staggering ailment. His message was clear, eloquent and all his own, and it made the already enjoyable music strewn within it sound all the more sweet.
The second annual Milwaukee Pablove Benefit Concert takes place Saturday at Turner Hall. Bands include: Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger (from Silversun Pickups, playing an unplugged set), Fitz and the Tantrums, Maritime, Goran from the Gufs, Cory Chisel, Rusty Ps and Prophetic with DJ Mad Hatter, Jaill, Juniper Tar, and Bascom Hill. The show begins at 5:30 p.m. and tickets cost $25. Last year’s DVD will be available at the show for $20, and will be screened following the concert at the Hi Hat Garage.
To learn more about The Pablove Foundation or to donate, go to Pablove.org.
