Rock and Roll Can Save the World: Inside Guerrilla Welfare 2025

Nathan is one of our advanced guitar instructors. He has been playing since he was a kid, and been in bands since he was a teenager. Nathan can teach electric, acoustic, lap steel, and bass, taking you from a beginner to a pro.

The Soundboard: What was the impetus or the series of events that led you to putting Guerrilla Welfare together (excellent name btw)?

Nathan: Thanks!

I see people going through difficulties all around. These are hard times for folks. As a person who is privileged enough to have my basic needs met (a roof over my head, food to eat, and dear friends and family that look after each other), I have a responsibility to look after my community. To me, Guerrilla Welfare is a way to fulfill that duty.

If we can strengthen the social support networks for our most vulnerable neighbors, we can build a stronger and safer community.

If we can foster connections based on mutual aid we can rest assured knowing: I’ll watch your back, and you’ll watch mine.

The Soundboard: Have you done anything like this before? If so, tell me about that/those event/events. If not, why now?

Nathan: As a teenager my dear friends in the band Cloud Temple (now Ghostwrite Inc.) started doing garbage cleanups at local parks. That eventually escalated into a food drive concert, dubbed “Guerrilla Welfare.”

I think like 20 people showed up. We had a great time though. I don’t remember the exact lineup, but it was Cloud Temple, and an early iteration of the band Stromatolite (shout out to my brothers). We were kids, and saving the world with rock and roll felt like something within our reach.

(A side note, I don’t recall exactly where the name “Guerrilla Welfare” came from. It could have been my dear friend Grip.Fast, it could have been me. Either way, shout out to Grip.Fast, love you dude!)

That idea of rock and roll as a catalyst for good sat in the back of my mind for years. Unfortunately, it came back under really horrific circumstances.

Three years ago yesterday (I write this on November 21st, 2025) an extremist domestic terror attack occurred at Club Q here in Colorado Springs. This was a mass shooting that killed five people, and injured and scarred many others. To say it was devastating to the city is a ridiculous understatement. It was a preventable, senseless, and heinous crime that we still feel the effects of today.

So, we took action. A lot of us. I called up basically everyone I knew. DJs, rock bands, venues, promoters, friends, strangers – many of whom were already thinking the same thing as me (shout out to Adversary and Zane, love you dudes)

That culminated in “Love over Hate,” among many other fantastic benefit concerts. Between the work I did and the work Adversary put in (again shout out) suddenly we had three separate venues, and probably 20 different artists performing in them.

(Side note, Adversary was a day one on that cause, and I think they put on an absolute rager of a show)

(Zane at Dog House also had a banger event at which I had the privilege to perform)

Venues were donating their time and staff to the cause (Shout out to Frisky’s and the Triple Nickel). People were taking time off from work to donate their time. Folks were giving up personal belongings as raffle prizes. Hell, I heard a member of Relate (shout out to Relate) lost his job just to perform this show, and they still donated all their merchandise sales to the cause. (Double shout out to Relate)

That brings us to 2025. “Guerrilla Welfare” is back with a vengeance, and hopefully will return every year.

The Soundboard: That’s honestly a pretty incredible set of bona fides. And with all of that experience, what have you learned about benefit shows or solidarity events?

Nathan: I think I’ve learned more about life and the world than I have about promoting events.

I’ve learned the weight of art.

I think for artists, it’s easy to discount the work we do as a leisure activity, or a silly hobby. But the work we do gives people respite from hardship, perspective on life, memories, hope, dreams, and above all it gives people community. To any artists reading this, your community needs you more than you think.

The Soundboard: 100% agree.

I’ve learned that most people are good.

It’s easy to be cynical these days. It’s easy and simple to assume that “most people” are selfish and inconsiderate at best, or spiteful and malignant at worst. But the truth is that most people are good. It’s not as simple and easy to wrap your head around, but most people are well-intentioned, kind, and empathetic. Most people want to help others if they’re given an opportunity to. They just need to be given the chance.

On top of that, it really is DIY or die.

You have to do it yourself, together. There is no deus ex machina coming to build your vision for you. There is no perfect moment. And there is no better time than now. Call your friends, get together, make it happen.

Above all else, I’ve learned that I was actually right as a kid:

Rock and roll can save the world.

Cynicism and naysaying will get you nowhere. Now more than ever we need that innocent hope. We need that simple determination. We need to be naive.

Call your friends. Pick up that guitar. We’ve got a world to save.

The Soundboard: Addressing the event itself: for “Guerrilla Welfare,” what do people need to know about the when/where/what to bring?

Nathan: Guerrilla Welfare is 7:30 pm, Saturday, December 6th at “What’s Left Records”

Free entry with a donation, $10 suggested without.

We’re accepting the following.

Food:

Canned and dry non perishable foods,

Warm clothing:

Coats, blankets, boots, socks, gloves, scarves, pants, shirts, hats, etc.

Money:

Monetary donations will go to Westside Cares.

Don’t feel pressured to bring a bunch of stuff (though if you want to, that’s amazing) bring what you can (even a can of beans is fantastic) and more importantly, bring your friends!

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