By Katie Schräpler Photography courtesy of Magyk Photography

Last Saturday was the second night of Rock in Chicago’s all ages CancerSmash event at Bada Brew in Crest Hill. In case you missed it, CancerSmash was a two-night metal (night one) and punk (night two) event organized by Rock in Chicago to raise funds for cancer research and patient assistance. It also marked a milestone for Erik Oldman as he celebrated fifteen years cancer free! Congrats Erik! When The Kreutzer Sonata was asked to play, we were stoked for multiple reasons. Benefits are important to us and we will always play (or attend) those that we can. Playing all ages shows is equally as important to us and we also knew that we would be playing a show with great bands. Needless to say, we weren’t disappointed.

Working with Rock in Chicago and playing this benefit was definitely rewarding. I have family and friends (and now new friends) who are cancer survivors or have been affected by cancer in some way; anything I can do to help ease that stress is worth my time and effort. Though, it really doesn’t get much better than being on stage, playing music that I love with my best friends, and simultaneously helping raise funds for those who need it most. And of course watching other punks rock the stage for the same reason is a ton of fun!

That said, I was super excited to play with the bands that were on the bill. Last year, before I was physically playing in The Kreutzer Sonata (I was more or less managing them, aside from booking shows), they played another benefit that Rock in Chicago made possible, with an awesome bill. This is something that is seriously important to me and it shows that Rock in Chicago knows their stuff. CancerSmash ran as smoothly as possible, one set into the next with Foreign Policy starting things off followed by The Kreutzer Sonata, 80 Proof Preacher, and Voice of Addiction- Solution Unsatisfactory played last and brought the show home. All of the bands played great sets and, despite Adam’s strap breaking in the middle of our set and my amp being incredibly too loud for half of our set, I think we played well for or new line up! Thanks to those of you that braved my five month old bass playing!

CancerSmash was organized with two distinct nights for two DIFFERENT genres of music. We’ve all played and attended way too many shows where no one pays any attention to a band because the show organizer didn’t listen to the bands prior to booking them; or didn’t realize “that one band” didn’t quite fit the bill. Being in a melodic hardcore punk band is difficult because people reeeeally like to throw us on metal shows.. Fortunately, that was not the case with CancerSmash we were booked where we belong, on the punk night! This shows Rock in Chicago’s understanding of music and that they have a handle on booking great shows!

Rock in Chicago shows bring an awesome group of people that are there to actually support the bands rather than talk through their entire set. I was so pleased to see almost everyone that played stay the entire time, with the exception of a few. That is rarity, for sure. It’s hard enough getting people out to shows, but getting them to stay and be present is the real hard part. Between the two nights a decent amount of people came out. I see this happen more and more when organizers and promoters book all ages shows. No one else is going to be as into you as the younger crowd is. They’re the ones who are going to hitchhike to your shows if they have to and you are going to see them in the pit during every song. I know, because I’m only twenty-two. I can tell you that a few years ago, when I was underage, I was pissed when I couldn’t go to a show because I was young. And I can also tell you that if I didn’t come home with bruises from the pit, I didn’t do my job! I still feel this way and my underage buds do too! Seeing that kind of support from Rock in Chicago for the punk scene is one of the many reasons why they are successful. It is because of their support for the scene and respect for others that I cannot wait to work with them again! Editor's Note: