• What: Metrohead Make-A-Wish Benefit Concert featuring music by:
Metrohead
Stranger at Home
Skip Piper
Catherine Called the Cops
Chris O’Connor
• When: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Satturday, May 9
• Where: The Low Beat, 335 Central Ave.; Albany, NY.
• How much: $5 for children under 18, $10 for adult, or $20 for family
• Info: Metrohead’s Make-A-Wish Benefit Concert Facebook event page
Metrohead is on a mission.
The teenaged band out of Guilderland High School has organized a “Make-A-Wish” benefit concert at The Low Beat, in Albany’s midtown section on Central Avenue. On Saturday, May 9, Stranger at Home, Skip Piper, Catherine Called the Cops, and Chris O’Conner will join Metrohead starting at 2 p.m.
But, what is a metrohead?
Well, urbandictionary.com defines one as “someone who secretly likes heavy music, but never admits it for fear of ruining his personal image as a well-groomed person.”
But, who they actually are is a four-piece, indie rock band consisting of Will Burger, Jason Streeter, Jackson Wolfe and Ryan Dempsey. Each is a sophomore out of Guilderland High School, and they really like Radiohead.
At least, Burger admits to it.
The band formed a year ago, and already it has a few local gigs under the belt. “I love playing to a crowd,” said Burger. “It’s a blast for me.” The event page proclaims the band as “on a mission” to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Nine years ago, Burger was on the other end, making a wish.
In 2005, when he was only six-years-old, Burger was diagnosed with brain cancer. A year later, he wished “to go fishing in the beautiful wilderness.” Make-A-Wish Northeast New York sent Burger and his family to a resort at Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada. In hindsight, Burger said the Adirondacks could not compare to his experience on the lake, which he recalls rippling with different colors. That, and the fish.
“We were just throwing our lures in the lake and pulling out lake trout,” he said.
Burger’s mother, Jill Parsons, who drafted the Facebook event page, stated the trip was “so uplifting and life affirming, there is no doubt it was a key contributor to his healing.”
Burger has been cancer free. Though doctors continue to monitor his condition with regular MRIs, he’s now checked every two years, where as in the beginning, he was checked every four months.
“We take so many things for granted, not least of which is our health,” said Chris O’Connor, a guitarist and native of Delmar. “For young children who are suffering and for their families who are suffering along with them, Make-A-Wish is helping kids to be able to do what all kids deserve; to have a dream and see it fulfilled. To see Make-A-Wish thrive confirms our humanity.”
The Low Beat is a popular venue to take in the local music scene. It markets itself as “home of the mid-town sound,” and judging from the line-up of the many upcoming events, that sound consists of punk, disco funk, and indie rock. It’s not uncommon for a show to start up at 9:30 p.m. making this event just that much more unique for the venue, and those taking part.
“That I can play some guitar and help fill up a room with music and laughter is fine in and of itself,” said O’Connor, “but to be able to do that for this particular cause brings an even greater joy than music, simply for music’s sake.”
