Concert series giving back

When Chase Caillouette arrived in Hartford, Conn., to begin his first semester at Trinity College, classmates couldn’t wait to find out if his hometown of Newport Beach was really as lavish as it appeared to be on television.

Returning home for the summer, he and his older brother Britton decided to create an event to help counter the “flashy, big money” image people had of “The OC.” Now in its second year, their summer concert series, Live Catch, strives to reintroduce locals to the city’s laid-back beach culture.

“People always asked me questions like, ‘Do you know famous people?’ or ‘Do you drive a Ferrari?’” Chase Caillouette, 19, said. “Though Newport Beach has been developed and it’s a huge vacation spot, that doesn’t mean it has to lose that local beach town vibe.”

Opening tonight at the Lido Theatre, the Live Catch kickoff features the Beehive Spirit, Cory Case and Brewer & Chase, Chase Caillouette’s folk rock band. Future performers include the White Buffalo, professional surfer and musician Timmy Curran and Todd Hannigan, known for his work on the “Thicker than Water” soundtrack.

“We thought it would be a cool way to get young people excited about music and we wanted to give college kids something to do when they are home for summer,” said 22-year-old Britton Caillouette, a recent Stanford graduate. “There’s a lot of venues in L.A., but Orange County is really lacking, especially in places for local bands to play.”

Though it is difficult to define surf music, Britton Caillouette said the common thread among Live Catch performers is their emphasis on “simple living.”

Surf music has changed significantly over the years, he added, transitioning from the Beach Boys’ lighthearted melodies to Dick Dale’s electric guitar riffs to the youth-against-the establishment culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and now back to the acoustic and folksy styles of the past, with a new emphasis on environmental awareness.

“Jack Johnson’s music might be light and fluffy, but I think he has the message of living by simple means and not indulging in excess, which has become a central theme in surf music today,” he said. “It makes sense because you’re out there with nothing but the water and your board.”

In addition to emphasizing that simplicity through the concert series, the brothers are also doing something to give back.

They have pledged to donate 25% of the profits to international organizations that provide microfinance loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world, and another 2% to local environmental and social charities, such as Share Our Selves.

They are in the process of joining 1% For the Planet, a community of businesses committed to giving 1% of their annual sales to environmental groups.

“I think it’s important to give locally and globally,” Britton Caillouette said.

“I have a big problem with people who do big fundraising concerts and ship the money off somewhere where they don’t even know if it’s going to make a difference.”

As a student of economics, Chase Caillouette is particularly intrigued by the idea of microcredit, the lending of small loans to poor entrepreneurs in developing countries who would not likely qualify for credit otherwise.

“With microfinance, you can loan $20 to a basket maker in Ghana and make a big difference,” he said. “It’s so easy for kids to do because you can donate $500 or $20 and still have an impact.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Live Catch, a summer concert series

WHEN: 8 p.m. today, doors open at 7:30 p.m.; additional concerts are scheduled for July 26 and Aug. 16

WHERE: The Lido Theatre, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach

COST: $15

INFO: Go to www.livecatchmusic.com .