LOUISVILLE, Ky.- — Playing for a cause, a group of bands joined forces Thursday night with one goal in mind, raising money for tornado victims. It's a band that needs no introduction, their name says it all, Producing A Kind Generation.
“Our music and our energy on stage is the most of us that we can give, it's the best version, it's unfiltered, it’s us at our most vulnerable in pure form and we just want to give it to someone for whoever needs it,” Dre Smith said.
That's exactly what the four members strive to do.
The band has been making music for nearly a decade and after hearing of the devastation in Western Kentucky they wanted to find a way to help.
“I think it's kind of a no-brainer. I mean when you have the opportunity to put any kind of differences aside to come together and do something that's for the good of humanity and the good of the people,” Aaron Holmes Jr. said.
That's when Producing A Kind Generation reached out to Against the Grain with the idea, a benefit concert, to raise money for Kentucky tornado victims. The shows has a $10 entrance fee which will go directly to victims and communities affected by the tornadoes.
Two locations, four bands and a night no one will forget.
“Of course that was a devastating tragedy but we will always try to extend our hand to whoever needs us, no matter how small or big the task and as far as donating the proceeds, at the end of the day, it's just money, it's just paper and coins and if someone needs it more than we need it then it only makes sense to give it to them,” Smith said.
Fans like Wesley Robinson, who have been watching the band since the very beginning made the eight hour trip just for the occasion.
“I got in at like 6 o'clock, hopped in the shower, said hi to my family and was like I'm going to come out and support and also support a good cause,” Robinson said. “I understand there are a lot of people hurting right now and a lot of people suffering and just want to do anything I can to help.”
Playing for a cause, with hopes that their music inspires others to do the same.
“Just come out and be a blessing and I think you want to go out and use your gift to help other people and people also like to like what they're thinking about sometimes, just that people feel the love that we're presenting on stage,” Kym Williams said.
Both Against The Grain venues, The Whirling Tiger and Flamingo Lounge ended up raising $2,000 that will go to the Lee Initiative who has partnered with Louisville food trucks to provide meals for tornado victims.
If you would still like to donate, Against the Grain will be using ATG Smokehouse and the Public House as a donation drop-off location.