Superior band rocks for St. Jude

The rock and roll lifestyle is often perceived as one of decadence, excess and narcissism, but a two-piece band based in Superior are working hard to change that perception.

Nicholas Schwaderer, 19, and Justin Green, 20, of the band Moments Notice are releasing their debut full-length album Amber Lights Jan. 12, and are donated all profits from the first month of sales to the St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Schwaderer said as a way to cut down on cost and give the highest portion of money possible to the charity, the band has decided to release the album digitally. He said without having to pay for things like a distributor, about 91 percent of the sale price will go directly to St. Jude. He said the album can be purchased off of the Internet at iTunes, Rhapsody or at the band's Web page at www.myspace.com/momentsnoticemt. Schwaderer said the band has added a direct link to St. Jude on their Web site for people not interested in buying the album, but who would still like to donate to St. Jude..

Schwaderer, who plays guitar and keys for the band and adds vocals, said when the release date was approaching, he and Green, who provides vocals and plays the bass, guitar and keys, were filled with an "icky feeling" that they would have to promote the album and people would think the money was going into their pockets. "We're not in this for the money," he said.

As a way to combat the "icky feeling," the band decided to donate the money to charity, said Schwaderer. He said the band searched for the right cause for months before settling on St. Jude. "St. Jude is a fantastic organization that helps kids, while doing research," said Schwaderer. "We're lucky to be able to help them," he added.

The 13-song album Amber Lights was a long time in the making for the alternative rock band, said Schwaderer. He said the band was formed in 2004 and has been working on the album for the past 18 months. "We wanted to do it right, so it took a little while," he said. "A lot of man hours and work were put into this album," Schwaderer added. He said the band had to trim down the over 30 songs they had written to 13. He said a couple of good songs were left off of the album, but that's the way it had to be. "Nobody wants to listen to a 16-track album," he said. Schwaderer said they mailed the finished product to a distributor Dec. 28, and said it was a "monumental day" for the band. "Today feels like the first time I can breath," he said on Dec. 29.

According to the St. Jude Children's Hospital Web site, St. Jude Children's Hospital is currently the third leading U.S.A. healthcare charity, renowned for offering healthcare to children regardless of the family's ability to pay or state of insurance. In cases where the family cannot pay at all, the organization simply absorbs the cost.

The organization is also constantly researching many of the terminal diseases that plague children today, working on more effective treatments and cures for the future. Thus far, they have transformed the mortality rates on several diseases from near-fatal to negligible. All of this was accomplished under a non-capitalist mentality with the help of a countless many who gave of their time and money to assist.