See also: Joel Marquard Makes a Mess of Gospel With The Through and Through Gospel Review
If history has shown us anything in the local music and arts scene, it's that the community has a fierce love of its own champions.
That love will be on full display on Saturday, July 14, when local bands come together for a benefit show at Crescent Ballroom to help Gospel Claws' Joel Marquard's battle against testicular cancer.
Marquard's body might be betraying him and his balls may have gone rogue, but that doesn't mean his spirits are down. A press release announcing the show says: "The running joke at the moment is if Gospel Claws' new record (due out this fall) sounds a little less ballsy than the first, at least there's a valid explanation for it."
"Most bands' sophomore records are kind of mellower than the first," Marquard says in the release, "but usually not for medical reasons."
Gospel Claws' label, Common Wall Media, and Psyko Steve Presents assembled the show to help offset the medical expenses Marquard has incurred since his diagnosis a few months ago. Local bands joining the cause include Yellow Minute, ROAR, LadyLike, Snake! Snake! Snakes! and What Laura Says.
The benefit will also mark the first time Marquard performs tracks from his gospel side-project The Through and Through Gospel Review live.
The 21-and-over event gets under way at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, at the Crescent Ballroom for just $10. All proceeds go to Marquard.
