Local acts, promoters rally for Japanese disaster support

There have been few natural disasters on the scale of the earthquakes and tsunamis that devastated northern Japan last month. Also, there have been few locally organized benefits on the scale of Mountain Of Arms, a multi-room extravaganza and compilation release to raise relief funds. Featuring more than 20 bands—including Bop Skizzum, Air Dubai, and My Body Sings Electric—and several DJs, the event will fill all three stages at City Hall this Saturday evening.  

If the fan reaction to Mountain Of Arms is anything like the response from local bands, organizers should have a mountain of cash to donate to AmeriCares by the night’s end. Originally conceived as a smaller benefit, Mountain Of Arms struck a chord among members of the local music community. Many bands were ultimately turned away, even after organizers expanded the event to a three-stage, 10-hour marathon with acts playing continuously throughout the night.

“That’s the cool thing about our music community,” explains Mountain Of Arms organizer Daniel Bailey. “It’s made up primarily of people who are genuinely connected, and they care about more [than] just the future of their band and making it. It’s more of a philanthropic feel to it.”

General admission to the 18+ event is $20, limited presale tickets are $10, and premium tickets are $35. The pricier tag comes with a drink ticket, a T-shirt, and a copy of the benefit compilation (which will also be for sale at the event).