🎵Hey rockstars. You’re tuned into Fans With Benefits—your all-access pass to the week’s biggest music moments. This week, a Texas dad’s ordinary Uber shift turns extraordinary when he unknowingly gives The Marías a ride—sparking a viral TikTok that has fans everywhere talking. Meanwhile, Goo Goo Dolls, Shakira, and more are rallying for Texas flood relief with concerts and donations that prove music’s power to heal. And don’t even think about putting your calendar away—Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Luke Bryan, and others just dropped tour dates that are already setting off alarms in group chats.

So grab your headphones—this is your weekly soundcheck for what’s next.

Stay sharp, stay loud—this is what’s next. 🎧

For Texas dad Jesus Echeverria, it was just another Uber shift—until a pickup turned into a dream scenario for his daughter Abigail. On July 11, Jesus unknowingly gave a ride to Grammy-nominated alt-pop band The Marías.

During the 10-minute drive, the group casually chatted about boutique shopping and planning a birthday surprise—nothing that gave away their fame. But Jesus’s first clue came when guitarist Jesse Perlman mentioned lending his 16-string guitar to Finneas O’Connell to record Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather. “I was tempted to ask something,” Jesus later said, “but I didn’t say it.”

Abigail, a longtime fan, couldn’t believe it when her dad called her after the ride. “I was in tears… what are the odds of that happening to my dad?” she said. Wanting to preserve the moment, Abigail filmed her father retelling the story and shared it on TikTok. The post blew up with over 900,000 likes as fans celebrated the wholesome dad-daughter moment.

The story got even sweeter when The Marías themselves commented: “Wish I was there to meet you!!!” They later DM’d Abigail: “Your dad is a legend BTW. He reminds me so much of my dad.”

Fans across TikTok are praising the band’s down-to-earth vibe and Abigail’s heartwarming video. And as for Jesus? “They definitely won over a new fan,” he said.

The devastating Texas Hill Country floods—one of the deadliest in state history—have left more than 120 people dead and countless families displaced. Musicians across genres are now rallying to bring relief and hope to the region.

🎸 Goo Goo Dolls partnered with fundraising platform Fandiem on a Red Rocks sweepstakes to support Texas flood victims. Fans who donate $15–$500 are entered to win a VIP trip to their Aug. 24 show, including airfare, hotel, premium tickets, a backstage meet-and-greet, and a signed guitar. Proceeds benefit the San Antonio Food Bank’s disaster response. “Texas holds a special place in our hearts,” said frontman John Rzeznik. “We wanted to rally our fans to make a real impact.”

🎤 George Strait announced an intimate benefit concert and donor dinner in Boerne on July 27. “The destruction and loss in our community from the recent flood is hard to wrap your head around,” Strait said. The event, limited to 1,000 guests, will also honor local first responders with complimentary tickets.

🎸 Maná, the Grammy-winning Mexican rock band, pledged a portion of their San Antonio shows (Sept. 5–6) to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.

🎶 Shakira dedicated her July 5 San Antonio concert to flood victims, promising a share of proceeds for recovery efforts.

🤠 Robert Earl Keen will host a benefit concert on August 28 at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, teasing a “star-studded lineup” that will stretch “far into the night.”

🎤 Shelly Lares is organizing “One Stage, One Heart,” a multi-artist benefit on July 18 at San Antonio’s Woodlawn Theatre, with proceeds going directly to flood relief.

❤️ Randy Rogers Band donated all merchandise proceeds from July 12 to Operation BBQ Relief, supporting first responders and families.

Fans are amplifying these efforts, donating, and flooding social media with support. As Strait said, “Our hearts and prayers are with you all.”

🗳️ Cast your vote, and yes—we know you’ve got opinions. Let’s hear ’em.

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Luke Bryan’s beachside party is back, and it’s bigger, louder, and sweatier than ever. Crash My Playa 2026 brings four days of country’s biggest names—and some surprise pop crossovers—to Mexico’s sandy shores. Expect sun-soaked sets, late-night singalongs, and Bryan himself closing the weekend with beer-in-hand energy. If you missed last year’s tequila-fueled madness, here’s your shot.

Get tickets here

Las Vegas’ most mind-blowing venue meets Zac Brown Band’s most ambitious tour yet. Love & Fear will transform The Sphere into a full-sensory country-rock experience with 360-degree visuals and a setlist that swings from foot-stomping jams to tender ballads. Expect this to be less a concert and more a technicolor journey through ZBB’s biggest hits—and maybe a few surprises.

Get tickets here

The Bard returns. Bob Dylan is bringing his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour to Ireland, with intimate theater dates that highlight his latest work alongside reimagined classics. For longtime fans, these shows promise rare moments of magic from a living legend who continues to defy expectations at 84.

Get tickets here

Sir Paul isn’t slowing down. With new Got Back tour dates, McCartney will light up arenas worldwide with a setlist that reads like a rock ’n’ roll bible—Beatles hits, Wings favorites, and solo gems. Whether you’re belting “Hey Jude” with 50,000 others or catching his tender “Blackbird” solo, this is bucket-list music history in the flesh.

Get tickets here

Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten Tour 2025 

Natasha Bedingfield is bringing her early-2000s pop gems back to the stage—and adding fresh new material—on her highly anticipated Unwritten Tour. Fans can look forward to joyful singalongs, waves of throwback nostalgia, and high-energy performances that showcase her signature positivity. With intimate theater settings as the backdrop, this tour promises an up-close-and-personal experience that highlights both her chart-topping classics and her evolving sound.

 Get tickets here

In 1962, Hendrix was honorably discharged for “unsuitability,” after a year marked by poor discipline and an obsession with his guitar. According to this article “he continued playing guitar while off duty, which didn’t endear him with the other men in the barracks, who just wanted a good night’s sleep.” One officer even noted, “his mind apparently cannot function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar.” Ultimately, Capt. Gilbert Batchman recommended discharge, saying Hendrix’s issues weren’t treatable by “hospitalization or counseling.” The Army’s loss became rock’s gain—just four years later, Hendrix set his Stratocaster (and the world) on fire at Monterey. 🎸

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That’s a wrap for this week! Until next time, catch you in the pit—or next week’s email. 🎵🔥 

Signing off,

The Fandiem Team