Patrice Pike is typically not one to stir controversy. A professional musician since the age of 16, Pike refers to herself as “that nerdy lead-singer who creeps off to bed while everyone else is partying.” But there are definitely certain things she’s willing to agitate for and tops on that list is her friends.

Pike—from Austin, Texas, and once called "Tina Turner, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin and Robert Plant all rolled up into a tiny but explosive package" by Rolling Stone—says she belongs to a huge group of “friends, entertainers, performers, designers, artists of different mediums that are all around the world.” So when two members of her community found themselves in serious trouble, Pike immediately put her talents to work to assist them.

While on an extended road trip, Jimmy Gallaway and Bevin Shaengold were arrested in Arkansas for possession of marijuana and intent to distribute. While both have medical marijuana prescriptions from their home state of California and were carrying an amount within that state’s limit for personal use, California and Arkansas are different states with vastly different laws and mentalities regarding marijuana. In the meantime, all of their assets have been frozen while they await trial.

Pike and a group of musical superfriends including Kye Brackett (singer, dancer and choreographer from the Barry Manilow show at Paris), Craig Cady and Carl John have swung into action to host three shows on the west coast, aptly titled Friends In Deed, to benefit Jimmy and Bevin’s legal defense fund. “It is certainly a controversial issue, how people feel about marijuana laws around the country,” Pike says. “What it’s really about is four friends coming together and believing that you put your neck out on the line and speak out against injustices, even when they are controversial.”

Friends In Deed featuring the Patrice Pike Band August 9, 9 p.m., suggested donation of $10. Tommy Rockers, 4275 Dean Martin Drive.