Back the Blue concert raises funds for fallen Officer Brian Shaw's foundation

People rocked out Saturday night at a hotel ballroom to raise money for the Back the Blue benefit concert that honored fallen New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw.

After the first benefit concert Friday at the same venue, six bands signed on to play their music at the New Kensington Quality Inn from 6 p.m. to about 1 a.m. All the bands volunteered their time.

Shaw, 25, was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop in New Kensington on Nov. 17, 2017. A trial for Shaw’s suspected killer, Rahmael Sal Holt, 30, is set to start in August.

The hotel’s ballroom, stocked with a cash bar, was filled with a dance floor, tables and chairs, and the back of the room was lined with auction tables with prizes such as a BBQ set with a small charcoal grill, a giant shield emblazoned with “Back the Blue” and Pittsburgh sports garb.

A black-and-white American flag with one blue line through it, known as the Thin Blue Line flag, served as the stage’s backdrop. The same flag could be spotted on a number of T-shirts, which were for sale for $15 apiece.

Outside, in the parking lot, there were food trucks, concert­goers and bantering band members.

“Being from around here, this benefit just makes sense,” said Dan “Dano” Galie of Arnold, the drummer for Rust Project — one of the bands that played Saturday evening. “When they called and asked us to play, it was a resounding ‘yes.’ ”

His wife, Diane Galie, agreed.

“This is a small community,” she said. “That affected the whole town. We have to support (police officers).”

Proceeds will benefit the Officer Brian Shaw Foundation, an organization that seeks to “honor and continue Brian’s legacy by the supporting and serving of our local communities and police departments,” according to its Facebook page.

Last year, the concert lasted one night and about 500 people came. The benefit resulted in about $8,000, said organizers Brenda and Daniel Leo of Gilpin. The couple manages the Sports Page bar and the hotel’s ballroom. They also own Leo’s Production, which partnered with Strobe Lighting and Sound of New Kensington to produce the shows.

They expected the crowd and the proceeds to double this year with the extra night.

“We had such an overwhelming response last year with bands that wanted to play that we decided to make it into two nights,” Brenda Leo said.

The couple said they “had to do something” when Shaw was shot and killed.

“(Shaw) was our daughter’s age,” Brenda Leo said. “So we’ll do whatever it takes so it doesn’t happen again. Everybody’s life matters.”

Susan and Tim Beavers of Arnold decided to skip the Downtown Pittsburgh weekend events to hear rock ’n’ roll at the Quality Inn.

“Why not,” said Susan Beavers while waiting for the next band to play. “I don’t like anybody shooting anybody. But especially cops. That’s not right.”

Rob Keller of West Deer, a guitarist for The Shiners, thought it was an honor to play for the benefit.

“Local communities take care of each other — you see that with any catastrophe. And music, it brings people together,” he said.