Entertainment, Music - Army Times

N.H.-based band back from Iraq

CONCORD, N.H. — A New Hampshire-based band is back home after a ten-day road trip to the war zone in Iraq.

The Groove Alliance, which is based in Manchester, performed several shows in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone to entertain troops, thank civilian Iraqi workers and raise money for a program that provides medical care for injured and ailing children.

Band members say they have returned with memories of a lifetime, a feeling of accomplishment (they raised $70,000) and their own perspective on the war.

“It was actually a lot different than what I expected,” said lead guitarist Jesse Silva, of Plaistow. “The good part of it doesn’t always get shown on the news.

“The Iraqi people in general, with the exception of the people who are doing the fighting are a very warm and friendly people,” Silva said. “That’s what surprised me the most.”

The group’s lead singer is Army Reserve Maj. Mike Pacheco of Henniker. He’s been in Iraq since last spring and helped arrange the trip.

He said a highlight was a concert the band performed for the Iraqis who put themselves at risk by working with the coalition forces in the Green Zone.

“You know millions of dollars are being spent here to move hearts and minds, all of that money could not have come close to what was accomplished by this band on that day,” Pacheco wrote in an e-mail on Wednesday. “You could see it during the performance. Walls were broken down and bridges were built to replace them.”

Music teacher and saxophone player Carl Benevides was back at Souhegan High School on Tuesday telling students about the trip, and a performance at one of Saddam Hussein’s former recreational buildings, the Telegraph of Nashua reported.

“As we were playing ‘Play That Funky Music,’ here come these helicopters carrying troops to and from combat zones,” he said.

Benevides’ visit brought a different perspective of the war, he said.

“In my experience, it’s a small, powerful, dangerous few people who are ruining it for everybody,” Benevides said.

He said the America troops he met believe in helping Iraq emerge from the violence.

“Obviously, they want to come home, but they want to get the job done.”

Benevides plans a slide-show presentation for the school.

“I feel an obligation to share what I know because of the misconceptions,” he said. “They just need to know there’s another perspective.”

Silva said there were constant reminders of the war, such as hearing car bombings and seeing smoke from deadly explosions in the city around them.

But he said he’d return in a heartbeat.

“Every soldier we talked to thanked us,” he said. “The music got their mind out of (the war) for at least that period of time.”

Pacheco, who remains on duty in Baghdad, was grateful for the brief visit.

“Some came against the heartfelt advice of family and friends,” he said, “but they came and I am deeply proud to call them my friends.