Photo courtesy of allofnothing

Allofnothing will headline the Hardcore Halloween show at the Rialto Theatre. Members of allofnothing created Rude Maneuvers, who put together tomorrow's benefit show.

Friday October 26, 2001

Hardcore music is loud and aggressive. Most of the bands that play it and kids who listen to it are considered to act likewise. But a group of people is putting on a show this weekend that should prove that the only thing aggressive about them is dedication to their cause: helping high school kids stay off the street and stay in school.

Rude Maneuvers Records, a local label started by the band allofnothing, displays its mission this weekend with its Hardcore Halloween Saturday night at the Rialto Theater. The show, which features local hardcore acts allofnothing, Thorsh, Gat-Rot and Blynd, will benefit Youth on Their Own, a program helping homeless high school students find a place to live and finish high school. One hundred percent of every $7 admission will go to the organization.

Aaron Kirk, allofnothing vocalist, originally started Rude Maneuvers to promote his own band. Soon, however, Rude Maneuvers began helping other bands with promotion and finding shows.

"We'd call a venue or record label or radio station and we wouldn't be taken seriously," Kirk said. "We formed Rude Maneuvers to promote our music initially, but we grew and grew. We started helping any other bands that needed help."

Kirk, who owned a business in Phoenix, works with allofnothing's guitarist, Domingo DeGrazia, to help bands secure shows and gain notice. DeGrazia is currently in his last year of law school and will specialize in entertainment law, another asset Rude Maneuvers will use to help bands.

Rude Maneuvers decided to donate the money from Hardcore Halloween to the charity Youth on Their Own because allofnothing had friends in high school who benefited from the program.

"My roommate's little brother went to Amphitheatre High School. He got kicked out of his house along with one of his friends," Kirk said. "They would come over during the day, and at night they slept in apartment complex laundry rooms and gym rooms. They'd eat over at our place. But we were all dying, just getting sick, because none of us were eating. An Amphi guidance counselor kind of took these kids under their wing. They were one of the first kids to go through program. They got food, a place to live; we even ended up eating at their house."

Kirk and his wife, Jennifer, spent the last few weeks securing sponsorships from local businesses interested in the benefit show. Businesses such as Zia Record Exchange, Bookman's and Urban Outfitters donated gift certificates for the show's costume contest. Celestial Skate Park donated a yearlong membership. Other prizes and giveaways include skateboards, dinners for two and passes to Rocks and Ropes.

Jennifer Kirk, who handled all the marketing, promotions, public relations and business relations for the show, said the response has been good.

"After Sept. 11, a lot of people haven't been able to help," she said. "The (businesses) giving us money have really saved us. It's really helped us out."

Local bands have also come together to donate their time to playing the show. Gat-Rot is one of the bands playing Hardcore Halloween for free.

"We're suckers for benefit shows. We're about giving back," said Clay Reed, Gat-Rot's drummer. "We can't do a whole lot, but we try to do what we can."