Wolf Redboy rocks in support of SARC

There aren’t many chances to see men parade around in high heels. So if that is a goal, be on the Oval today at 12:15 p.m. when SARC’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event kicks off its walk-a-thon rock concert benefit to end sexual assault and champion women’s rights.

“Playing on the Oval is a big deal for a band in my opinion, and playing for a cause is the cherry on top,” said Amanda Cevallos, bassist (and sole female member) of the punk-rock-tinged band Wolf Redboy. The band will be playing for the Student Assault Resources Center-sponsored event.

Cevallos is passionate about women’s rights and stressed that feminism isn’t about getting rid of men, but finding a way to live in equal partnership with them.

Although Cevallos occasionally works as a solo act, she wanted to play with her band for the event because she said it is important to show men and women working together in harmony.

“A band is a relationship,” she said, adding that she hopes this example of a positive relationship gives people in negative relationships the leg up they need.

“Sometimes people need to hear that everything will be OK when they are going through a hard time,” she said, mentioning that she wants the band to inspire people to take positive steps in their lives.

Cevallos saw first hand what support can do for battered women when she spent six months as a YWCA volunteer.

“It was cool to see the journey of the women (who came to the center) as they changed their lives,” she said.

The women Cevallos helped through YWCA were in the process of getting jobs for the first time and gaining confidence, in what she called the “coming together phase.”

“As a female, anything for women’s rights is something I’m excited about,” Cevallos said. She added, laughing, “and besides, this shows that the University is thinking about things other than parking tickets.”

Also, as band manager she felt it important to showcase a band with a woman in charge.

Cevallos and Wolf Redboy will unveil a new song titled “Not Him” in honor of the event. She said never having performed the song in public before has everyone in the band a little nervous, but she stressed that the overall feeling is excited anticipation.

Wolf Redboy will play an entire set, and they are hoping for good weather.

But if bad weather cancels the show, it will still be possible to hear the band’s music. They anticipate releasing their independent debut album, “Poison to the Artists,” this September.

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” which asks men to literally walk one mile in women’s shoes, will raise awareness about sexual assault, rape and gender violence and serve as a fundraiser for victims of said abuse. There will be free food and prizes on the Oval by the grizzly statue. For more information, visit http://www.umt.edu/curry/SARC/.