The twelfth anniversary of Mothers of Rock went out with a bang. This benefit concert put on by UMass Lowell’s Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association, MEISA, was a smash hit with amazing performances and music, with all proceeds going to Girls Incorporated of Lowell. Girls Inc. is an afterschool organization that offers many programs for young girls ages 5 to 18. It has been around since 1917, inspiring young girls to be “strong, smart, and bold.” Girls from Girls Inc. provided background about the “mother of rock” that was about to be covered in the next song.

With varying genres, all 14 performances were covers of songs by women in the music industry including Beyoncé, Adele, Whitney Houston, and many others. In addition, several bands with lead female vocalists were covered including Evanescence, PVRIS, The Fugees and No Doubt.

Each arrangement brought a unique twist to the original, whether it was a change in instrumentation, style, tempo, and everything else. UMass Lowell’s all-girl A Cappella group Fermata Nowhere performed a great “all voices” arrangement of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” with soloist Jillian Perry. Other adaptations included instruments such as a saxophones, trombones, upright bass, trumpets, and a marimba.

Each performer got to play one song of their choosing written by a woman in the music industry, Except for one particular act which featured multiple songs from one artist. In Jimmy Keeley’s “Katy Perry Medley”, at least three songs written by Katy Perry were performed with a little twist. This jazzy act included a saxophone, trumpet, and trombone in addition to the guitar, bass, and drums. The vocalist scatted between transitions which made each song flow seamlessly.

The last act of the night brought several performers to the stage, closing with RESPECT by Aretha Franklin covered by HurriTurri. The performance filled the auditorium with sound and good vibes as the concert ended.

The UMass Lowell Chapter of MEISA hosts this concert every year to “celebrate the amazing women who have shaped music throughout the years” and they did rightfully so. The concert is always free with suggested donations for Girls Inc.