No Shame, a folk-rock band, entertained guests at a benefit concert Saturday with their own rendition of “Amy” by the Pure Prairie League.
The concert, held in honor of two University students, Chandrasekhar Komma and Kiran Allam, who were killed in Edward Gay Apartments this past December.
Despite the lack of guests at the “Sounds of Healing” concert, International Student Association President Yves Damoiseau is still hopeful about raising money for a Komma and Allam Memorial Garden.
Damoiseau said it was an unfortunate coincidence the concert happened the same day of the spring game, but he felt it still served a great purpose.
“Through the publicity that this event has received, we have already received a pledge from an alumni chapter in Atlanta to donate money for this memorial garden,” Damoiseau said. “Someone from the audience asked me about an opportunity to donate money apart from the concert tonight.”
Guests paid a $5 admission fee for students and children and $10 for adult non-students.
Guests were served ice cream and had another opportunity to contribute money into a donation jar during intermission.
The memorial will be built behind the International Cultural Center, and the funds from the concert will contribute to the garden’s construction. It will include memorial plates dedicating the garden to the slain students and a place of reflection overlooking the lake.
The concert included performances by No Shame and Midlife Crisis. The event was sixth in a series of fundraising concerts, one of which helped raise money for the recovery after Hurricane Katrina.
Midlife Crisis members include LSU Agricultural Center professors Rich Vlosky and Jim Griffin and Griffin’s wife, Carol.
Vlosky joked with the crowed between each song but said the fundraiser was worthy.
“The cause was something very close to home and close to our hearts,” Vlosky said.
The bands entertained the crowd with cover songs by artists such as Cream, Creedence Clearwater and many others.
Masudul Biswas, mass communication grad student, said he enjoyed the concert.
“The performance was great,” Biswas said. “This is my second semester here, and I’ve never had a chance to listen to this type of music before.”
Damoiseau said the garden is still in the planning stage, but there will be more events in the future to raise the funds needed for the garden’s construction.
—-Contact Megan Williams at [email protected]