Helping support local music lover and business owner Jenny Babcock, seven bands will volunteer their talents during the "No One Fights Alone" benefit concert/auction Saturday at The Mission.
Babcock, who has owned The Mission for nearly 10 years, has devoted her life to giving musicians the motivation and space they need to accomplish their goals on and off the stage. When Babcock was diagnosed with breast cancer this fall, her friends, family and musical family decided they would come together in support during her battle.
"Jason, from Phat Mike and The Bartenders, approached us after they played New Year's Eve at The Mission. I know he does several different benefit shows throughout the year for a lot of different causes and when he offered to organize this thing, we were just humbled," said Tracy Blase, Babcock's husband.
This certainly won't be the first time Jason Hildebrand and his band have supported those battling with cancer as they have hosted several benefit concerts throughout the region. However, this one concert remains a little closer to Hildebrand's heart as he has been a friend of Babcock and her family for several years.
"We came up with the idea because we're always doing benefits for other people and a lot of times you don't know that person, but it seemed very important to me that we would do this for Jenny. So I approached Jenny and Tracy with the idea of 'Hey why don't we do a benefit at your place so it not only benefits your club that night but also you personally to help you fight this battle with cancer,'" Hildebrand said. "Of course we hope to raise a lot of money for Jenny for this event, but we also just want her to know that we love her and support her in her battle. I think having her bandmates and friends and family doing that for her will be a big lift up to her spirits hopefully."
Bands like the 39th Street Daddies blues band, country roots Harms Family Band and indie alternative rock band Down Side Up will also join Phat Mike and the Bartenders in the night's lineup.
"Tracy and Jenny had a lot of contacts on getting the band's organized and everything, but I did bring in Big John and the 39th Street Blues Band and then they had them, too," Hildebrand said.
"I'll tell you that it is a feat trying to get that many bands organized but we do have experience with the turnover and I think that it's going to be pretty awesome to have the drums; we're going to provide the drums and all the back line for the bands to make it easier for them to rotate in and out," he added. "That's one thing I wanted Phat Mike and the Bartenders to definitely take care of for Jenny so they didn't have to worry about that."
"I've basically just spread this by word of mouth and there's probably been a dozen people since I said something who just said, 'OK, whatever I can do that day put me down for a volunteer slot of some sort if you need any help with anything,'" Blase said.
But support from the community didn't stop there. Several items such as a Cream White Henrix Style Squier Bullet Strat Electric Guitar, restaurant certificates from Oscar's Classic Diner and Rick's Cafe, photography sessions from local photographers, a limited edition John Lennon 1962 J-160 acoustic/electric epiphone guitar and many more items were donated to be auctioned off during the event.
"You know it's humbling," Blase said. "It just really reinforces the family aspect of live music, the community and the family so it's been wonderful to have so much support from so many people."
"I love Jenny and Tracy and their hearts are so big. They're always doing things for everybody else in the community and they are one of the greatest places for live entertainment," Hildebrand said. "We drive all the way from Lebanon (or) Lake Ozark just to play there because of what a great establishment she has and the fact that she always supports live music; that is rare in today's world."
The "No One Fights Alone" benefit concert will take place 4 p.m.-1 a.m. with items being auctioned or raffled throughout the evening. More information about the band lineup and the auction items can be found at themissionjc.com or facebook.com/themissionjc. For anyone interested in volunteering for the event, email Blase at [email protected].