Almost three months have passed since the 2010 Haiti earthquake, but New Orleans rock band Mutemath kept relief efforts alive when it played a Haiti Benefit Concert at The Howlin’ Wolf on Saturday night.

The earthquake resulted in over 200,000 deaths in January, but it was not a night for a solemn tribute. Mutemath walked onstage in the near pitch-black venue and following a fierce drum opening by Darren King, lead vocalist Paul Meany sang, “Can you believe this world’s got the nerve to insist that it won’t trade in for a better one? / Can you believe this world’s yellin’ out in the dark it wants to be left alone?” Cheers ignited throughout the venue as Mutemath opened with the single “The Nerve” from its 2009 album Armistice.

Though the night benefited Haiti relief, it was definitely a Mutemath concert. Lit by a series of blinding white strobe lights and rotating spotlights, Meany danced with jerks and jumps while holding a fake robotic guitar that fans recognized from previous concerts. The band continually transitioned between fan favorites such as “Chaos” and “Control,” making it hard to distinguish where each song began or ended. Meany took a moment to introduce the band’s hit “Spotlight,”  a featured track in the 2008 film Twilight that reached number one on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart that same year.

During these familiar Mutemath songs, the crowd anticipated the premiere of the never-before-heard song, “The Fight.” Inspired by Hurricane Katrina, the single was not ready for release until now, almost five years later. The lyrics send messages of enduring strength, such as, “Though they rain on my confidence, the years stolen my innocence / See me through the fight / …To see me through the night /  To see me through the fire.”

After dedicating the song to Haiti, Meany announced that everyone attending the benefit concert would be given a free download of the song’s live recording. He said in an interview, “[‘The Fight’ is] about perseverance. Having a special song that connects New Orleans’ journey and the help that can be extended to our neighbor, Haiti, is what I’m looking forward to.”

Mutemath attacked the encore – “Peculiar People” – with a start even more passionate than the opening song. “This is only fitting, since New Orleans is the home of peculiar people,” Meany said by way of an introduction before he and the other band members broke into a frenzy. He slammed the piano keys fervently before leaping up onto the piano and jumped from its cover to the keys repeatedly. As guitarist Greg Hill joined in the dancing, Meany did a handstand on top the piano and flipped backwards onto the stage, only to trip on a nearby microphone and crash into the drum set. As a result, or perhaps  out of equal excitement, drummer King stood, grabbed his floor tom, and held it above his head. Meany took over the drums while King enjoyed a brief crowd surf, all the while still holding the drum. Hill and bass player Roy Mitchell-Cardenas also went into a chaotic instrumental trade.

Meany finally shouted a definitive goodnight to New Orleans and the crowd cheered when King chucked his drum sticks into the audience. The venue hit a sudden blackout and the last thing seen were the sticks midair.