Music and raising social awareness have gone hand in hand ever since time immemorial. So, when Mighty Mic, a coalition of student organizations on the UCLA campus, decided to throw a benefit concert in order to help the women of Afghanistan and Doctors Without Borders, it was nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, it also served the purpose of reminding us that music isn’t completely devoid of all meaning these days.

Featuring a motley crue of performers, the concert raised money to benefit RAWA, among other organizations. Interspersed with all the acts were videos about the situations of the countries that the money was helping and the organizations that were receiving money from this concert. It was a welcome mix of harsh reality and entertainment, and it forced people to pay attention to issues that they might have never known about. Several speakers took the stage, including the first woman elected to the Afghani government, who had survived five assassination attempts, and a doctor with Doctors Without Borders.

Spoken acts were included in the event including the incredible Mike Gonzales and amazing Saul Williams, both spoken word poets that know how to bring a house to their knees just with their voice. It’s people like Gonzales and Williams that remind us that poetry is as important as it ever was; it’s another voice that often gets stifled because it isn’t the typical form of communication. Jello Biafra took the stage with a lengthy diatribe about the current government. Even though his act wasn’t as entertaining, and it was definitely shocking to see one’s musical hero so old, he did bring up interesting points.

Far East Movement, an Asian (yes you read that right) rap trio, kicked the night off with a couple of songs off their latest release. They aren’t exactly the ghetto rap that you hear mass marketed these days; their music has more of an old school, Beastie Boys feel to it. These boys aren’t anything to write home about, but they are good enough that you can kick back and jump around during their set.

The Canuks lent a helping hand by lending the concert Raine Maida for the night. Most known as the lead singer of Our Lady of Peace, Maida performed songs off of his solo record. With a modern day Tom Petty twang to his voice, Maida’s accoustic punk ballads made for one of the best acts of the night.

Hardcore darlings Fall of Troy performed the longest set of the night. While most of the crowd was unaware of the band, Fall of Troy performed like rock stars to a sea of diehard fans. Lead singer Thomas Erak kept jumping off the stage and playing directed into the crowd. The band stuck to mostly new material for their set, driving the people who had followed the band since its inception to a frenzy. Things got a bit crazy up in front, but if you’re up next to the stage, you should know what to expect or otherwise you shouldn’t be there.

The final act of the night was none other than the provocative Peaches. Although it was clear that the majority of the audience did not know who she was, Peaches performed like a champion, giving it the 110% effort that she is known to give at her shows. It was a one-woman burlesque show, and the crowd ate it up. It might have been a little strange for those who weren’t used to seeing a girl get down and strip on stage, but there is a first time for everything. With her electro-trance tunes, Peaches brought the house down and got everyone shaking and dancing. But, nothing compared to her finale song “Fuck the Pain Away” when she invited the crowd up on stage to dance with her. And "Fuck the Pain Away" with Peaches they did.