The “OFFICIAL” "Rock the Toy Box VIII " a benefit for Toys For Tots was again a “HUGE” success, thanks to all of YOU and your generosity! This annual event produced by GreenStock Productions (Debra Stocker & John Green) started eight years and is still going strong today!
“Doing this event in conjunction with the US marines means a lot to me, and I truly want all that participated in its success to know how much I appreciate them, for their time as well as support!”
Rock The Toy Box now, “EIGHT” year’s later has become a “HUGE” event, growing bigger and bigger every year! It’s a GREAT cause, says many of LA's groups/artist that join us every year. All donating their time to raise “Toys For Tots” through their music! It’s so rewarding to know you helped put a smile on a child's face come Christmas morning!
Again, this year’s event was made possible with the help of the US Marine 
Corps Reserve Center in Pasadena. Thank-you Sgt. Drummond and all the US Marines that came down to Harpers and help support our event. It’s always a pleasure to have the Marines in the house!
Hosted by Harpers Bar and Grille, located just West of Tampa behind El Torito’s at 19333 Business Ctr. Dr. in Northridge made the perfect place to have our event. This ALL AGES event was perfect in every way! Owner, Rob Harper was there to make sure everything was running smooth, and it was!
Other proud sponsors of this year’s event included PROFFESIONAL PRINTING CENTER, PRAISE LAND Guitars, COFFIN CASE, DREAMCATCHER MARKETING and of course ALL ACCESS Magazine.
Admission was only $10.00 or 1 new unwrapped toy valued at $10.00 or more. Once inside 7 groups performed from 7:30 till 2AM, including a very special acoustic performance from Terry Ilous (XYZ) and Mitch Perry (MSG and winner of the recent AAM Awards Show “Best Guitarist”). Plenty of giveaways were tossed out. And a $1.00 drawing that included a guitar giveaway, a Coffin Case, CD’s, T-shirts, 4 Day Ocean Cruises, Hotel stays and more. Tons of fun and John Green (CEO of GreenStock Productions was right in the middle of it all. Could it get any better?
I'm so glad you asked; first up was 900 POUND GORILLA, a recently new band to join the AAM family of friends and musicians. They got our night jumpin’ before we even got started with the help of ‘Lil’ Drummer Boy’. “We’ll leave him nameless, as to NOT alert any paparazzis out there”. 900 Pound Gorilla came and conquered, as their set included just the right amounts of punk, rock, and a little metal to get our night off to a perfect start! These good ole’ boys almost had to cancel because of an injury. But how does that saying go, “On with the show!” Many thanks go out to Jeff Edwards on drums. AAM wishes you a speedy recovery!
LIGHTS OUT (LA’S original tribute band to UFO) was up next. For those of you who haven’t seen tribute bands. These bands are definitely worth checking out! LIGHTS OUT has always been one of my favorites and a MUST see act! Featuring Rob Stanard/lead vocals, Tommy LeBlanc/drums, Steve Thorton, Mark Muniz/guitarist, and on bass AAM’s photographer- good friend and birthday boy, Ernie Manrique! Is there a Doctor, Doctor in the house? We may need one for Ernie tomorrow “Thank- You” Lights Out for donating your time once again guys, always a pleasure. And Happy Birthday Ernie Manrique!!
Next up was a special guest performance
by Terry ILous and Mitch Perry performing a classic acoustic set. Everyone joining in singing ‘I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends’ and more classics a lot of us grow up listening to. Great songs, great friends and a great time by all! I hear there is a lot happening in 2008 for both Terry ILous and Mitch Perry, so “BE SURE” to keep your eyes and ears open, I know All Access will! Thanks for joining us guys, always a pleasure.
StoryTeller performed for AAM for our summer concert series this past summer and AAM was pleased to welcome them back for this event too! Let’s see, how’s the best way I can describe the band? Straight forward in your face ROCK! No thrills, No frills, No gimmicks. They just want to have fun and ‘Rock The ToyBox and the house is what they did!
Right before the next band got started. John Green took the stage to once again announce the winner for “Best Hard Rock Group” AND ‘Best male vocalist’ at the 5th AAM Music Awards Show held Nov 3rd at The Knitting Factory. Bet you can guess who won! Yes, Carbon 9 and Stacey Quinealty, and all their fans where just as excited as Stacey was, who had no idea he had won at all because he was way out of touch and cell phone reach Sat. Nov 3rd. Congrats Carbon 9, you are more than deserving of those awards and so much more!
Soon after the awards were presented, CARBON 9 hit the stage! It had been awhile since C9 had performed so you bet all their fans old and new were anxiously waiting by the stage. There is a certain something about 
Carbon 9’s music that draws you in, and once you see them live your hooked! Whether it’s the bands full stage show, a scaled down version or even an acoustic set. You too will become a Carbon 9 fan, I know because I’m one!
From start to finish, C9 fans where all singing with their hands in the air. The band performed a few of their new songs and I watched to see the crowd’s reaction. All though they couldn’t possibly know the lyrics, they were singing the chorus line over and over. No doubt these songs will catch on fast, just like all the rest. There was some great new material here and I’ll bet Carbon 9 picked up a few new fans here at Harpers tonight, to add to their ever growing fan list! Congrats to Carbon 9 and all their members, as there’s been plenty good things happening within this camp over the last year and plenty more to come!
Running a little behind, we were soon, back on track with the help of Dave Rios our sound engineer. Dave was with us all summer long and at our awards show to keep things running smooth. AAM would be lost without him now. So you can bet where AAM goes Dave Rios will be there too! Thanks Dave for all YOU do for AAM and “Keeping Local Music Alive!
Now a special treat came when Lance Corporal Rene Florez took the stage and performed an outstanding performance on the guitar playing us the National Anthem! And in 
the background, yes that was Stacy Quinealty helping the Corporal along! You two were great together; will you be taking this show on the road next?
Up next was a band everyone was waiting for, BONFIRE a tribute to early AC/DC. Here to support Toys For Tots and Rock The ToyBox they did! Yes indeed there will be plenty of happy kids come Christmas morning with all these toys brought in tonight by fans. Thank you Rob Harper and Harpers staff for once again supporting these great cause and all it brings. And to all the artist/groups for giving up their time during a very busy holiday season! One thing’s for sure, come Christmas morning there will be ton’s of kids with “BIG” smiles on their faces!
Now center stage was those lovely and talented girls, the UnderCover Girls winner for “Best Cover Band” at the recent AAM Music Awards Show. Performing all your favorite classic hits they added the perfect touch to this already incredibly night of rock. And joining them back on stage for their last song of the night was StoryTellers lead singer, Kenny Charles. You look good up there with those girls Kenny, Is yet another show we’ll see out there on the road?
Harpers Bar & Grille was packed wall to wall with toys, Marines, Fans, Friends and Celebrity guests. Denise Ames (TV host of Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames) NOW being aired 3 times a week 
on cable TV!! JANI LANE (original singer of Warrant), VINNY APPICE & his brother CARMINE APPICE now that's something you don't see every day! JIMMY BAIN, CHAS WEST and KRIGGER (The Hollywood All-Stars), JONNY COFFIN and LYNDA KAY(The Lonesome Spurs), ROB ESCHER (FreakHouse),SEAN TOPHAM (FreakHouse-The Chimpz), drummer BOBBY RICHARDS, Mini Bonham's, KURT & BONNIE, Peter Schlosser original drummer - Boston who stopped by for ONLY 1 drink and stayed for hours!
Thank you Harpers Bar & Grille and your staff for supporting once again, an All Access Magazine event and a wonderful cause! Because "Every Child Deserves A Little Christmas" This year’s “OFFICIAL” ROCK THE TOY BOX VIII the best one ever!! Happy Holidays everyone and "Thanks" for believing with us that, "Every Child Deserves A Little Christmas"! A special thanks to Ray Vidal for helping provide us with a great backline, “UNBELIEVABLE” how all these great bands come together for such a wonderful cause. A BIG thanks to Olivia Green for believing in Santa Clause, and greeting our guest at the door. Jimmy Pease head of security, AAM welcomes you aboard! There will be tons of happy faces this Christmas morning for sure! "Thank-You" ALL once again for making this year’s "Rock the Toy Box VIII" a huge success! We’ll see you again NEXT YEAR! For more info:
myspace.com/ALLACCESSMAGAZINE
myspace.com/ALLACCESSROCKS
myspace.com/ROCKTHETOYBOX
Have a SAFE and wonderful Holiday!
