It is music with a mission for Taste Nation LLC, who recently organized the first of a 3-part charity concert series at the Starting Gate restaurant and other locations in and around Los Alamitos. One hundred percent of all proceeds from each raffle and silent auction go to The Youth Center, Precious Life Shelter, and Casa Youth Shelter. In addition, Taste Nation donates a percentage of the event proceeds to the featured charities.
Taste Nation is a hybrid music company that harvests solid bonds between for-profit and the non-profit worlds to forge a new way of branding, marketing and promoting worthy causes through the power of music. Their music charity concert series began last Saturday, and will continue on October 20, from 4 to 9 p.m., at the Starting Gate. The third performance’s date and location are yet to be determined. Each concert will feature new bands and talent. Sponsoring the first event was Rock Star Tanning, Left of the Dial Records and Print ’n Copy and more.
“We are striving to make Los Alamitos a welcoming venue for new and emerging bands and singer-songwriters with breakout potential, and welcome our neighboring cities in North Orange County as Los Alamitos organically grows to become the epicenter of cutting edge music with a charity linked to every concert!” said Matthew Thomas, CEO for Taste Nation LLC. “We provide platforms for under exposed acts and passionate, local charities,” he said. “Taste Nation feverishly researches to find the gems from most genres within ‘The Other Music Industry’ that are rich and vibrant but hidden below one’s feet,” he continued. “We just pull back the carpet.”
Thomas, 35, who was born and raised and currently lives in Rossmoor, founded Taste Nation in 2011 to bring together original bands, singer-song writers and DJs of all genres with local charities. He attended St. Hedwig and Mater Dei High School, earning his bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University. He worked in marketing and management for The Gallo Winery in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, and was a financial advisor before starting Taste Nation LLC.
“I’ve always known about these local charities,” he said. “My parents have always brought us up with being charitably-minded, and it’s something that is deeply rooted in our family.”
Silent auction and raffle items included a month-long tanning pass (valued at $200), and a private tour and tasting at Callaway Winery in Temecula, tickets to Paintball USA (valued at $600), a Danbury Mint black sapphire man’s watch, and 2012 official tour posters signed by The Jealous Sound and DayTrader, two bands currently on tour on Rise Records. Grand prize for the raffle was to have The Other Mules band perform live at the ticket holder’s home with a professional photographer and videographer.
“These events are very close to my heart,” said Thomas. “Taste Nation builds a bridge between profit and non-profits through music being the great unifier.”
Featured at the first concert series was DJ I-RON (based in Los Alamitos), C-Gak (an electronic/trip-hop artist out of Seal Beach – Drummer for RX Bandits), The Other Mules (a blues band from Los Angeles), the Vespertines (an Indie psychedelic rock band based in Long Beach), and the Ancestors (an internationally acclaimed progressive/psychedelic rock band out of Los Angeles) on TeePee records. The Ancestors, in support of their new album, In Dreams and Time, played multiple venues and large festivals throughout Europe including the world renowned Roadburn Festival in Holland.
First to perform was C-GAK, a duo with vocals by Nate Jackson, and drums and synthesizer by Chris Tsagakis. The two played instruments layered electronically and recorded to sound like a full band playing. Second to perform was The Other Mules, a 4 man band led by vocalist Rooster Kingfish with T-Z Deluxe on drums (tubs), G-Slide on slide guitar and Deacon Merril on guitar. Their rhythmic blues tunes rang out with Evil and Cross-eyed cat which kept the audience wanting more.
The third to perform was The Vespertines led by the powerful vocals of Vanessa Acosta (who also played trumpet) with singing reminiscent of Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. On drums was Chris Walker, guitarist Alex Kater and Kyle Cavaness on bass. In classic psychedelic rock fashion, this band belted out a number of songs including “I can do it, I can be it” and “How long.”
Finally, the closing performance was given by Ancestors with lead vocalist/guitarist Justin Maranga, Daniel Pouliet on drums, Jason Watkins on organ, and Nick Long on guitar. Their unique heart-pounding, intriguing running rhythms ended in a song that ran 20 minutes.
Taste Nation LLC is featured on youtube.com. For upcoming music events and tickets, fans can follow them on Facebook or contact Thomas at matthew@tastenationllc.com. Tickets to the remaining concerts are $10 pre sale and $15 at the event. Bands interested in sending demos can mail them to Taste Nation LLC, P.O. Box 280, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.