News.RttP{Worcester Magazine covers Hold True Recordings}

Holding True to the cause
Worcester Magazine
Written by Doreen Manning
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Benefit to aid local military families

Preconceived notions are a fact of life. When you think of the metal or punk scene, you wouldn’t necessarily think generous and giving … or would you? If you happen to stumble upon the Hold True Recordings 2009 Benefit Show for Operation: Military Kids Emergency Food Program on March 28 at the Quinsigamond Village Community Center, you may get a swift kick in the reality check.

For nearly two years the Massachusetts-based record label Hold True Recordings has been engaged in an ongoing effort to raise food and awareness for O:MKEFP, a Worcester area program that operates as an emergency food pantry for military families in need. Teaming up with 91.5FM WUML’s The Stress Factor radio show, and local promotion company Nasty Promotions, Hold True’s Ethan Caless has helped put together a slamming show of six hard-hitting bands: Tales (myspace.com/talesmusic), Anomia (myspace.com/anomiaband), Acariya (myspace.com/acariya), Say Uncle (myspace.com/sayuncle), Empty Orchestra (myspace.com/emptyorchestrama) and just in time for the holiday, the Easter Goblins (myspace.com/eastergoblins).

A former corporal in the US Marine Corps, Caless’s concern for military families is born from both honor and community pride. In fact, in the past five years of the young label’s existence, all shows/concerts hosted by Hold True have been benefit shows for the nation’s veterans and/or their families.

Through these shows, Caless has experienced an unexpected attitude shift in the way that others began perceiving his label and the acts he helps promote. “Having an outpouring of support from hundreds of punk and metal kids throughout Worcester, Fitchburg, Lowell and all the other places we have had our shows is an awesome way to show the local communities that not only is aggressive music a positive force for its listeners and fans, it’s also positive in its actions, both inside and outside the scene,” explains Caless.

Hold True Recordings 2009 benefit shows for Operation: Military Kids Emergency Food Program on March 28. Quinsigamond Village Community Center, 16 Greenwood St., Worcester. All ages. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with show at 6 p.m.; $5 at the door. Please bring a non-perishable donation of canned food. Free door prizes given to people who donate 10 canned items or more. HoldTrue.com

Original link:
http://www.worcestermagazine.com/content/view/3879/