Former Milwaukeean Jeff Castelaz, co-founder of California-based independent record company Dangerbird Records, returned to his hometown Jan. 29 to put on a rocking show at Turner Hall Ballroom.

This wasn’t your average concert. Big names like Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups and the whole gang of Fitz and The Tantrums shared the stage with Milwaukee favorites like Maritime, The Gufs, Juniper Tar and Prophetic with DJ Madhatter.

But that’s still not the important part. It’s not just who was there, but who brought them all together in the first place.

Pablo Castelaz, the son of Jeff Castelaz and his wife Jo Ann Thrailkill, lost his life to cancer in June 2009 at six years old. About one month into Pablo’s treatment, Jeff Castelaz started the Pablove Foundation in his son’s name to raise money and awareness to improve the lives of children with cancer.

What began at a local level in L.A. has since expanded to hold national influence. Much of the foundation’s support goes toward hospital playrooms as well as music and art programs for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Castelaz was an integral part of the Milwaukee music scene in the ‘90s, managing Citizen King, Willy Porter, The Gufs and The Promise Ring, so it’s no surprise he has been able to find eager support from his Milwaukee family.

This is the second benefit concert the Pablove Foundation has hosted in Milwaukee – we covered the first in January of last year – and it looks like the show is becoming an annual gig. So if you missed out on Saturday, don’t worry, Castelaz and co. will be putting on another benefit soon.

Concerts like these just go to show there is more to music than guitar riffs and sick beats; it often unites people in celebration towards a noble cause. And in this case, many of the people in attendance never even met the little boy responsible for bringing them together.

If you want to learn more about the Pablove Foundation, make a donation or get involved, click here.