Any musician knows a single song or chord has the power to bring smiles, tears, laughs or sobs.

But it also has the power to save lives — and in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Lincoln musicians are stepping out to prove it.

In the coming weeks, local bands will perform to collect donations for victims of the hurricane. On Thursday, two shows featuring some of Lincoln’s most popular groups will raise money for disaster relief.

First, the Rococo Theatre, 140 N. 13th St., will host the Kris Lager Band, Forty Twenty and The Balance in a 5 p.m. 18-and-older show.

“It just hit me in the last few days how huge a mess this thing is,” Lager said. “You tend to think local and sometimes you get caught up because it’s so far away. But you definitely want to help, knowing people are struggling, and the only way we know how to help is to play music.”

The Rococo will ask for a minimum $5 donation as admission to the show. Food and beverages will be available.

Proceeds will go to the American Red Cross hurricane relief fund. Volunteers will be collecting donations outside the Rococo at noon that day.

“People can drop off whatever they can get together,” said Justin Kadlec, Rococo marketing manager. “Anyone in the community can come by. We just want to make an environment that everyone will feel welcome in, and we want them to know we’ll get their donations to the right spot.”

Knickerbockers, 901 O St., will also hold a concert Thursday to raise money for the Red Cross. This show — also $5 and 18-and-older — will feature Lincoln hip-hop groups Thoughtless Poetz, IdolWise, Foundayshuns, Awkwords and Nick Hardt and the Kansas City group Soundskid.

Hardt, who coordinated the Knickerbockers donation effort, said the show was scheduled before the hurricane hit, but he felt obligated to donate his proceeds.

“I was reading articles and watching TV nonstop when it happened,” he said. “I don’t really have money to contribute, so I thought this was the perfect outlet to show my support.”

Hardt said he approached the night’s other performers about turning it into a benefit. “I didn’t know if the money thing would be an issue,” he said. “But right when I asked them to do it, they were down with it from the get-go.”

Nick Rainforth of Thoughtless Poetz said he was more than happy to send money to the storm’s victims.

“They need it more than we do,” he said.

Rainforth said his band will also perform on Sept. 18 at the Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St., with Electric Soul Method, the Kris Lager Band, Section 8, Awkwords and Hardt. The $5 admission charge will go to the Red Cross.

A daylong concert at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St., is also in the works. Lincoln band Soul Dawg  will play along with other to-be-determined acts on Nov. 5. A $5 admission and proceeds from a silent auction will benefit the Salvation Army.

“Nobody is going to make a penny off this except for the victims,” said Deb Hayes, the concert’s organizer. “I grew up in Virginia, where hurricanes were a common occurrence, but we never had the devastation that I saw (from Katrina). I just feel that something needs to be done to help. … To find out that people are still dying, well, I want to do something.”

Other than volunteering with concerts to raise money for the Hallam tornado victims, Hayes said she has no prior experience organizing concerts, but she felt compelled to raise money for the victims.

“This is the first time I’ve gone in head-first on my own,” she said.

Hayes said she’s looking for more performers and hopes bands will step forward to perform at the concert. She’s also looking for volunteers to help organize the event.

For information or to volunteer, contact Hayes at 465-0289.

Reach Joel Gehringer at 473-7254 or jgehringer@journalstar.com.

Hurricane Katrina benefit concerts

Thursday:

5 p.m. — The Kris Lager Band, Forty Twenty and the Balance, Rococo Theatre, 140 N. 13th St.

9:30 p.m. — Thoughtless Poetz, Soundskid, IdolWise, Equal Eyes, Foundayshuns, Awkwords and Nick Hardt, Knickerbockers, 901 O St.

Sept. 18:

9 p.m. — Electric Soul Method, the Kris Lager Band, Section 8, Thoughtless Poetz, Awkwords and Nick Hardt, Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St.

Nov. 5:

9 a.m. — Soul Dawg and others, Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St.