Local band Without Reason is playing a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society today in Yorktown.
Without Reason's lead guitarist, Christopher Draper, is a freshman at Ball State University. "We are really excited about [the benefit concert]," Draper said. "Hopefully it will be the biggest one we have played yet. It's the first one we have organized, and after this, we are just going to learn and be able to [put on] bigger shows, organize bigger things. It's a nice learning opportunity."
Draper, a pre-law major, is taking classes, working at the Help Desk and practicing with his band at least once a week.
"I'm biting off a lot," he said. "My schedule is pretty solid, so usually we are just working around [the other members] now."
Without Reason plays its own music from the punk-pop genre, but Draper said the band is trying to extend beyond its norm.
"We have some [covers] just to branch out because we end up sounding like Blink-182," he said. "We cover The Killers and some other songs and get away from the punk-pop to play a variety of music. We also have some acoustic music."
The band has been together for about three years and plans on continuing to play for as long as possible. To gain more supporters, Without Reason is scheduling and playing more shows, in addition to the ACS benefit concert.
"We are trying to play around a lot," Draper said. "[The benefit] is a great thing to do. It's nice that we can all put on our job résumés. That, and our grandmother died of [cancer], so we have some personal motivation there as well."
The concert is being held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Morrow's Meadow. All profits made at the concert will be donated to cancer research.
Christopher's mother, Linda Draper, is the band's manager.
The first 200 people to arrive at the concert will be asked to donate a minimum of $5, Linda Draper said. Those 200 people also get dinner, sponsored by Marsh, included in their ticket price. Sloppy joes, chips and soft drinks will be served at the event.
Without Reason is anticipating about 500 people to attend the event and raise close to $5,000.
Informational handouts and pamphlets about ACS will be distributed to tables during the performances.
Christopher Draper said the band would also like to make this an annual event that they could organize every year.
The concert will also feature four other local bands, including Green Means Go, Leon, Zephr and Don't Forget Thursday.
Linda Draper said since the Launching Pad - a Village music venue - closed, the band had a difficult time booking concerts near campus.
"I'm looking for places for them to play," she said. "They play at the flea market [off of I-69] almost every month. They are going to play in October, but we don't have a date set yet."
Without Reason has played at multiple Battle of the Bands, and most recently won one in Daleville. They also played in Yorktown's Summer Heat Festival and in Fort Wayne at a fundraiser for EnEvo, an environmental group based in Fort Wayne.
By the time of the concert, Without Reason anticipates having their first CD recorded. Students can also see Without Reason on Friday in Lafollette Field for a global slavery issue awareness concert.
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