(photo by John Corotis)
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getting to know the three students behind "the Sha-Bang"
(photo by Sophia Mola)
Written by Clara Applegarth
May 12, 2016
May 12, 2016
“We decided to call it ‘The Last Sha-Bang’.” said Carson Stone, describing the first event that was to send them, and 30 of their friends into the summer after their sophomore year at Cal Poly. However, recalling this event, the three students had no idea it would hardly be the last “Sha-bang”.
Greg Golf, 21 of Austin, Texas, Carson Stone, 22, of Davis, Calif., and Alexander Schwend, 22, of Woodinville, Washington started what has become a staple event to hundreds of Cal Poly students and Cuesta Students alike. “The Sha-Bang” is a student-run event hosted by Carson, Schwend, and Golf, featuring a showcase of local bands on top of the Cuesta Ridge. The hallmark location is off Forest Route 29S11, on the Cuesta Grade. Once you park, you hike a mere 25 minutes to the top of the ridge. The hilltop has a 360-degree view of the Central Coast’s rolling hills where the ridge cuts through the fog, so there’s almost always a sunset view while listening to music and enjoying company.
“Me and Greg (sic) were volunteering at a homeless shelter in Atascadero (ECHO), just watching over the place at 3 AM trying to figure out what to do before the last weekend before finals. We said we need to go out with a ‘bang’.” Stone said.
The first event was about 30-40 of their closest friends, a generator, and a local band called William H. Klink, which Schwend plays guitar for. William H. Klink is one of the main bands that has supported "The Sha-Bang" through the two years they have been throwing the event, and has played at almost every "Sha-Bang". They have a big fan base, so a large following for "The Sha-Bang" has been found through William H. Klink.
“It carried itself really. Kind of just said ‘that was fun, let’s do it again’. ‘Oh well, that was fun let’s do it again.’” Stone said.
It’s hard to believe that for the size and the following “The Sha-Bang” has gained since their first event in June 2014, it wasn’t part of a premeditated plan from Golf, Stone, and Schwend. It was merely an event put on by friends for friends. They did not expect what they were about to create.
“It definitely grew through word of mouth. Eventually we gained inertia, and by the third one, we realized we had something. We could put it towards a good cause and make something out of it.” Golf said.
Every aspect of “Sha-Bang” is student run. Students make all the artwork, print all the posters, and engineer students build the stages. Schwend recalls their most recent event in the winter, “Sha-Bang V”, which was during the biggest rainstorm of the year. For the past few months, the road up to the location has been under construction, therefore no vehicles can drive up the road. This made it a 25-minute hike for everyone, including the crew and their equipment.
“In the past we’ve just driven and hauled all our equipment and gear up and down the hill. I have a junkyard of bikes on the side of the house, and my roommate in the front is an engineer. So I asked him if there was a way we can construct something to haul everything up.” Schwend said.
They called it “The Flying Machine”. Three separate bikes welded together with a frame that could fit one stage on it. It took Golf, Schwend, and Stone, along with five of their friends to push roughly 400 pounds of equipment up the hill. Despite it being, what they described, as “a hurricane on top of a mountain”, hundreds of people still showed up eager for the music.
“I saw a lot of kids looking around and thinking what a crazy experience to have in my life, having 200-350 kids up on a mountain, while its raining, listening to music under a tent.” Golf said.
Because the Cuesta Ridge is outside city limits, they don’t have any large issues dealing with the city. However, with the road under construction, they are going through the process of getting everything up to code with permits alongside the SLO Forestry Rangers. Luckily, no major mishaps have happened, so they are taking correct measurements to make sure they can retain the momentum they have built.
“We’ve become very thorough about it because once it started to become bigger we realized if somebody got hurt, it would be tough for us to swallow and that’d be the end of it.” said Golf.
While the process takes place, they will be holding the spring event “Sha-Bang: Live At Laguna", Saturday, May 21 at 5 PM.
“Sha-Bang” has also began donating proceeds they collect from the shuttle service, provided by SLO Safe Ride, and donations from “Sha-Bang” fans to local charities.
“I think people realize that we’re putting on something good for everyone, and they’re willing to donate.” Golf said.
They have been able to purchase music equipment for the SLO Boys & Girls Club of Atascadero to start their own music class, and, most recently, donated to the Land Conservation of SLO, which was voted on by fans through their Facebook event page.
“It’s not just a concert,” Stone said, “it’s a concert that benefits the community and everyone around, so we want to maintain that.”
Schwend, Stone, and Golf are currently in a transformation stage, evolving from an event into an event company. They eager to keep the “Sha-Bang” going and welcome everyone in the community. The next “Sha-Bang: Live at Laguna” will be held at Laguna Lake Park on Saturday, May 21 at 5pm, and shouldn’t disappoint.
Greg Golf, 21 of Austin, Texas, Carson Stone, 22, of Davis, Calif., and Alexander Schwend, 22, of Woodinville, Washington started what has become a staple event to hundreds of Cal Poly students and Cuesta Students alike. “The Sha-Bang” is a student-run event hosted by Carson, Schwend, and Golf, featuring a showcase of local bands on top of the Cuesta Ridge. The hallmark location is off Forest Route 29S11, on the Cuesta Grade. Once you park, you hike a mere 25 minutes to the top of the ridge. The hilltop has a 360-degree view of the Central Coast’s rolling hills where the ridge cuts through the fog, so there’s almost always a sunset view while listening to music and enjoying company.
“Me and Greg (sic) were volunteering at a homeless shelter in Atascadero (ECHO), just watching over the place at 3 AM trying to figure out what to do before the last weekend before finals. We said we need to go out with a ‘bang’.” Stone said.
The first event was about 30-40 of their closest friends, a generator, and a local band called William H. Klink, which Schwend plays guitar for. William H. Klink is one of the main bands that has supported "The Sha-Bang" through the two years they have been throwing the event, and has played at almost every "Sha-Bang". They have a big fan base, so a large following for "The Sha-Bang" has been found through William H. Klink.
“It carried itself really. Kind of just said ‘that was fun, let’s do it again’. ‘Oh well, that was fun let’s do it again.’” Stone said.
It’s hard to believe that for the size and the following “The Sha-Bang” has gained since their first event in June 2014, it wasn’t part of a premeditated plan from Golf, Stone, and Schwend. It was merely an event put on by friends for friends. They did not expect what they were about to create.
“It definitely grew through word of mouth. Eventually we gained inertia, and by the third one, we realized we had something. We could put it towards a good cause and make something out of it.” Golf said.
Every aspect of “Sha-Bang” is student run. Students make all the artwork, print all the posters, and engineer students build the stages. Schwend recalls their most recent event in the winter, “Sha-Bang V”, which was during the biggest rainstorm of the year. For the past few months, the road up to the location has been under construction, therefore no vehicles can drive up the road. This made it a 25-minute hike for everyone, including the crew and their equipment.
“In the past we’ve just driven and hauled all our equipment and gear up and down the hill. I have a junkyard of bikes on the side of the house, and my roommate in the front is an engineer. So I asked him if there was a way we can construct something to haul everything up.” Schwend said.
They called it “The Flying Machine”. Three separate bikes welded together with a frame that could fit one stage on it. It took Golf, Schwend, and Stone, along with five of their friends to push roughly 400 pounds of equipment up the hill. Despite it being, what they described, as “a hurricane on top of a mountain”, hundreds of people still showed up eager for the music.
“I saw a lot of kids looking around and thinking what a crazy experience to have in my life, having 200-350 kids up on a mountain, while its raining, listening to music under a tent.” Golf said.
Because the Cuesta Ridge is outside city limits, they don’t have any large issues dealing with the city. However, with the road under construction, they are going through the process of getting everything up to code with permits alongside the SLO Forestry Rangers. Luckily, no major mishaps have happened, so they are taking correct measurements to make sure they can retain the momentum they have built.
“We’ve become very thorough about it because once it started to become bigger we realized if somebody got hurt, it would be tough for us to swallow and that’d be the end of it.” said Golf.
While the process takes place, they will be holding the spring event “Sha-Bang: Live At Laguna", Saturday, May 21 at 5 PM.
“Sha-Bang” has also began donating proceeds they collect from the shuttle service, provided by SLO Safe Ride, and donations from “Sha-Bang” fans to local charities.
“I think people realize that we’re putting on something good for everyone, and they’re willing to donate.” Golf said.
They have been able to purchase music equipment for the SLO Boys & Girls Club of Atascadero to start their own music class, and, most recently, donated to the Land Conservation of SLO, which was voted on by fans through their Facebook event page.
“It’s not just a concert,” Stone said, “it’s a concert that benefits the community and everyone around, so we want to maintain that.”
Schwend, Stone, and Golf are currently in a transformation stage, evolving from an event into an event company. They eager to keep the “Sha-Bang” going and welcome everyone in the community. The next “Sha-Bang: Live at Laguna” will be held at Laguna Lake Park on Saturday, May 21 at 5pm, and shouldn’t disappoint.