Feb. 24, 2013 By Bill Parry
A sell-out crowd packed LIC Bar on Saturday night for a benefit event called: “Who” Gives Back.
The fundraiser, held on behalf of Teen Cancer America, was likely to raise $7,000, said Brian Porter, the owner of LIC Bar. Teen Cancer was chosen as the charity, since it is the British rock-band’s The Who’s favorite non-profit group.
When Hurricane Sandy flooded LIC Bar its sound equipment was destroyed. A regular customer named Robert Basch approached The Who’s management and told them about the music venue’s plight. The rock icons responded by sending replacement equipment.
Prior to The Who’s generosity, the bar thought it might have to hold a fundraiser to help pay for the damaged equipment. However, once the new equipment came through, the pub thought it would have one for charity.
Basch, the customer said: “We helped the bar and now a great charity; it’s a win-win.”
The bar’s Event Programmer Gustavo Rodriguez said, “Rob [Basch] took it upon himself and like Don Quixote he charged the windmill.”
The event was such a draw that Porter had to shut down his pay pal account at 5pm. “The response and turnout has been overwhelming,” he said.
Well over 250 fans turned out on a rainy night to hear tribute band “Who’s Next” perform. Porter said, “The Who posted about us on their own website and that’s seen by 3-4 million people around the world, that’s a big score for a neighborhood bar.”
For the event, the LIC Bar put up a huge tent in the courtyard. Porter said he was concerned about the rain. “I was worried about the gutters but they’re holding up fine, the last thing we need is more problems with water.”
Besides the music, a Gibson SG guitar autographed by Pete Townshend and a Shure microphone autographed by Roger Daltrey were auctioned off.
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One Comment
This was so much fun. I just wish I had won that guitar.
The tent thing worked out fine and I don’t think it was too noisey.
If anyone had a problem with that then they have something wrong with them. $7000 for charity…