July 9, 2025
A Beautiful Night of Music
Matthew Rodreick
Raising money for the work U2FP does is hard. So, we thought, why not try and make it fun too? Why not try and make some beautiful music during this depressing time of SCI research funding cuts? Making music is something I’ve been doing on and off for most of my life and something my son Gabriel (who has an SCI) has been doing his whole life.
This is how the idea to organize U2FP's first annual Rock to Restore Research concert was born.
The show happened a couple weeks ago and I have to tell you - it was a beautiful night of music and community. Our talented lineup consisted of our headliner, Freaque (Gabriel’s stage name) and his bandmates along with the extremely gracious Tina Schlieske, her sister Laura and virtuoso sideman Jeremy Ylvisaker. We were also joined by friends of U2FP, Murray Blackmore (SCI researcher at Marquette University) and Cole Sydnor (SCI advocate/consultant) to share the importance of our work with the crowd.
Listening to my son play music always gets me choked up. When he had his spinal cord injury at the age of 15, it was of course devastating. But added to that pain was the loss of his hands, which had been well trained on the piano for over 10 years.
But last week’s show was a reminder that life often finds a way. Freaque and his band were extraordinary. The music, fueled by his experience with SCI, and sung in his unique, old soul style was carried forward so skillfully by a funky crew of talented collaborators.
Imagine Tom Waits and Pino Palladino playing in a circus tent on the edge of purgatory leading people through and out of the darkness. That’s the best way I can sum up watching, listening and feeling it in my bones. I am so proud of my son.
We raised some money, we shared our story and we made some noise in a little corner of Minneapolis. And we’re gonna do it again next year. Because this is what we do now. In the face of this injury, we come together. In the face of this injury, we do the hard work. And in the face of this injury, we always try to help each other find a way.
Join us,
