Benefits with friends
This is a tale of two (actually, three) good events in one weekend - if circumstances permit I plan on being at two. Let's start with next Saturday, February 20th:
You actually have two chances to attend, one during the afternoon and one during the evening. My guess is that the six bands (in alphabetical order they are Bluelight Special, Corey Franklin, Not My Own, Proof Of Love, Reconcile520, and The Permilla Project - someone who reads this may let me know the actual lineup order) will play about a half-hour set apiece with a few minutes set aside for setup, then do it over for show #2. It promises to be a long day for the performers but an entertaining day for the patrons.
One thing this doesn't tell me, though, is a cost - apparently there is a freewill donation but there are special deals available, at least according to Reconcile520's Facebook page.
However, you might need to be a little extra generous with your donations on this one. This is a comment from Progressive Delmarva, where "Reconciled1" is one of the contributors:
By the time the civic center added all their extra fees.. the room is costing us roughly 1800 bucks. We were originally told $758 then you add a 10% building improvement fee, .25 a chair rental and set up fee, security, event staff, stage manager, paramedic on site, etc... the room was waaaaayyyy more then first quoted. We had volunteers to do all of this but they refused and said it had to be through them. Our stage manager had an inside track in there and it was taken in front of the board to see if they would donate the room but the board turned it down.. The reason we aren't selling tickets before the concert at the box office is because there is another added cost to do that. With all things considered, we have roughly $5,000 into the operating cost when you add in the sound and light company and the use of a back room for the bands to hang out during the concert.
We have a restuarant that is feeding us all but we have to use another building for that because the Civic Center wouldn't allow them to cater in. We would have to us their catering if we want to eat. Live and learn........ The next concert will most likely be held somewhere else.
This got me thinking back to the first Salisbury Skatepark fundraiser, which was also held at the Civic Center - but subsequent ones were held in other locations. Maybe that's why.
As far as the bands go, the two I'm most familiar with are The Permilla Project (I've seen them at the Salisbury Festival) and Not My Own, which has been featured occasionally on 93.5 the Beach's "Local Produce" show. So the show should have a fair dose of original music along with some cover stuff too.
Then Sunday brings another benefit show - this one benefitting a different cause.
We all know about the tragic death of Sarah Haley Foxwell late last year, and the Wicomico Child Advocacy Center is using her name (presumably with the permission of her family) to raise money and awareness for their cause. It's a little different fundraiser for them than I am used to, since the last couple years they have auctioned off special gameworn items from the Shorebirds. Last year's auction was a bit of a downer because of all the rainouts the team suffered, so this is a different opportunity to contribute to the cause and hear more local music.
(There's also free food, a silent auction, and 50/50 raffle to help raise money beyond the $20 admission price.)
In this case the bands will be Wes Davis, Agent 99, and Vivid Season. (Yep, this is why I included the Vivid Season video last night.)
I'm more familiar with these bands, although I've yet to see Vivid Season live. Wes Davis is a frequent player at Salisbury area events, including the Salisbury Festival, and has performed a number of times on Ocean 98's "Live Lixx at Six." And many of the events featured in my Weekend of Local Rock series have been graced by the sounds of the ladies of Agent 99, so I've seen them at least a half-dozen times. With the possible exception of Wes Davis throwing in an original composition or two, expect to hear a wide range of classic and modern rock standards remade in each band's image.
If you haven't been able to get out this weekend to cure your cabin fever, next weekend may present an opportune time to do so.