Parker Rocks with "The Durgas" - Global Musicians with Global Purpose
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We are a world connected. In Hawai'i, the namesakes of an Indian goddess can tell you a lot about the lives of Burmese children living in Thailand, and much of it isn't good.

The children of migrant workers aren't allowed to attend Thai schools, nor are they afforded basic rights for healthcare or education. Tens of thousands of these children are illiterate, and many work as child laborers with their families.

So what to do? "The Durgas," an eclectic band named for the Indian goddess associated with the triumph of good over evil, jam on stage and support organizations that educate and feed these children.

The musicians brought their international style to Parker School, rocking out with students who danced, screamed, and sang along to a blend of rock, pop, blues, reggae, African, and eastern European rhythms.

Hands waved in the air as a rapper from the Czech Republic took the stage, and the voices of students rose high during the "call and response" portions of a Romani-inspired song. (As the students learned during the concert, Romani is the preferred term to "gypsie.") Students from Kanu o ka 'Aina, which hosted a concert by “The Durgas” in 2007, were invited by Parker School to be among the youngsters dancing in the aisles.

The message of "The Durgas," like their musical style, reflects their international composition and the lead band members' upbringing. Brothers Benjii and Christopher Simmersbach were born in Germany and grew up in Thailand, Tanzania, Mali, Senegal, Italy, and the United States. Band members live in Los Angeles, Budapest, Berlin, Barcelona and Istanbul; they meet in Berlin to record and coordinate projects.

Every year, “The Durgas” present a series of non-profit shows as part of an ongoing effort to promote cross-cultural understanding through music. Concerts for 2007-2008 have benefited Burmese and migrant children living under repressive conditions in Thailand.

When playing in Hawai'i, “The Durgas” reunite with the lead band members’ brother, Patrick Simmersbach, a Big Island resident, talented guitarist and Parker School parent. Patrick's son, second-grader Finn Simmersbach, grinned as he watched his father, uncles and friends playing at Parker School, then climbed onstage to join the band.