Heavy Metal for Mental Health
Whiles thousands of music lovers attended the Harvest Jazz and Blues festival last week, heavy metal fans were at the Capital Exhibit Centre for a mental health Charity event.
The event, Metal for Mental Health, hosted performances from three heavy metal cover bands to raise money for the Canadian mental Health Association. The Dirt, Militia, and Run for Your Lives brought heavy mental fans together for a great cause.
The event was free to entre with donations to the charity being accepted at the door. There was a bar with alcoholic drinks available as well with the proceeds going to the charity.
All three bands are cover bands that performed iconic hits from the past. The Dirt is a Motley Crue cover band and Run for Your Lives performs Iron Maiden originals.
Militia’s band members: Steve Huard, Dan Auclair, Blake Coombs, and Roger LeBouthiller formed their band three years ago as a tribute to Metallica. All four members are from Bathurst, N.B.
“Doing an event for mental health is important because it’s something that isn’t talked about enough and I feel like people try to put a blanket over it. I don’t think a lot of people understand how bad it can suck, so I think doing an event like this to raise awareness is a good thing.” Says band member, Blake Coombs.
Metal for Mental health isn’t the first charity event they’ve taken on. They’ve done events for the SPCA in the past as well.
“We’re all huge fans of Metallica, so when we met it felt like it was meant to be and that it was in all of our blood” Says band member, Roger LeBouthiller.
All four members agreed an event where they can perform is much better than attending an event to listen such as the Harvest festival.
“We can’t wait to get on stage. We’re at home when we’re up there and we don’t get to do it often so when we do it’s just a feeling a pure adrenaline. We feed off the crowd, so the more the crowd gives, the more we want to give them.” Says band members.
The event was on hold for a year and a half due to restrictions put on by COVID-19, which made the anticipation to perform even greater than usual.
Militia’s band members said that they’ve continued their weekly basement practices throughout the time leading up to the event.
The fans we’re equally as happy to finally be there and enjoy the show.
Heavy metal fan, Brendan Milson, said he waited a long time for the concert, but that it was without a doubt worth the wait.
“I’m huge fan of heavy metal. It’s been my inspiration my whole life and it’s what I listen to all the time.” He says.
Brendan stated that he loves the band Metallica, so he was excited to hear that Militia, a Metallica cover band, was coming to Fredericton.
“I think that they’re all very talented people”
As did many of the people who attended the show. There was constant dancing as well people singing along to their favourite songs.
The event was just a week prior to the state of emergency put on for New Brunswickers this Friday, which means it would have been delayed even longer if it wasn’t scheduled for last weekend.