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In the early morning hours of February 15, DMC and the DMC Journalism Department lost a colleague, friend and member of their academic family.
Richard “Richie” Gonzalez – who died a few days short of his 21st birthday – was a journalism major and a contributing writer for the Foghorn. His love of music led him to write articles focusing on alternative styles of music including punk and power pop.
Richie was known for being a unique and vibrant individual with many talents including writing and playing various instruments including the drums, guitar and bass.
A show featuring the genres of music Richie enjoyed will be held on Thursday, March 18 to celebrate Richie’s life and the profound impact that he had on so many other people.
The featured bands are all bands Richie enjoyed listening to and whose members were counted as some of his own friends. Rather than focus on the sadness behind the loss, the show will focus on sharing memories while doing what Richie enjoyed the most, having fun and being around great music and great friends.
The bands set to play at the show include: The Sawyer Family, The Mumps and Final Notice, a band that Richie formerly played for. The Sawyer Family is a Punk/ Psychobilly band from Eugene, Oregon. The members are Master Seth Sawyer on guitar and vocals, Count Vlad Zacul Sawyer on double bass and vocals, Judge Jarod Sawyer on guitar and vocals and Kylsaw Sawyer on drums.
While frequently labeled a Psychobilly band, The Sawyer Family’s sound is hard to categorize. The band’s website says it best: “four guys that play instruments. Just listen and stop worrying about what it is or isn’t.”
They have played alongside big names such as Dick Dale, The Koffin Kats, The Chop Tops and Goddamned Gallows.
The Mumps are a local Punk band comprised of Jesse Mump on vocals and guitar, Candice Mump on bass, Jake Mump on drums and John Bump on guitar.
They have become a staple at every good Punk show, and with good reason. The band has an old-school Punk sound with loud, fast music dedicated to activism and social commentary.
Final Notice is a Punk band from Alice and the last band that Richie played in. The members consist of Jay Mysterio Jr., Randy Savage and Homer Hearst Helmsley.
The band has been together for nearly 10 years and they have played alongside such bands as The Casualties, Lower Class Brats, Monster Squad, The Scarred, Street Brats, The Havoc, Complete Control, NY-Relx, 25 Ta Life, Total Chaos and Cheap Sex.
“When we heard about what happened, we were all shocked. It’s still kind of hard to believe. We grew pretty close really quickly. We all felt like he was one of us. It’s still very sad and really hard to believe. We will always miss him and never forget all the fun times we had together,” said Helmsley.
The band is currently working on finishing a song that Richie helped them write in memory of him. “I guess in a way he’ll forever be a part of us as long as [Final Notice is] together,” said Helmsley. The show will take place at The Texan at 10 p.m. on next Thursday. Anyone is welcome to come and celebrate Richie’s life whether they were close friends or just want to help keep Richie’s spirit alive by having fun and listening to great music.
Cover charge is $10 and buttons will be sold with proceeds benefiting the Gonzales family.
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