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Thursday, April 24, 2025
The Great American Music Hall
Over $118K fundraised!

Overall Winner: The R-23s (Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein) for Open Door Legal
Judges’ Choice Award and Hustle & Heart Award: Morgan Lewis & ROCKius (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius) for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Music Matters Grant Recipient: Bay Area Music Project

It was a great night at our 11th Bay Area event, this year at the historic Great American Music Hall. Over $118K was raised, the vibes were amazing, and each of the five performing bands made the stage their own.

Thank you to everyone who came together to rock in support our mission to promote youth music education and raise funds for local nonprofits.

Special guests The Recusals - the only band in the country featuring 10 federal judges - opened the show with a bang. They presided over the stage with a high energy set full of sequins, sax, and songs that got the crowd dancing and primed for more!

Four stellar competing bands followed, each putting their own creative spin on classic covers from rock to pop to funk. Their musical talent was undeniable, but what blew us away even more was their commitment to fundraising - each of the four competing bands raised over $24K each! Performance highlights included The Latent Defects impassioned cover of Creed's anthem "Higher", The R-23's crowd-pleasing rendition of "Love Shack" by The B-52's, Magnum PI's high-octane take on Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song" and Magnum Lewis & ROCKius' spirited cover of "Hot To Go" by Chappell Roan, complete with pom-poms.

Law Rocks wouldn't exist without the support of the legal community - major thanks to every participating band and firm! Many thanks to The Great American Music Hall team; the Rock Panel of Judges: Joyce Lee; Lorrie Murray; Trixie Rasputin; and Dennis Willis; our host Morris Knight; and our nonprofit guests. The evening was made possible thanks to Hall of Fame sponsors Greenberg Traurig; Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein; and Walkup Melodia Kelly & Schoenberger; our tour sponsor Secretariat; and additional sponsor Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Please consider making a contribution to support Law Rocks World Tour and ensure we keep rocking the globe for years to come!

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Featured

Special Guests - The Recusals

Special guests starring legal talent from The Northern District of California Federal Court

The only band in the country featuring 10 federal judges (along with some other real musicians).

The Latent Defects

Featuring legal talent from Greenberg Traurig; K&L Gates; Troutman Pepper Locke
Rocking for City of Hope

Formed in 2017, The Latent Defects (f.k.a. Attractive Nuisance) are proud to return at Law Rocks for the fifth time! The band was originally formed as Greenberg Traurig San Francisco’s house band and now includes a Verein of weekend warriors from four different law firms all flying a united banner of rock. This band goes to 11 and they are psyched to be with the people again.

Magnum PI

Featuring legal talent from Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
Rocking for Bay Area Urban Debate League

From one of the premier personal injury firms in the Bay Area comes a musical ensemble that will compel you to move. If the Battle of the Bands doesn’t settle out of court, this outfit is ready to go to verdict.

Morgan, Lewis, & ROCKius

Featuring legal talent from Morgan Lewis
Rocking for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley

Morgan, Lewis & ROCKius brings together musical talent from the firm’s Northern California offices for amazing vocals, guitar, keys, and rhythm plus a wicked horn section to lay down a '70s R&B/Motown/Funk vibe with current hits and classic chart-toppers in the mix. At Law Rocks, we’re honored to be rocking for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley to support local children in the foster care system. We love playing together and believe that music makes the world a better place. Join us for a great show—for an even greater cause!
#WeAreMorganLewis

The R-23s

Featuring legal talent from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
Rocking for Open Door Legal

Lieff Cabraser's R-23s are veterans of the Northern California legal rock scene, celebrating twelve years of rocking varied and eclectic covers. Featuring legal talent from Anthony McDaniel and Liana Harris on vocals, Melissa Gardner on vocals and flute, Phong Nguyen on guitar, Charles Gonzalez on bass, Elizabeth Cabraser on drums, and Mark Chalos on keyboards, we are delighted to be back at Law Rocks-SF!

For the third year, Law Rocks is awarding a Music Matters grant in each city to benefit a local organization that supports music education, particularly for underserved youth. We are thrilled to be awarding our 2025 San Francisco Music Matters grant to Bay Area Music Project. This is the organization’s second Law Rocks Music Matters grant, having also been a recipient in 2024. Read our nonprofit spotlight interview with BAMP to learn what exciting new things the organization is up to this year..

We are proud the 11th Annual Law Rocks San Francisco 2025 bands raised funds for the following organizations.

Featured

Featured

Host - Morris Knight

Morris Knight is a musician/singer/songwriter and released his solo single “Thank You” in 2019. Check out his self-produced/directed music video on YouTube. He also plays bass guitar in a new Bay Area-based rock band called A MILLION MILES AWAY. Fans of bands like The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees, and Joy Division will instantly recognize their sound! As a broadcaster, Morris is a 20-plus year San Francisco Bay Area radio personality! He can be heard on the radio weekdays from 6am - 9am on the South Bay’s Classic Rock - 98.5 KFOX and then every weekday afternoon from 2pm - 7pm on 96.5 KOIT Today's Hits & Yesterdays Favorites!

YouTube
Instagram

Featured

Judge - Joyce Lee

Joyce Lee is a singer-songwriter whose journey is defined by resilience, passion, and authenticity. Starting in church choirs and mastering classical piano, her love for rock 'n' roll emerged at 16, leading her to Los Angeles to pursue music despite skepticism and a lack of support. After a devastating bilateral arm injury left her unable to play for years, Joyce made an inspiring comeback by livestreaming in 2020, reconnecting with her music and fans. She also advocates for and spreads awareness on the subjects of mental health and chronic illness.

Currently, Joyce is working on her third studio album with multi-platinum producer Dean Dichoso blending influences of post-emo/punk to alternative rock with haunting melodies. Her powerful voice, captivating stage presence, and unwavering authenticity make her a magnetic force both on and off stage. Joyce's original song, "Invisible," won "Best Song" at the Songwriters At Play 2025 Song Contest. You can see Joyce performs around the San Francisco Bay Area as well as on her livestreams on Twitch, TikTok and YouTube.

Judge - Lorrie Murray

Lorrie Murray is a passionate advocate for arts education and music as a vehicle for social change. She founded Bay Area Music Project in 2013 to enrich the lives of children and their families through accessible, empowering music education. Lorrie’s professional background is diverse and extensive. She has spent over 15 years as a graphic designer and art director, alongside 25 years in the music industry as a concert promoter, tour manager, and stage performer. While immersed in the Bay Area music scene, she discovered the true power of music and art to unite and uplift a community.

In 2012, Lorrie served as a community liaison and design team member of Maya Lin School, an Alameda arts-integration, inquiry-based public elementary school that offers new approaches to teaching and learning, valuing process over results. Responding to the needs of the school's strategic vision and community needs, she created and launched Bay Area Music Project’s (BAMP) robust after-school music program serving Maya Lin School. Lorrielaunched BAMP to prioritize the growth of young students from lower-income communities through music instruction and composition, supporting their educational and social-emotional needs.

BAMP has expanded widely in scope in its first successful 10 years, from its geographic reach to its range in student ages and finally to the number of students served across a wide variety of programs throughout the school year and beyond. Under Lorrie’s leadership, she was awarded the prestigious Jefferson Award for public service, a 2024 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award recipient, a 2021 Spotlight on Quality Award from the California Department of Education's Region 4 System of Support for Expanded Learning (SSEL) programs office and the Alameda County Office of Education. Additionally, BAMP and its students have garnered notable achievements, including being named 2017 Outstanding Non-Profit Organization by former California District 18 Assemblyman Rob Bonta and performing with Yo-Yo Ma at the Salesforce Dreamforce Convention.

Lorrie is a member of the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families (ACCYF). She has also presented at conferences and universities, including the Take A Stand Symposium at the LA Phil, the ISTE EdSurge Fusion Conference, and Northeastern University. Lorrie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University, Boston.

Judge - Trixie Rasputin

Trixie Rasputin is a piano player, singer, and all-around good-time Bay Area entertainer. Her repertoire includes original songs and a stylish list of pop and rock covers interpreted for the piano. She is a regular performer at the Beacon Grand Hotel in Union Square, the keyboard player and backing vocalist for original psych rock band Lazer Beam, and a founding member and keyboard sorceress for the Bay Area's beloved Swifty, a Taylor Swift tribute band. When not performing, Trixie is actively booking and promoting shows for local and touring bands through her media brand Trixie Rasputin Presents.

Check out my website!
https://www.trixierasputinpresents.com/

Judge - Dennis Willis

Dennis Willis is an award-winning producer, editor, writer, radio personality and film critic (print and radio). He produced and co-hosted the TV programs Soundwaves, Reel Life, Filmtrip, and Soundwaves TV (since 2018).

Dennis is currently a radio personality on KSAN (107.7 The Bone) in San Francisco, and hosts the independent music showcase Soundwaves FM. In addition, he hosted the weekly radio features At the Movies and Home Media Guide, which were heard on KGO Radio, WGN (Chicago), WNSW (New York City) and WZHF (Washington DC).

He is the author of Barca’s Jackpot, and American Popcorn: Hollywood and the War on Common Sense; and a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle and the Critics Choice Association. His film credits include Changing Boundaries: the History of San Jose, All You Need Is Myth: The Beatles and the Gods of Rock, and the forthcoming documentary I Am Soundwaves.