Event promoter, deejay and Salon Pop and Barber Shop co-owner Frankie Alvaro didn’t want to just donate money to help relief efforts in Japan in the wake of the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and organize a benefit with a few of his friends, musical colleagues and vintage wheels enthusiasts.
The benefit, on Sunday, April 10, from 3pm to 2am, will feature a vintage scooter, motorcycle, van, and car show in the front parking lot of Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St. Bands scheduled to take the stage include Dante Vs. Zombies, The Black Apples, TRMRS, Grand Elegance, Gabriel Hart and the Fourth Wall, Red Roses, Dano’s Juke Joint Freak Show, Death Hymn Number 9, New Fidelity, The Crystelles, and Gestapo Khazi. Deejays will include DJ Frankie the Face, Geaux Geaux, Reuben Kaiban, Will’mer, Johnny Sleeper, Glory Boy Kev, and Marv Mack, and the event will be emceed by Don Pie.
There will also be a raffle in the middle of the event, with donations from many of the shops on 4th Street as well as local tattoo shops, guitar shops, and clothing and skateboard companies.
“This is the biggest event I’ve ever booked,” Alvaro said, “and I’ve been booking shows and deejaying for eight years. The idea came to me from pretty much straight desperation. I wanted to help these people, but I didn’t want to just donate $10 by texting a random number, and then not even being certain when, or how much of that money would actually reach these poor people.”
Alvaro said the development for the show basically happened overnight. “Everyone wanting to participate, knowing the bigger picture, and, for being a really big event, it came together flawlessly,” he said. “100 percent of the proceeds will be taken back to Japan by Immoni on 4th owners Eiko and her son Yuske, and I asked them to give the money to a charity that will put the money to use immediately, or even to give all of the money if they see a family walking down the street that had lost everything. We all need to do our part for Japan, and this is a great way for people to donate money, while having a great time.”
