BFB Mike profile picture

BFB Mike

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me




My Choices:

Knuckle Sandwich, Pulley, Slapstick, AFI(old), Against All Authority, Grey Area, Suicide Machines, Goldfinger(old), 88 Finger Louie, Lagwagon, Big D and the Kids Table, Kicked in the Head, Sprout, The Blue Bloods, Folly, The Overdrives, The Code, H2O, CIV, Strung Out, M-80, Link 80, The Break, Catch 22, Codename Rocky, Down By Law, Torpedo Twisters, Molotov Cocktail Incorperated, Ironboss, Closet Monster, Limp, The Briggs, U.S Bombs, Lawrence Arms, Ripp Winkler, The Gamblers, Sucka Punch, Step Lively, Tommy and the Terrors, Stutter, West Beverly, 98 Mute, Mad Caddies, Kemuri, The Porkers, The Sainte Catherines, The Couch Addiction, subb, Leek and the Bouncing Uptones, Marble, Brown Lobster Tank, Tank, Attaboy Skip, Unwritten Law(old), Mountain Oyster Cult, Four Star Day, Professor Plum, The Malcontents, I Voted For Kodos, Planet Smashers, Thought Riot, Bombshell Rocks, Snuff, Beatsteaks, The Busdrivers, Allister(old), The Flatliners, The StreetDogs, Lickity Split, Fifth Hour Hero, Jersey, Alkaline Trio(old), Plowking, The Methadones, Authority Zero, Bad Religion, Mi6, Millincolin, No On 15, Near Miss, Racer Ten, The Sellouts, Bosstones, River City Rebels, River City High, Jebadiah, Ritter, Late Start, Focus, The forces of Evil, Dynamite Boy, Less Than Jake(old), Time Again, Beerzone, Bayside RIP (not the one of Victory Records), The Transit, Ednas Goldfish, Streetlight Manifesto, Greyfield, Home Gorwn, The Vandals, Whoopie Cushion, Weston, Uncle Brian, Assorted Jellybeans, No Trigger, Going Nowhere, Dillenger Four, Dogpiss, Bouncing Souls Jeffries Fan Club, Darkbuster, Drexel, Hangnail, Rise Against, Squirtgun, the ducky boys, far from finished, etc..etc..
Local:
The Goons, Parkton, Charm City Saints, Stupid Hero, Mindside 19, Daycare Swindlers, The Scare, Catching Thieves, Gatsby Gets the Green Light, Remember Daylight,
Bands I've Worked With:
The Exit, Forgotten Youth, Mad Max, Ironboss, Susist, Aberdien, Folly, Face First, New Direxion, Royal Noise Brigade, No Soap Radio, The Pennyroyals, Knuckle Sandwich, Finks Constant, Turning Blue, Houston Calls, Hidden in Plain View, Monty's Fan Club, Supergiant*Md, Dinkus Nine, Long Shot Hero, New Jersey Panic, Class Clown, The Superspecs (The Specs), The Youth Ahead, Underscore, As Seasons Fall,The Hourlys, Silent Film, Ballyhoo!,Case of the Mondays, SGR, Rude Buddha, Eleven 54, The Troublemakers, The Fad, Remember Daylight, Catching Thieves, Distorted Penguins, Bomb Town, Brunt of It, Gatsby Gets the Green Light.
If your band is heading through our town in late August or early September, please contact us if you are interested in this event. Also, please check out Bands For Benefits. (www.BandsforBenefits.com).My Nature Photography


My Concert Photography


My Interests

Music, Photography, Projects, Cooking, Travel, My Dog Avery, Canadian Beer and a really bad Horror Movie.

I'd like to meet:

What exactly is Bands For Benefits? That is the most common FAQ. To sum it up in one sentence, Bands For Benefits is a non-profit group that holds benefit concerts for charity organizations. If you would like to go into further detail about the history, then please read on.

The timeline starts in early 2001. Organizers Mike Catania and Jennifer Jorio met for the first time on the job. While having strong desires to help improve the community and to support the local music scene, the two quickly became acquainted with each other and their friendship grew fast. Around this same time, an unfortunate incident occurred. The husband of a close friend of Mike and Jens had passed away after suffering with Diabetes for many years. With little experience, the two came up with the idea of holding a charity rock concert as a memorial for their friends husband. They contacted the American Diabetes Association and the Westminster City Parks & Recreation and began to work on setting a date and acquiring the proper permits and insurance to hold a benefit concert for the ADA. They decided to title the event Bands For Benefits. Their first show was held on July 13th 2001.

2001 Line-Up

1. Forgotten Youth - MD
2. Subsist - MD
3. Aberdien - MD
4. Folly - NJ
5. Face First - NJ
6. New Direxion - NJ

After raising $520.00 for the ADA in 2001, Mike and Jen decided they wanted to take things to another level. On top of adding a new event to their hometown park for the younger generation, raising money for a good cause and supporting the music scene, the two decided to incorporate community service hours into their event for 2002. After gaining some local support and increasing their advertising strategies, the second BFB concert was held on August 10th 2002.

2002 Line-Up

1. No Soap Radio - NJ
2. Royal Noise Brigade - PA
3. The Pennyroyals - NJ
4. Knuckle Sandwich - NJ
5. Finks Constent - PA

BFB raised $1,232.75 for the ADA at the 2002 show. It was officially settled, BFB was going to be an annual event in Westminster, MD!!! Although 2001 and 2002 were considered the stress years, they actually paved the way for future shows. BFB began to draw a large following in 2003 and 2004. The third BFB show was held August 9th 2003.

2003 Line-Up

1. Turning Blue - RI
2. Houston Calls - NJ
3. Hidden in Plain View - NJ
4. Montys Fan Club - RI
5. Supergiant*MD
6. Dinkus Nine - NY

After holding their third annual benefit concert for the American Diabetes Association in 2003, BFB had almost raised a total of $3000.00 for the ADA from three concerts. With new ideas in mind, Mike and Jen decided to help out a new cause in 2004. Mary Carroll, a close friend of the two, had contacted BFB about holding a benefit concert for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Marys mother suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. Excited about taking on a new challenge, the team began preparation for the 2004 BFB concert for MS. The year started with doubts when BFB found out their sound coordinator, Mike Spangler, was going to retire. Mike had supplied the sound since 2001. Although sad to see Mike go, BFB was introduced to a new friend for the upcoming year. Todd Stotler, (Echoes Recording Studio), had been interested in helping out BFB for some time. While volunteering his time and equipment in 2004, Todd and his wife play an important part in the BFB family. The 2004 benefit for MS was held on August 7th.
2004 Line-Up

1. Long Shot Hero - PA
2. New Jersey Panic - NJ
3. Class Clown - VT
4. The Superspecs - NJ
5. The Youth Ahead - NJ
6. Underscore - MD
7. Infuseon - MD

$1,112.36 was raised for MS in 2004. Not only was 2004 exciting, by supporting a new cause, BFB also gained their first serious sponsor, Carroll Gymnastics. Carroll Gymnastics contributed by sponsoring 100 BFB t-shirts for the 2004 show. Although gaining occasional sponsors and support, BFB has mostly been a Do it Yourself project for Mike and Jen. From covering most of their own supplies and merchandise for the event, to paying for insurance/permits, there is not a challenge that the duo has not been able to conquer. Most people believe that the two put too much time and effort in to making this event possible. To some, that may be true, but to Mike and Jen, nothing can beat the feeling they get from holding Bands For Benefits concerts.

2005 Line-Up

1. The Hourlys - MD
2. The Fad - NY
3. Silent Film - MD
4. The Troublemakers - NJ
5. Case of the Mondays - NJ
6. The Superspecs - NJ
7. Monty - RI
8. SGR - NJ
9. Eleven 54 - MD
10.Ballyhoo! - MD
11.Rude Buddha - VA
12.As Seasons Fall - MD

2005 was the first true experiment we have ever done with the show. We decided to hold the show at the Carroll Community College Rotary Amphitheater, and make it an all day show. We had a few issues during the show, but for the most part things ran smoothly. The 12 bands that performed that day formed one of the best line-ups we have ever organized. Even though the change of venue did not work out to our advantage, we were still able to raise $1,300.00 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The 5th Bands for Benefits concert took place on Saturday, August 6th 2005.

2006 Line-Up

1.Remember Daylight - MD
2.Catching Thieves - MD
3.Distorted Penguins - MD
4.Brunt of It - RI
5.Bomb Town - NJ
6.The Specs - NJ
7.Gatsby Gets the Green Light - MD

2006 had to be one of the most amazing shows we've had over the past six years. We really bounced back after a disappointing 2005. The show was moved back to the park, which was really our home all along. The show was a payback to the city park for supporting us since the beginning. All money raised was donated to the Westminster City Park's youth programs. It was the best turnout we had in a long time....and everyone helped get the word around town. We only raised about $800.00, however it was by far the most memorable show to date. Everyone had a great time, the bands were awesome, it was just a great day. This was planned to be the final show for BFB, however, things went so well, that we actually may have to think
things over...lol.

To Be Continued....

MIKE'S Weekly Video Mood

Movies:

Up the creek

Television:

Family Guy, Deadliest Catch

Books:

In the winter

Heroes:

I think I'll change this catagory to things I can't stand!Most Reality TV, Commercials for Ipods, Nosey People, Spam on Myspace, Bud Light, Gas Prices, Sweet Potatoes, Small Dogs, Telemarketers, Eleven 54, Cities, NBA, Attention Whores, Staples, Co-workers who do nothing but constantly bitch about their job/life, Canteloupe, Game Shows,I'll add more in the future.

My Blog

Short & Sweet

Quick Update. Haven’t been able to update for a while due to lack on internet....which is now going on 3 months.  Hopefully it will be back soon.  Things are finally starting to get a ...
Posted by BFB Mike on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:38:00 PST

Holidays

This blog is nothing but a quick update.  Things have been getting better lately.  Evan's slowly starting to finally sleep in the craddle, so Jen and I have finally gotten a little to sleep ...
Posted by BFB Mike on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:41:00 PST

Old Blog - The cold, the electric and the bugs

I was bored and just wanted to re-post one of my favorite old blogs for the fuck of it.  Wednesday -November 1st, 2006- 9am - Work Sitting, bored out of my mind on receiving. Staring. ...
Posted by BFB Mike on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 02:01:00 PST

Oil Failures (new)

I was listening to the song Transistor by the Warriors when I typed this. Good band.  Check them out. Humid, stuffy and so loud you have to scream to hear your own voice.  Fans turning...
Posted by BFB Mike on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 08:47:00 PST

The Web We Weave

I only write blogs about what I see with my own eyes.  Not lyrics from songs and not little poems.  I mainly write about what I notice, especially when it comes to things lik...
Posted by BFB Mike on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:16:00 PST

Shocking Parties in New Windsor

So, I had the weekend off.  First one since I was transfered to 139.  I was going to try and have a small night of playing cards & drinking a little with some friends, but almost everyon...
Posted by BFB Mike on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:15:00 PST

Knock on Wood, but things are actually good

In such a short period of time, so many positive things have been going on lately.  Not just for myself, but for others around me.  I can't mention names, but many others in the family have...
Posted by BFB Mike on Wed, 30 May 2007 08:07:00 PST

Weather, Energetic, New Interests and Opening Day

Wow, finally a little excitement in the morning for a change.  I was throwing together my lunch  (Dole fruit cup, bottled water, reduced fat triscuts and a frozen stir fry meal), and waiting...
Posted by BFB Mike on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:15:00 PST

My Collection

I had the day off today and started spring cleaning around the house.  The hardest part was going through my closet of 100+ band t-shirts.  I played some old Suicide Machines, Four Star Day,...
Posted by BFB Mike on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:22:00 PST

Out on Nine (last Wednesday)

6am - Wednesday - December 20th Lots of strikes against me today.  Morning came a little too quick today.  I got about five hours of sleep, which really isn't much less than usual, but still...
Posted by BFB Mike on Thu, 28 Dec 2006 01:58:00 PST