The supreme importance of a solid instructor isn’t lost on most musicians, but those who enjoyed a particularly skilled music teacher, especially in youth, often cherish the relationship for more than just the musical knowledge passed down. A true mentorship has a powerful, lasting effect on an artist’s life, which isn’t soon forgotten.
It’s that same feeling that spurred local drummer Max Triplett to organize a benefit concert for the family of local drummer and teacher Kyle Batty, whom Triplett studied with beginning at age 14, to help offset some medical expenses the family has incurred recently. Batty’s daughter, Lorelei, just received a rare surgery, Triplett explained, for pancreatitis, so he began organizing a daylong fundraiser featuring a number of local rock groups, most of which include former students of Batty’s.
“I know he loves his family more than music, he’s very passionate about his family,” Triplett said. “I can only imagine how he feels with his daughter going through all this right now.”
Triplett reached out to Ben Cabreana, who helps out with concerts at O’Sullivan’s Pub on Main Street in Santa Maria, the only spot in the valley that hosts rowdy, loud rock music.
Cabreana also performs at O’Sullivan’s regularly as drummer for Joe Kidd and The Gash, and The Dogons, the former of which will perform as part of the benefit show, slated for Oct. 11 from noon to 10 p.m. at the pub. Though Cabreana was never a student of Batty’s, he still counts Batty as an influence on his own style, he said at O’Sullivan’s on a recent sunny weekday afternoon.
“I was listening to his band, The Giant Squid Show’s CD, on the way here,” Cabreana said. “I’m still just blown away by his talent. He’s super good, and it still influences the way that I play.”
The show was booked solid quickly, Cabreana and Triplett explained, they had begun turning down bands that wanted to join in, including more groups with drummers who studied with Batty. The daylong show includes performances by Bearcat, Beach Technique, The Dogons, The Ragged Jubilee, and King Walrus and The Magicians. There will also be barbecue plates for sale and raffles.
The number of local musicians willing to help out wasn’t a surprise to Triplett, he explained, as the friendship and mentorship he received from Batty was enjoyed by every student who studied with him for any length of time.
“I think it’s important to have someone outside your family who is able to give you a different perspective on life, and he was more than just a teacher, he was always somebody you could talk to and feel comfortable with no matter what it was about,” Triplett said. “There’s a lot of drummers who he taught who are playing the show or wanted to play the show because they wanted to return the favor.”
Triplett and Cabreana noticed Batty’s need recently on social media, they said, where the family was sharing links to a gofundme.com account. They aren’t really sure how dire the Battys’ needs are, but they’ve tried to make the event as much of a boost as possible.
Though they had already organized the show, booked the bands, planned the barbecue, and begun collecting raffle items, the two had yet to contact Batty, they said.
“I’m not even sure if he knows about it,” Triplett laughed. “He must know by now.”
“It would be great if he stopped by,” Cabreana said. “I totally understand if he can’t, but it would be so cool to see him there.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne can be reached at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2015.