‘There’s a buzz in this city’

16 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 507 MAGAZINE • www.PB507.com
events
ENTERTAINMENT
7-band benefit concert ‘became a bigger deal’
By Matthew Stolle
mstolle@postbulletin.com
It started out as a benefit
concert for a former Rochester
family, and then word
began to spread through the
musical grapevine.
Soon, what had started out
as modest two-band concert
was transformed into a multgenerational
musical bash, as
more bands jumped on the
bandwagon.
The “Benefit on Broadway”
is being held from 4
p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
14, at Cafe Steam for Bob
Roulliard and his wife, Alicia
Herman, a couple whose lives
have been hammered by misfortune
and illness.
For several years, Roulliard,
longtime union organizer,
has been battling Parkinson’s
disease. Then earlier this year,
Herman, a former Rochester
middle school teacher, was
diagnosed with a severe form
of multiple sclerosis. Then
Roulliard was laid off from his
job as a research analyst and
union organizer of SEIU Minnesota
Healthcare, a union
that represents 15,000 healthcare
workers in the state.
Addison Israelson, a Rochester
high school student,
said he conceived the idea of
a benefit for the couple while
their families were having dinner
in the Twin Cities.
“I was talking to Bob and
Alicia about what life has been
like with these two debilitating
illnesses, and Alicia was
Facebook
The Rares, from left: Addison Israelson, Zakh Peterson and Jay DeFrang, will perform Saturday in the
“Benefit on Broadway” at Cafe Steam.
telling me that her medication
alone was $5,000 a month,”
Israelson said. “I play in two
bands. We have a decent
enough following. Maybe I
could get some people and
raise some money to help
pay those bills. And then it
became a bigger deal than I
was expecting.”
Herman said that the
couple’s medical expenses are
being paid for through the
state’s Medical Assistance
program. She is also getting
support from a drug company
that is helping Herman pay
for a newer, stronger medication
for her MS.
She said the biggest challenge
lies in paying for the
day-to-day bills associated
with keeping their house and
other costs.
The evening will promise a
musical mix of traditional
rock and roll, funk, modern
rock and folk and indie music.
The singers and bands also
run the generational spectrum
of student-led bands to more
established groups.
The lineup of singers and
bands includes Jason Mc-
Kenzie, Dylan Hilliker of
the band Dystonia, Winston
Howard of Suite, the Root
River Jam, Good Morning
Bedlam, Monster Sweatsuit
and the Rares.
Israelson, a guitarist and
co-singer for the Rares, said
the benefit was originally
envisioned as a more modest
event featuring his band.
Then Joel Wilson, singer for
Monster Sweatsuit, signed
on. Then Wilson’s dad, Dave
Wilson, a lead singer and guitarist
for Root River Jam, also
came on board. So did other
bands.
“It kind of blossomed in
into this big multi-band
(event),” Israelson said.
Other people are pitching in
as well. Carlos Diaz volunteered
to serve as hypeman
and man the free will donation
box at the entrance of
IF YOU GO
What
Benefit on Broadway
When
4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
Where
Cafe Steam, 315 South
Broadway, Rochester
Lineup
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Jason
McKenzie
5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Dylan
Hilliker (Dystonia)
5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Winston
Howard (Suite)
6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Root River
Jam
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Good
Morning Bedlam
8 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Monster
Sweatsuit
9 p.m. to 10 p.m.: The Rares
Cafe Steam. Claire Dahl, a
Rochester high school student,
used her graphic arts
skills to do the poster for the
benefit. Jay DeFrang will
work the sound equipment.
In addition to the money
raised at the door, Cafe Steam
will be donating a portion
of the proceeds from the
night’s sales to the benefit.
“It’s becoming a bigger
production than it initially
was going to be, but I’m very
happy for it,” Israelson said.
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Find us on
Nov. 20 - Dec. 13, 2015
NEW SHOW TIMES
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 4:00 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20 • Reduced Rate $17
Visit www.mantorvillain.com for tickets
by Dan Goggin
or call 635-5420 for reservations.
Tickets available at the Chocolate Shoppe in Mantorville