Concert to raise money for baby

Well-known Yuma band Slick Nickel will perform in the parking lot of Texas Roadhouse, 594 E 16th St., Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. to raise money for Isaac Carbajal, who was born with serious birth defects.

Little Isaac is suffering from a severed spinal cord and major issues with his heart. The family needs financial help to pay for medical expenses.

All of the money from ticket sales - $8 for one or $15 per couple - will be donated to the family. Attendees are asked to bring their own portable seating.

Texas Roadhouse will be selling pulled pork, burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks during the event, with 20 percent of the proceeds also given to the Carbajal family.

For more information, call 329-7427.

"People should come watch the show to support this  young child," said Scott Crace, owner of Texas Roadhouse in Yuma. "He is not some anonymous face living somewhere else; he is one of ours. He lives right here in Yuma, and that strikes a different chord with me because he is a local."

The musicians of Slick Nickel, who play mostly country music, are happy to donate their time and talents to help out.

"We offered to play for no charge so all of the money can go to the family of the baby," said Jerry Rosner, lead guitar player and vocalist. "This is the way we are, we like to help people in the community. We do benefits every year for the United Way and other charitable organizations.

"This is us paying it forward. The first benefit we did got us so much recognition and work that is just seems like the right thing to do. This will help us and, hopefully, will help the kid more.

"We hope to see all of our fans and everyone else at the concert. The kind of stuff happening to this kid could happen to any family."

According to Rosner, Slick Nickel features songs made famous by artists such as Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, Brad Paisley, Willie Nelson and Dierks Bentley. They will also perform songs from their new original album, "Magic."

"One song we no longer play is 'Free-Bird,'" said Rosner with a chuckle.

The four-member band consists of Danny Wrenn on rhythm guitar, Jack Otero on bass, Robby Carrillo on drums and Rosner on lead guitar. All of the members share the singing duties.

"We've been together since 2005, and all came from other popular bands that have been around," said Rosner. "We got together on accident at the old Mine Shaft and have been together ever since."

Rosner said the band's attitude is pretty much go with the flow.

"We just let things happen with us as a band. The more you try to force something, the more it gets screwed up."

The band is very popular in New Zealand and has a hit song in Israel, he said. An overseas tour may be in the works, but all of the members of the band have full-time jobs that make the journey difficult.

Starting Monday, the band will play at the Sidewinders Lounge at the Q Resort and Casino, and will continue every Monday for the next eight weeks.

For more information about the band, log on to www.myspace.com/slicknickelbandyumaaz.