Mosh pits and skanking aren't usually associated with helping the needy.
However, an assortment of hardcore, punk, reggae and ska bands are using their music to help a local cause. Eighteen local bands will perform a series of CD release shows through June that will raise funds and more awareness about HOMEvan, a grassroots volunteer-outreach organization that provides services to the homeless.
The CD is a second compilation entitled "HOMEvan: A Gainesville Music Benefit for the Homeless." Twenty-four bands, along with the 18 that are performing, are featured on the CD. Some of them include Chupaskabra, The Duppies, Morningbell and Oh Sanders.
"For the musicaholics in this town, it's great because Gainesville is a really tight music community," said Dan Fitzpatrick, one of the show's organizers. "This town is really progressive in that the Gainesville music scene is willing to come out for some really neat causes."
The next show is April 26 at Common Grounds featuring Grabass Charlestons, Liquid Limbs, Spanish Gamble and Crash Pad. Doors open at 5 p.m., and organizers are asking for a $5 to $20 donation.
They are also asking attendees to bring either a jar of peanut butter or a pair of white socks for distribution. According to Fitzpatrick, the items are what the homeless community has said it needs the most.
Clean socks were requested because they tend to get worn out easily, especially in the rain. Peanut butter, because it is nonperishable and highly nutritious.
"A lot of people see this town as just the four-year layover between high school and real life," Fitzpatrick said. "There is more going on in this town than the bubble of school and midtown bars; there is a whole community going on here."
The CD's price is on a sliding scale of $7 to $20. It is available at all four shows and also at Hyde 'n Zeke Records and Wayward Council. All sales will also go to HOMEvan's efforts to relieve the growing homeless population in Gainesville.
According to the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, the number of women, men and children without homes has jumped about 70 percent.
HOMEvan helps 100 to 300 of these people twice a week by bringing them food, clothes and hygiene products.
The first CD and benefit show of this kind was put together for HOMEvan back in 2002. It featured 42 bands, and overall raised $3,000 for HOMEvan, which Fitzpatrick hopes to top this year.
Fitzpatrick brought the idea back to life after he visited his best friend for the summer who was in the Peace Corp in Mongolia. He said his friend told him he should try to reorganize a benefit show and compilation CD for HOMEvan again because it was such a great idea.
"I felt the biggest tragedy of the first one was it was such a good idea and it didn't pick up," Fitzpatrick said. "We are hoping this really grows legs, gains some momentum and becomes a regular thing."
When he talked to bands about the idea, he said they raved about it.
Brian Hiebel, the lead singer of The Duppies, said while the band has done a lot of benefit shows, he enjoys using his music for humanitarian causes a lot more.
"I don't always like giving out my spare change," he said. "But I definitely like contributing my artistic ability to something like this."
Hiebel and The Duppie's guitarist Tony Farah both said they like seeing the cause affect their own community.
"With how much I'm out, and how many homeless people I see on a daily basis, it's cool to help them," Farah said.
Farah, who is also the bassist of Chupaskabra, said he hopes the benefit compilation will have an influence on the fans.
"As far as our fans, most kids that come out are pretty young," he said. "Hopefully this exposes them to the cause and new music."
