Pictured (L-R): Brantley Gilbert and James Shaw Jr.
After recording artist Brantley Gilbert heard about the recent shooting at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee, he decided he wanted to do something to honor the shooting victims, as well as James Shaw, Jr., who heroically disarmed the gunman during the attack.
“When you see someone like James, who just jumped up and did what he did – and you think about the lives he saved, you realize what a special kind of guy he is,” Gilbert says. “I called my manager, Rich Egan, who heads up the I Believe In Nashville coalition, and asked if there was any way we could do something that would shine a light and remind everyone that heroes can be real life people.”
Gilbert, along with Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba, greeted Shaw on Wednesday (April 25) at a rehearsal room in Nashville, where they decided to sell shirts emblazoned with a special message. The shirts feature the slogan “I Believe In Heroism,” as well as a graphic of Shaw’s bandaged hand.
Pictured (L-R): Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba, Brennan McMurray, James Shaw Jr. and Brantley Gilbert
The shirts will be sold during Brantley’s upcoming May 4 concert at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, as well as at Dashboard Confessional’s upcoming May 11 show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. All proceeds will go toward supporting those affected by the Waffle House shooting.
“Bad people do bad things,” Gilbert said during the impromptu press conference in Nashville. “But good people can do great things. Talking to James before we got up here, he said he’s not a superhero, he’s just a regular person. But I think there has to be some hero inside, that’s where that kind of bravery comes from.”
For those who can’t make it to the concerts, the I Believe in Heroism shirt and I Believe in Nashville shirt are available at ibelieveinnashville.com.
Pictured (L-R): Brennan McMurray, Hard 8/Working Group Manager and I Believe In Nashville’s Rich Egan, Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba, Brantley Gilbert and James Shaw Jr.
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
