In a way they proved that underneath a somewhat intimidating, hard exterior it's actually punk rock to help the innocent--especially if it comes in the form of an aggresive but loveable pit like Odin.
The event was pulled together by Jason "Woody" Wood, Odin's loyal master. Both have been each others best friends for the past five years.
However, Woody was not at all alone in coordinating the event which came off (start to finish) in as little as a week and a half.
Tim Trezise, who's co-owned Syndicate with Chris Cobb since it's inception more than five years ago, was the one who originally approached Woody with the idea. Not only that , he offered to close the shop on Sunday, one of Syndicates biggest business days of the week, so they could house the show.
Woody said that the event as a whole was the raddest thing that anyone had ever done for him since, well....ever.
Patrons arrived throughout the afternoon and night, in full force. Adorned with tattoes, donned in concert t-shirts, they had red cups in hand and worn converse on their feet.
One of Woody's friends said that the 300+ in attendance was a testiment to him, "since Jason is so giving and such a big-hearted guy."
Trezise added that since Woody was already struggling to pay-up Odin's steep medical bills (he had already hocked some of his stuff and his gas had been shut off for missing a bill) the idea of Woody losing Odin was just sad.
"I couldn't have that," said Trezise.
Ally Corwin, Woody's girlfriend aka his "Bird" collected money in a plastic jack-o-lantern and said that she was surpised about how the rough, partying crowd composed themselves: There was not a single fist fight. Corwin said that at these types of events, "There are always fights, always stuff getting broken, but [this time], for the most part, people were really courtous." Some of the bands that played at the event included La Esperanza Music, the Indigants, Graveyard Riot, Long Beach All Day and a short set by ADHD.
Shred Savage was one of the few bands listed on the flier who didn't get to play.
"That was a bummer," said Trezise.
He also said that the cops came by three times to issue warnings throughout the benefit and that he and the other organizers decided to call it quits after the last warning around 7:30 p.m. This was so they wouldn't get hit with a $500 fine and have to take it out of Odin's pile of cash.
At Tim's house, which is behind the shop, Ryan Bloom of Electric Tattoo in Newport Beach and Gabe Harwell of F.T.W. a tattoo shop in Oakland were working the gun throughout the event.
"Gabe was a pirate," said Woody of his friend who was tattooing for five hours from 3 to 8 p.m.
"I came out for this guy," Harwell said nodding to Woody, "and I even drove the long way." Harwell also said that in his five hours he worked on 5 or 6 little tattoos. His favorite was on a young rocker known as "Little John" who got a skull with a top-hat that read "Sorry I Party."
The whole event was promoted heavily through myspace bulletins. A flier titled "FUCK CANCER" flooded the pages of everyone the guys knew.
The full bar and BBQ as well as the raffle for clothes, gift certificates, tattoos and skateboards were all funded by donations.
"Dog lovers that I had never even seen before would come up and give me $40," said Ally Corwin, "that's a lot of money when your drinking and partying."
One such donation came from a former CSULB Professor of Recreation and Leisure. It took one look at the freshly inked tattoo on his arm--a portiat of his beloved pup--to see that he could identify with the cause.
In the end Jason said that he got enough money to save Odin.
"It's truly amazing how it all came together....I was fucking amazed. I just want to thank all of my friends."
However his last words were that he wished Wade Pile would have shown up.
Syndicate is located at 2749 E. Broadway (near Temple)
For a new-do call (562)433-7733
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